emily binderI have had the opportunity to teach elementary through high school art, but I especially enjoy teaching elementary students and I am so excited to be teaching art at Ironton!  I believe art is an essential part of education, especially in elementary school.  One of my favorite things about art is that it combines every subject students already learn about and while students learn about different techniques and artistic movements, they also learn how to solve problems, think creatively, express themselves, and build confidence.  I hope to help students realize that art is all around us!  I believe that no matter where you live or work or go during the day, you can’t go a day in your life without seeing art.  It is in the architecture of the buildings we walk in to, the clothes we wear, the pictures in magazines and books, and so many other places.  I hope I can help students learn to appreciate art and express themselves!Below is a list of some of the general topics each grade learns about in the art curriculum.

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In kindergarten, students will learn about how to control tools used in art, know the names of colors, explore visual vs. tactile texture, draw different types of lines, identify geometric shapes, learn how to create a form out of clay, how history and culture relate to art, create patterns, and find out how art can tell a story.



In first grade, students will learn about how primary colors are mixed to create secondary colors, understand different uses of lines in art, identify geometric and organic shapes, understand the difference between visual and tactile texture, see how history and culture influence art,  understand themes in art (portrait, landscape, still life), learn various techniques with clay, practice controlled cutting with scissors, understand symmetry and balance, learn about three-dimensional forms and sculpture, and learn how to use pattern as a decorative element.



Students in second grade will continue to explore some of the concepts learned in art so far, such as mixing primary colors to create secondary colors, the difference between visual and tactile texture, how history and culture relate to art, and how to use patterns and lines as a decorative element.  Second graders will also learn about how art can express a personal experience, understand how symbols can be used in art, continue to practice drawing and painting skills, and create three dimensional forms.



In third grade, students will continue to expand their knowledge and abilities in art.  They will continue to increase proficiency in the use of art tools, learn how history and culture are important to art, as well as the relationship between art and society, and continue to build on previous knowledge of color theory.  Students in third grade will also learn about functional art, be able to describe and use more of the elements and principles of art, practice drawing from real life, and use shapes to create form and realistic representations.



In fourth grade, students will expand their art vocabulary and continue to learn about the relationships between history, culture, society and art.  They will learn more about color theory, understand proportions in drawing, recognize that shapes can be used to represent real things and lines can be used to create emphasis and movement, understand the concept of value and gradation of color, see how the elements and principles of art relate to each other, learn how to order space and create depth by having a foreground, middle ground and background, and recognize and use a focal point in their composition.



Fifth grade students will continue to improve their skills with various art materials and techniques, know that art makes a personal statement and can influence opinions, understand why artists use specific elements in their work, continue to study the relationship between history, culture, art and society, continue to use and learn about how the elements and principles of art can be used in their work, explore color theory and mixing their own colors, use a focal point to create emphasis, use emphasis by establishing a focal point, and use different techniques to create a free standing form.