EUSD Art Program
Building Connections through Art

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One of the overarching goals of EUSD is to create independent thinkers who are lifelong learners. Art is a powerful tool to foster collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and the informed exploration built into a CA Common Core Education.

Elementary Art Program Social Emotional Goals:

• Designed to provide students the tools to express themselves and their passions.
  
• “Scaffolded” lessons build confidence and risk-taking as artists.
  
• In-class art projects which allow students to be the “experts” and demonstrate their learning to Peers.
  

Elementary Art Program Academic Goals:

• Sequential art curriculum building connections to prior knowledge aligned with prior grade level visual arts targets.
  
• Curriculum is aligned to grade level content curriculum whenever possible.
  
• Curriculum is aligned to the new CA Visual and Performing Arts Standards; Creating, Presenting, Responding, Refining.
  
• Curriculum is aligned to the the National Visual and Performing Arts Standards (VAPA)
  

High School Art Academic Goals:

• Sequential art curriculum building connections to prior knowledge aligned with prior grade or elective level visual arts targets.
  
• Curriculum is aligned to grade level content curriculum and elective class level.
  
• The new CA Visual and Performing Arts Standards; Creating, Presenting, Responding.
  
• Curriculum is aligned to the the National Visual and Performing Arts Standards (VAPA)
  
• Visual Arts at EUSD enjoys abundant community support from the Emeryville 45th st. Artists Cooperative, the city of Emeryville, KALA arts institute, and visiting local legends.
  
• Curriculum is developed to teach equity and build social justice by addressing the real world lived experiences of our students and community members.
  
• Curriculum is developed to teach essential skills for academic and employment success such as: creative thinking, collaboration, designing, investigation, inventing, testing, rebuilding, and swift iteration, with an emphasis on visual communication skills and using art to make the world better than you found it.
  

Alignment to Common Core Standards:

• Close reading - students investigate visual texts in hands-on lessons with the District Art Teachers, through Internet research and art field trips.
  
• Cross - curricular connections - art lessons are integrated into the grade level content areas.
  
• Provides an explicit K-5 learning progression- EUSD Art curriculum is a sequential progression of skills from kindergarten through 5th grade.
  
• High School: provides an explicit elective learning process from Art 1 to Advanced Art & Painting through AP Art · Builds transferable vocabulary in support of all students: academic vocabulary is reinforced in art lessons.