Visual & Performing Arts

• Arts Integration in PAUSD
• Kennedy Center - Perspectives on Arts Integration
• Using the Arts as a Metric for Success

• Gunn Theatre website
• Paly Theatre website

What is Spectra Art and how does it work?

Spectra Art is PAUSD’s elementary art program. In PAUSD’s K-5 classrooms, teaching artists with exceptional visual art skills provide twenty-four lessons per year. These lessons are based on Visual Art Learning Targets that are aligned to the National Arts Standards. Students apply higher order thinking processes of imagining, decision-making, creating, and responding. Spectra Art lessons are scaffolded to build artistic confidence and risk-taking. Spectra Art gives students the tools to become artists, creative problem solvers, to build aesthetic language to articulate artistic understanding, and to 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 critical thinking, creativity, informed exploration of personal expression and collaboration.

What is the Spectra 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. Academic language is reinforced through 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.

• Kelly Martin, Director of VAPA
• Jenny Hunter, VAPA Program Assistant
• Emily Marshall, Art Education Secretary