New NCAS Standards Packet

My principal asked me to create a "packet" for an AH credit.  Basically, a checklist of what a student needed to complete in order to receive an AH credit.  So, I reviewed the National Core Art Standards and came up with the basic criteria.  As an artist, the standards fit really well into what is expected of  you in College courses and your basic "best practices" as an artist.  That's also what I kept in mind when constructing this packet checklist.  So here it is.....

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This at least gives you an idea.....

With these standards in mind, you basically have 2 artworks, 1 research paper and 1 whole class activity to determine evaluation criteria.  The 2 artworks select from subject matter (a) social, cultural, political issue and (b) an extension of subject matter in another discipline.

The steps you take in order to create an artwork match the new standards, but also are exactly what you would be doing in a college class.  You sketch to generate ideas, you conduct an artistic investigation of subject matter, inspiration and media, you make an artwork, you clean up and respect the materials and environment, you have a mid crit with a peer/mentor, and you write an artist statement.  The research paper includes the responding to and connecting with an art exhibition criteria.  You do this process twice with different subject matter, and you have completed your HS credit for AH.  

So far, it's super easy to manage, students can work at their own pace, you can scaffold the student at whatever level they are on and students feel respected b/c you aren't talking at them, you are talking with them regarding something that they want to make.  So far, it works.  Of course this is for high school or independent study/individualized programs.  Elementary and Middle are a little more defined (especially in the current standards) but can also be detailed to the point where classes can pick an issue and a media they want to pursue, then you support them in their development and curiosity.  Something that also killed me in an art class was the teacher picks one media, one picture to make and then the students have to copy you.  That's not critical thinking, that's not 21st century, that's producing little robots.  And being an artist, is NOT being a robot!  We behead, paint the robot and then write an artist statement stating it's in the name Economic Crisis!