Visual Arts, compulsory

Grades 5-6

Aims/objectives

Content

Students will:

Visual expression and thinking

get to know the primary materials, techniques, tools and ways of

expression used to create art and visual communication

Students are encouraged to develop knowledge and understanding of

visual thinking through the creative cycle. Students are guided to
consider the following elements in their personal creative processes:
elements of layout (line, colour, shape)
changing elements of imagery (line, surface, texture, light, shadow,
space)
colour (primary colours, warm/cold colours, mixing/ fading colours)
styles and symbols in imagery

learn to use concepts basic to art in discussions about images or

works of art

learn to enjoy expressing their own thoughts, observations, ideas and

feelings in a visual form and come to understand arts ways of treating Use of techniques
various phenomena of life
Drawing
- using a variety of tools for drawing e.g. the different hardnesss
of lead pencils, charcoal, coloured pencils, graphite pencils,
felts, wax crayons
becomes familiar with art in Finlands golden age and some important Painting
art styles/periods in western culture
- use of a variety of painting techniques e.g. water colours,
gouache, felts, opaque paints, water soluble crayons, mixed
techniques and collage
use of variety of painting surfaces and papers
come to understand the distinctive nature of the artistic process while
Printing
recording the course of their work
- use of a variety of printing techniques
- studying the terminology of printing tools and techniques

make good use of cultural services and electronic communication

sources for their work, information acquisition and experiences

get to know techniques of visual communication and its impact and

learn to use key tools of visual communication to express ones own
thoughts in the media

study and evaluate art, visual communication and the environment

from the aesthetic and ethical perspective

work independently and as a community member in art projects

understand the importance of communication through imagery and

learn to communicate through it*

- recognizing prints from other images

3D modelling and ceramics
- basic techniques of working with clay
- different materials and techniques of 3D modelling e.g. clay,
wood, stone, metal, recycling materials, natural materials,
plaster, wire and snow
- traditions of sculpturing
Other

art in the local environment

environmental art by observing the natural environment first
movement, sound and light as parts of the artwork
digital imagery

Artistic knowledge and cultural expertise

becoming familiar with the work and life of a local artist
studying and discussing the history of visual arts in Finland and in
different cultures around the world
studying contemporary visual arts globally
studying a variety of techniques in the history of visual arts
learning about art history, art in different cultures and contemporary art
by doing
understanding and appreciating different forms of visual arts
appreciating ones own art work e.g. giving the final touches to own
artwork, framing, storing and building a display

experience and develop curiosity, interest and enjoyment of ones own Knowledge and understanding of environmental aesthetics,
creativity and that of others*
architecture and design
comparing the man made and natural environment and knowing the
difference between them

learn to reflect on, appreciate and evaluate ones own visual

expression and working approaches and that of others*

understand art as a reflection of place, people, time and culture and

develop a receptiveness to it*

* adapted or copied from MYP Arts September 2000; Aims and Objectives page 16

studying architecture in Finland and in different cultures around the

world.
recognising some of Finlands important buildings
building models of the surrounding and other environments
studying imagery and designs in the immediate surroundings e.g. the
classroom, schoolyard, own home and neighbourhood
analysing hand made and industrial made products and their
sustainability; planning ones own product
becoming familiar with objects at home and school e.g. the relationship
between a place and a design
studying design cultures around the world
designing sustainable products and objects
- the lifespan of an object, recycling materials and the effects of ones
own choices

Knowledge and understanding of media and visual communication

Learning to recognize and study the use of basic techniques in the
following:
Photography
- photos in the media and as art
- technology and photographs
- advertisements, pictures on the news or in documentaries,
portraits, the photograph as art
- black and white, colour, digital, slides
- developing own photos if possible
- different types of cameras
- the photocopy machine as an aid to producing and manipulating
copies
Cinema and video art and television
- the basics of the movie as a narrative
- analysis of a movie
- filming

animation
angles, framing, editing
The television as a tool of communication
- analysis of a TV program and ones own habits of watching
Graphic design
- combining text and images
- different brand names
Comics and Cartoons
- styles of comics
- expressing ideas through cartoons

