The Arts
Class
1
Statement of Intent
The arts bring balance between head, heart and hand. Throughout the school year, the Lower School maxim 'The World is Beautiful' is an inherent part of every lesson and activity. The arts are utilized for their therapeutic and curative aspects.
The basic skills taught in Class 1 will be developed over a period of years.
Every child will have the opportunity to express their responses to lessons and activities in one or more of the artistic disciplines in every Main Lesson and in most practice lessons.
Experiences
An artistic component is present in every lesson and activity.
The children are exposed to a variety of artistic experiences and activities throughout the school day and the school year. The visual arts may be found woven through the fabric of any academic content.
In Class 1, the children are being taught a particular technique of working with water colour paints and crayons which is intended to develop an artistic capability and appreciation, and also to have a healing effect upon their emotional life.
The qualities of the painted colours and their interactions are expressed through story and activity. Only the primary colours are used initially, and the secondary colours are later discovered through their interaction. Simple colour exercises drawn from the quality of the colours themselves form the basis of the year’s painting lessons; later in the year the mood of a story can be reflected in paintings.
Paintings at this level are not intended to be depictions of forms but rather colour or mood experiences. Bringing forms into painting belongs more appropriately to a later stage, towards Class 3.
Drawing lessons may consist of learning how to use the wax block crayons, a medium with similar qualities to water colours. The children will learn to layer the colour on gently and carefully, building up the same colour or mixing different colours, to form a new shade or a new colour.
They will learn how to find hidden within the form and colour a simple gesture of human, animal or plant and these exercises will bring confidence and an inner sense of satisfaction to Class 1 children.
Form and gesture are found from the inside out and hard outlines are to be avoided.
The teacher will model for the children most aspects of drawing, painting and sculpting (beeswax or other warm materials– clay is best kept for later years). Working from example gives the children ample opportunity to discover the subtleties of the various media and to progress their skills. Eventually they will feel more confidence in the way they might individually express their creativity, extend their artistic work and create their own style.
Artistic layout and presentation will be teacher-directed and modelled throughout the year.
Waldorf Achievement Objectives
Soul and Emotional Development:
The children will be led towards
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Getting to know the characteristics of the primary colours and the moods that they evoke
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Developing confidence in their artistic expression
Within the expected range of Class 1, the children will be able to:
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use colour appropriately within given contexts
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use crayons to follow a teacher-guided picture accurately
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use crayons to create their own pictures
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apply water colour paints with purpose
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sculpt forms in bees wax or other suitable medium
Class
2
Statement of Intent
The arts bring balance between head, heart and hand. Throughout the school year, the Lower School maxim 'The World is Beautiful' is an inherent part of every lesson and activity. The arts are utilized for their therapeutic and curative aspects.
Experiences
The children continue to be taught and guided in their developing abilities to use water colour paints and crayons artistically.
The quality of colour is deepened and extended in painting lessons throughout the year; the artistic uses of wax crayons are continuously developed, and aspects of stories can be sculpted (beeswax or other, warm, material – clay is best kept for later years).
The teacher will continue to model for the children an appropriate range of presentation in all written work and most illustrations.
Copying high-quality work modelled by the teacher gives the children a basis on which to build skills and they will, at their own pace, extend their artistic work and create their own style.
Waldorf Achievement Objectives
Soul and Emotional Development:
The children will be led towards
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A sense for the quality and interactions of colour
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Strengthening confidence in their artistic expression
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A sense of living in beauty within their artistic experience
Within the expected range of Class 2, the children will be able to:
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use colour appropriately within given contexts
-
use crayons to follow a teacher-guided picture accurately
-
use crayons to create their own pictures
-
apply water colour paints with purpose
-
sculpt forms in bees wax or other suitable medium
Class
3
Statement of Intent
The arts bring balance between head, heart and hand. Throughout the school year, the Lower School maxim 'The World is Beautiful' is an inherent part of every lesson and activity. The arts are utilized for their therapeutic and curative aspects.
Through teacher guided experiences the children learn that everyone can be an artist and that beauty is all around us.
Every child will have the opportunity to express their responses to lessons and activities in one or more of the artistic disciplines in every Main Lesson and in most specialist lessons.
In Class 3 the children will be encouraged to attend to their physical environment, taking responsibility for maintaining it in a harmonious, artistic and attractive manner.
Lessons
Visual Arts
The children are extending their palette of water colours. A sequence of paintings for the separation of Ranginui-te-Po and Papatūānuku and the ensuing creation of the world, or of the seven days of Creation can set the tone for the reflective quality of painting through the year.
The children are also developing their skill in painting forms and shapes.
The intention of drawing is to illustrate processes and details, and capture gestures of plants and animals facilitates the development of attention to detail.
The children will have many opportunities to sculpt, using clay or wax.
Waldorf Achievement Objectives
Soul and Emotional Development:
The children will be led towards
-
A sense for the quality and interactions of colour
-
Confidence in their artistic expression
Within the expected range of Class 3, the children will be able to:
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Use colour appropriately within given contexts
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Draw illustrations with some attention to detail
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Apply water colour paints effectively
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Sculpt in bees wax or clay
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Class
4
Statement of Intent
The arts bring balance between head, heart and hand. Throughout the school year, the Lower School maxim 'The World is Beautiful' is an inherent part of every lesson and activity. The arts are utilized for their therapeutic and curative aspects.
Through teacher guided experiences the children learn that everyone can be an artist and that beauty is all around us.
