Middle School Art

Middle School Art Program

Visual Arts in Central Bucks is required in grades 7 and 8, and an elective in grade 9.

Seventh Grade

Visual Arts 7 is a nine week course that builds upon the skills emphasized in the elementary art program. Students focus on the studio units of drawing, painting, linoleum printing, ceramics and sculpture. Students produce a variety of two and three-dimensional art works. Art History is integrated throughout the course, from pre-historic through Renaissance Art. Students continue to develop knowledge and skills in the disciplines of art criticism, aesthetics and philosophy through various activities including critiques, class discussions, reflections and writings.

Eigthth Grade
Visual Arts 8 is a nine week course that builds upon the skills emphasized in the elementary and the seventh grade programs. Students focus on advanced intermediate skills and concepts in such areas as of drawing, painting, commercial art, architecture, crafts, and animation. In Art History, students study the artistic styles of the last 150 years beginning with Impressionism up through the end of the twentieth century. Architectural styles and concepts from ancient times through the present day will be explored. Students continue to develop knowledge and skills in the disciplines of Art Criticism, Aesthetics and Philosophy, through various activities including critiques, class discussions, reflections, and writings.

Ninth Grade Electives

Our middle schools offer several options for our ninth grade students, which include: Drawing and Painting I, Introduction to Ceramics, Three-Dimensional Design, Art I, and *Photography I (*at Lenape only).

Drawing & Painting I
This course is worth 1/2 credit, and meets every other day for 45 minutes for the entire school year. This course is open to all students in grades 9-12 who enjoy two dimensional work. Emphasis is placed on developing basic drawing and painting skills and techniques. A variety of media will be used. The fundamentals of composition as found in the elements and principles of design will be used when drawing and painting from life and imagination, using realistic and abstract themes.

Introduction to Ceramics
This course is worth 1/2 credit, and meets every other day for 45 minutes for the entire school year. This is a beginning level course focusing on hand building methods of ceramic production, such as pinch, coil, and slab techniques, as well as two- and three-dimensional design principles using ceramic media, and the significance of clay to human historical development in ancient and contemporary primitive cultures, including China, Japan, Africa, the Americas, Greece and Rome. A variety of topics and experiences will provide students with a foundation for further in-depth course work in ceramics.

3-Dimensional Design

This course is worth 1/2 credit, and meets every other day for 45 minutes for the entire school year.

Students will be introduced to three-dimensional art through the integration of concepts and skills associated with sculpture, crafts and industrial design. Students will be exposed to a wide range of concepts, media, and techniques, as well as art history and current trends in three-dimensional design. Students will create a variety of projects using materials such as metal, clay, wax, wood and plaster.

*3-D Design is the only art elective not yet offered at either of the high schools.

Art I
This course is worth 1 credit, and meets every day for 45 minutes for the entire school year. This course is open to all students who are interested in beginning an advanced exploratory study of art. Students will build upon what they learned in grades 1 - 8 as they learn new skills and techniques, with an emphasis upon drawing and design. Students will have introductory and developmental experiences in sculpture, drawing, three-dimensional design, painting, mixed media, career study, art criticism, art history and philosophy.

Photography I
Students will study the basic principles of exposing, developing, and printing 35 mm black and white film. Care and use of the camera and darkroom equipment and the fundamentals of good photography will be emphasized. Cultural influences on the artist/ photographer and historical development of the media will be studied. Each student MUST have a use of a 35 mm camera with MANUALLY ADJUSTABLE controls for focus, aperture, and shutter speed.

Each of our five middle schools has a unique personality. Please, visit our schools and see a sampling of the exciting work being done by the young artists throughout our district.
Holicong	Lenape	Tamanend	Tohickon	Unami