K-8 Visual Arts

Visual Arts Program

The comprehensive K-8 visual arts program at the Cranbury School aligns to the 2020 NJ VPA Student Learning Standards while cultivating creativity. Our program is designed to emotionally transform students through inquiry-based, hands-on experiences; individual discovery and through the study and appreciation of works and processes from artists around the world. 

Traditional forms of art making are just as important as core content study to the development of the students’ appreciation for the visual world around them.  Students in the art room can develop social emotional competencies such as positive identity, relationship skills, decision making and self awareness through the experience and communication that occurs in our  visual arts.  

2020 NJ Student Learning Standards for Visual and Performing Arts

"Throughout time, the arts have served as a distinctive vehicle for self-discovery and a means of understanding the world in which we live."

To review the NJ Visual Arts standards, please click this link.

                                                             

Grade Level Course Descriptions

Kindergarten:  In addition to experiencing many opportunities to create art in the Kindergarten classroom, Cranbury students in kindergarten receive art instruction once per 6-day cycle, for the full school year. Over the course of the year, they will create various art projects using mixed media that includes crayon, paint, oil pastel, clay/glazing, and paper collage. Students will learn about the life and work of a great master, such as Georgia O’Keefe and Wassily Kandinsky. They will focus on color mixing, scissor skills, line work, and how to form objects with an array of shapes. We are working on cultivating creativity and confidence when using art tools.  

                                       

Julia C., Kandinsky Concentric Circle Study, Tempera Paint & Crayon, 2022.              Sophia B.,Paper Mosaic Sunset, Paper Collage, 2023

First Grade:  In addition to many opportunities to create art in the first grade classroom, Cranbury students in grade one receive art instruction once per 6-day cycle, for the full school year. Over the course of the year, they will create various art projects using mixed media that includes crayon, paint, oil pastel, and paper collage. Students will learn about the life and work of a great master, such as Salvatore Dali, Ted Harrison, and Paul Cezanne. They will focus on color mixing, line work, and how to form objects with an array of shapes. We are working on cultivating creativity and confidence when using art tools. 

         

Nora B., Cezanne Still Life Study, Tempera Paint, 2023.                                                 Nathaniel C., Ted Harrison Landscape, Watercolor, 2023.

                 

 

Second Grade: In addition to many opportunities to create art in the second grade classroom, Cranbury students in grade two receive art instruction once per 6-day cycle, for the full school year. Over the course of the year, they will create various art projects using mixed media that includes paint, oil pastel, clay/glazing, and sculpture techniques. Students will learn about the life and work of a great master, such as Vincent van Gogh, Frank Stella, and Mary Blair. They will focus on overlapping shapes, creating 3D artwork, and building on previous learned techniques. We are working on cultivating creativity and confidence when using art tools.

                                                           

Vera P., Starry Night, Oil Pastel & Watercolor, 2023                                                       Yash P., Frank Stella Study, Marker, 2022.

Third Grade:  Cranbury students in third grade receive art instruction once per 6-day cycle, for the full school year. Over the course of the school year, they will create various art projects using mixed media that includes oil pastel, watercolor techniques, ink blowing, and paper collage. Students will learn about the life and work of a great master, such as Vincent van Gogh and Denise Fiedler. They will focus on using oil pastel to create texture, using salt and plastic to change the effect of watercolor, and how we can look at art from other cultures to inspire our own work. We will continue to build on cultivating creativity and confidence in using various art tools.

                                                                                

Fourth Grade: Cranbury students in fourth grade receive art instruction once per 6-day cycle, for the full school year. Over the course of the school year, they will create various art projects using mixed media that includes paper collage, clay/glazing, and painting/oil pastel. Students will learn about the life and work of a great master, such as Henri Matisse. They will focus on how to manipulate and glaze clay, create an art piece in conjunction with climate change, and use paper collage to tell a story. We will continue to build on cultivating creativity and confidence in using various art tools.

Sixth Grade: Cranbury students in sixth grade receive art instruction four times per 6-day cycle, for one trimester. Over the course of the trimester, they will create various art projects using mixed media that includes clay/glazing,  color pencil, and watercolor. Students will learn about architecture, art in various cultures, and sculpture using clay.  We continue to build on cultivating creativity and confidence in using various art tools.

Seventh Grade: Cranbury students in seventh grade receive art instruction five times per 6-day cycle, for one trimester. Over the course of the trimester, they will create various art projects using mixed media that includes pen & ink, watercolor, and acrylic paint. Students will learn about using principles of art, advanced color mixing, and creating artwork related to climate change.  We continue to build on cultivating creativity and confidence in using various art tools.

Eighth Grade: Cranbury students in eighth grade receive art instruction five times per 6-day cycle, for one trimester. Over the course of the trimester, they will create various art projects using mixed media that includes color pencil, watercolor, and paper collage. Students in eighth grade continue a longtime Cranbury School tradition of creating a mandala.  This project started with the graduating class of 2012 and continues with every graduating eighth grade student.  Their artwork is transferred to a tile which is then affixed to the wall for a permanent class  installation art piece.  Students look forward to the project every school year.  In addition to their mandala, students focus on other self-reflective artwork  such as self-portraits, among others.  We continue to build on cultivating creativity and confidence in using various art tools. Eighth grade students can choose to take our full-year elective course, Advanced Visual Art. This course meets once per 6-day cycle for the entire school year. Students have the opportunity to explore various art techniques in more depth and create an original work as part of an independent study.

All students in grades 3-8 will have a real world opportunity to showcase at least two pieces of artwork at one of the three Cranbury School Art Gallery events that take place during the school year.  Two pieces of artwork from all K-2 students will be displayed in a separate event scheduled in May.  Families are invited to attend the gallery events to experience the inspiring and creative products that represent the development of the creative and expressive skills fostered through the visual arts curriculum.  The Chief School Administrator/Principal of Cranbury School, in collaboration with the art teacher, will recognize outstanding works of art from each art show, with a ribbon. These works will be included in the following year’s school calendar.   

In the month of March, Cranbury students will be showcased at the Cranbury Arts Council Gourgaud Gallery in Townhall for National Youth Art Month.  Around 60 pieces of artwork are chosen from kindergarten through eighth grade.  Criterion used for selecting the Gallery artwork include technique, originality, and showcasing the student’s unique strengths and

talents. Student artwork will include paintings, drawings, and sculpture, amongst others. The Gourgaud Gallery is located in Town Hall 23-A North Main Street, Cranbury, NJ and is free

and open to the public.  A gallery opening reception takes place in the beginning of the month of March.  Please check our school calendar for the date.