Visual Arts
Grade 7

Aims/objectives

Content

Students deepen and broaden their understanding and skills from

previous years
Visual expression and thinking
(refer to grades 5 6 curriculum)
Students are encouraged to develop knowledge and understanding of visual
thinking through the creative cycle. Students are guided to consider the
Students will:
following elements in their personal creative processes.
get to know the primary materials, techniques, tools and ways of elements of layout (line, colour, shape )
changing elements of imagery (line, surface, texture, light, shadow, space)
expression used to create art and visual communication
colour (primary colours, warm/cold colours, mixing/ fading colours)
styles and symbols in imagery
learn to enjoy expressing their own thoughts, observations, ideas
and feelings in a visual form and come to understand arts ways of Use of techniques
treating various phenomena of life
Drawing
- using a variety of tools for drawing e.g. the different harnesses of lead
pencils, charcoal, coloured pencils, graphite pencils, felts, wax crayons
still life sketching
come to understand the distinctive nature of the artistic process
Painting
while recording the course of their work
- use of a variety of painting techniques e.g. water colours, gouache,
felts, opaque paints, water soluble crayons, mixed techniques and
collage
choosing and using a variety of painting surfaces and papers
make good use of cultural services and electronic communication
Printing
sources for their work, information acquisition and experiences
- use of a variety of printing techniques
- studying the terminology of printing tools and techniques
- recognizing prints from other images
3D modelling and ceramics
- basic techniques of working with clay
get to know techniques of visual communication and its impact
- different materials and techniques of 3D modelling e.g. clay, wood,
and learn to use key tools of visual communication to express
stone, metal, recycling materials, natural materials, plaster, wire and
ones own thoughts in the media
snow
- traditions of sculpturing
Other
study and evaluate art, visual communication and the environment
- art in the environment/ environmental art
from the aesthetic and ethical perspective

work independently and as a community member in art projects

installation (site-specific)art
digital imagery
light/ sound/ movement in visual arts

Artistic knowledge and cultural expertise

understand the importance of communication through imagery
and learn to communicate through it*

experience and develop curiosity, interest and enjoyment of ones

own creativity and that of others*

studying the history of visual arts in different cultures around the world
studying contemporary visual arts globally
studying a variety of techniques in the history of visual arts
understanding different forms of visual arts
appreciating ones own art work
investigating and writing art critique
Knowledge and understanding of environmental aesthetics, architecture
and design

learn to reflect on, appreciate and evaluate ones own visual

expression and working approaches and that of others*

understand art as a reflection of place, people, time and culture

and develop a receptiveness to it*
* adapted or copied from MYP Arts September 2000; Aims and Objectives page 16

comparing the man made and natural environment and knowing the difference
between them
studying architecture in Finland and in different cultures around the world.
recognising some of Finlands important buildings
practising technical drawing and building of models of the surrounding and
other environments
studying imagery and designs in the immediate surroundings e.g. the
classroom, schoolyard, own home and neighbourhood
analysing hand made and industrial made products and their sustainability;
planning ones own product
becoming familiar with objects at home and school e.g. the relationship
between a place and a design
studying design cultures around the world as a reflection of time and culture
recognizing the work of famous designers
investigating the processes of industrial designing and making of products
designing sustainable products and objects
- the lifespan of an object, recycling materials and the effects of ones
own choices

Knowledge and understanding of media and visual communication

Researching, analysing and studying the use of basic techniques in the
following:
Photography
- photos in the media and as art
- technology and photographs
- advertisements, pictures on the news or in documentaries, portraits,
the photograph as art
- black and white, colour, digital, slides
- developing own photos if possible
- different types of cameras
- the photocopy machine as an aid to producing and manipulating copies
Cinema and video art and television
- the basics of the movie as a narrative
- analysis of a movie
- filming
- animation
- angles, framing, editing
The television as a tool of communication
- analysis of a TV program and ones own habits of watching
Graphic design
- combining text and images
- different brand names
Comics and Cartoons
- styles of comics
- expressing ideas through cartoons