The New York State Standards in education have been incorporated into the art curriculum of the Commack School District for some time now. Beginning with kindergarten and continuing through the second grade, line, color, texture, shape and/or form are the basis for the projects that the students create. We use a variety of materials in the Art Room, and by doing so, the children develop skills to use the different mediums. They also learn to make creative decisions based on the type of material being used.
All of the students are introduced to various artists, art styles and cultures throughout the school year. They learn to make observations about artwork and begin to form opinions based on our discussions. Our second graders have the added experience of viewing actual pieces of artwork when we visit the Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington.
The skills that the children develop are evident when we view their completed projects. The incorporation of the New York State Standards into the art curriculum has certainly helped strengthen our children's skills and creativity.