What is the K-5 Spectra Art Program and how does it work?
Spectra Art is PAUSD’s elementary art program. In PAUSD’s K-5 classrooms, highly skilled teaching artists provide 24, 50-minute lessons per year. These lessons are based on Visual Art Learning Targets, aligned to the National Arts Standards, and are structured to promote student higher order thinking processes of imagining, decision-making, creating, critical thinking, and responding. Spectra Art lessons are scaffolded to build artistic confidence and risk-taking. The program gives students the tools to become artists: to creative problem solve, build aesthetic language, articulate artistic understanding, and engage in a rich tradition of current and past culture. Visual Art is critical to connecting students to visual literacy and their own individual creative resources. It’s also a powerful way to foster informed exploration of personal expression and collaboration.
What is the Spectra Art Curriculum?
The Spectra Arts curriculum is a standards-based curriculum that is built upon PAUSD VAPA Department Sequential Learning Targets, and the National Visual Arts Standards. Spectra teachers participate in monthly professional development every year to collaborate and refine their teaching practice. Our lessons build in a number of areas, including exploring and applying the elements of art and principles of design, creating a foundational understanding of art making skills, and building strong aesthetic understanding. Students explore a wide variety of subjects, genre, artists, styles, and materials, and academic language is reinforced throughout art lessons. Additionally, the curriculum is designed to include open ended lessons, which foster personal creative responses and provide unique social emotional learning experiences using art.
What is the Meet and Make: Artist Inspired Art Program?
Meet and Make: Artist-Inspired Art (M&M) is an elementary level art history and art experience involving a two-part classroom presentation. Students learn how famous artists communicate through their art and then create a related work of art. A volunteer docent explores slides and other resources, engaging students in highly interactive conversations. Both lessons are approximately 50 minutes long and are age-appropriate. The program is available to all K-5th teachers and there is no cost to participate in the program. A sign-up link is sent to all PAUSD K-5th teachers in early September.
What is the K-4 Music Program and how does it work?
In Kindergarten through 3rd grades, all students in each of the twelve elementary schools receive 30 minutes of music instruction each week taught by credentialed music teachers. Students learn to keep a steady beat, sing in a variety of styles, match pitch, play small percussion instruments, and begin to sing and read solfege.
In 4th grade, students receive music instruction twice each week for 40 minutes. Students extend their musical skills by singing, practicing solfege, and learning to play the recorder. The district music curriculum is conceptual and sequential and is based on the National Core Arts standards. Students develop foundation skills in music, as well as alternative ways to perceive and experience the world. Students learn through practice, active participation, creative expression and performance of works of art.
What is the 5th grade Instrumental music program and how does it work?
In the fifth grade, all students learn to play a Wind or String Instrument. Students start from the very beginning on their instruments. However, teachers differentiate their instruction to support students who are not beginners by allowing them to choose a different instrument, shift into a different position, play notes an octave higher, or serve as a mentor for beginners. To deliver this instruction, a team of music teachers travels to each elementary school concurrently. The "Music Team" consists of band and string teachers. If a student chooses a wind instrument: flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, or euphonium, they will participate in band. If a student chooses a string instrument: violin, viola, cello, and double bass, students will participate in the string orchestra. Instruction occurs twice a week for a total of eighty minutes.
What Visual and Performing Arts classes are available in Middle School?
In Visual and Performing Arts Middle School classes, students have the opportunity to explore music, theater, and various visual art forms. Students learn through active practice and performance of their work and strengthen their creative skills. For more information on classes offered, please visit the Middle School VAPA websites and school course catalogs.
What Visual and Performing Arts classes are available in High School?
The classes offered in our Visual and Performing Arts Department meet the fine arts requirements for graduation and most are approved by the A-G UC requirements. Our programs teach skills to create and appreciate art through hands-on learning, as well as theory, formal principles, and cultural history. Students explore beauty, the spectrum of human emotion, and how creativity connects us. Students complete our courses with enhanced skills in their chosen art discipline and gain insight into who they are: every performance or work of art is a reflection of the artist/s who created it. For more information on classes offered, please visit the High School VAPA websites and school course catalogs.