Every child will have the opportunity to express their responses to lessons and activities in one or more of the artistic disciplines in every Main Lesson and in most specialist lessons.
In Class 3 the children will be encouraged to attend to their physical environment, taking responsibility for maintaining it in a harmonious, artistic and attractive manner.
Lessons
Visual Arts
The children’s artistic abilities continue to develop; in this year, the dynamic portrayal of animals is added to their repertoire. The teacher will model the style of drawing at first; copying gives the children a basis on which to build skills and they will, at their own pace, extend their artistic work and create their own style.
The understanding of the quality of colour is deepened and extended in painting lessons throughout the year.
Children will now use colour pencils in their artwork.
Creating accurate, colourful woven forms and studying kowhaiwhai patterns will provide opportunities for the children to develop their understanding of traditional designs, and their proficiency with form and colour.
Other media such as pastels can be introduced.
Clay or wax modelling will continue to develop, with animals as well as many of the figures from Norse mythology being created.
The children are encouraged to produce quality Main Lesson books , with artistic layout and presentation which continues to be developed from the preceding years.
Waldorf Achievement Objectives
Soul and Emotional Development: The children will be led towards
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Deepening the quality and interactions of colour
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Confidence in their artistic expression
Within the expected range of Class 4, the children will be able to:
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Use colour appropriately within given contexts
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Accurately draw illustrations with attention to detail
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Apply water colour paints effectively
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Sculpt an animal, human or plant form in clay or wax
Class
5
Statement of Intent
The arts are an inherent part of every lesson, sometimes as a form of response to what has been learned or understood, sometimes as a component of characterisation of a specific epoch, and often both.
Experiencing the artistic expression of a civilization, culture or people serves to develop an appreciation of the beliefs and aesthetics of others; this can help to establish connections at a soul level which will ultimately transform into respect for, and tolerance of the diversity we encounter in our modern lives.
Integrating the arts in the scientific subjects maintains a soul connection to subject matter. Drawing and painting the world around them or composing music or poetry in response to an experience in nature can fulfil a soul-spiritual need to surround itself with that which is beautiful and harmonious.
Participating in life artistically and creatively can be an antidote to the increasingly passive, reactive and virtual quality of our interaction with the world.
Lessons
Visual Arts
Inherent in every lesson and activity is an artistic component. The children's artistic abilities begin to take on maturity in this year. The dynamic drawing and painting of plants and the plant life cycle is added to their repertoire. The teacher will model the style of drawing at first; copying gives the children a basis on which to build skills and they will, at their own pace, extend their artistic work and create their own style.
The quality of colour is deepened and extended in painting lessons throughout the year; the artistic uses of wax block crayons could continue, and the students also extend their artistic abilities with coloured pencils.
Clay modelling will continue to develop.
The children’s books will continue to be composed to a high standard, showing artistic layout, use of colour and thoughtful presentation.
Waldorf Achievement Objectives
Soul and Emotional Development: The children will be led towards
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Deepening the quality and interactions of colour
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Confidence in their artistic expression
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An appreciation of the diversity of artistic expression across the ages and civilizations
Within the expected range of Class 5, the children will be able to:
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Use colour appropriately within given contexts
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Accurately draw illustrations and representations, with attention to detail
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Apply water colour paints effectively
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Sculpt an animal, human or plant form in clay
Class
6
Statement of Intent
The arts are an inherent part of every lesson, sometimes as a form of response to what has been learned or understood, sometimes as a component of characterization of a specific epoch or subject, and often both.
Integrating the arts in the scientific subjects provides an important balance to the increasingly intellectual engagement with new understandings and processes.
The emphasis of this year should be on exploring the arts, crafts and music of the Pacific nations and Australia.
Artistic representations of the world around them can fulfil a soul-spiritual need to surround themselves with that which is beautiful and harmonious.
Participating in life artistically and creatively can be an antidote to the increasingly passive, reactive and virtual quality of our interaction with the world.
Lessons
Visual Arts
Inherent in every lesson and activity is an artistic component. The children are being taught and guided in their developing artistic abilities.
Chalk pastels may be introduced in Class 6.
The children could be introduced to drawing with charcoal and explore light and shadow, and their meeting points.
Painting lessons continue and may now include the mixed media of crayon and water paint, and dry painting can be introduced.
The children's books will continue to be composed to a high standard, showing thoughtful, relevant layout, skilful use of colour and generally coherent presentation.
Waldorf Achievement Objectives
Soul and Emotional Development: The children will be led towards
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Experiencing their growing competence with and understanding of colour
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Confidence in their artistic expression
Within the expected range of Class 6, the children will be able to:
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Use colour appropriately within given contexts
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Accurately draw illustrations and representations, with attention to detail
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Apply water colour paints effectively
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Draw carefully and accurately with charcoal and/or chalk pastels
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Achieve required results with mixed media – e.g., crayon and paint
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Class
7
Statement of Intent
The arts are an inherent part of every lesson and activity throughout the school year. The children have been taught through example that everyone can be an artist and that beauty is all around us.
It is very important for the wellbeing of children turning thirteen that they continue to be exposed to artistically presented lessons and activities and that they are encouraged to develop their own approach and style of art.
The balance and interaction of academic learning and the arts are vital in the overall development of healthy, well-balanced teenagers.
Through studying the masters of the Renaissance, they will further develop their use of colour and perspective. The art of foreshortening may be introduced and practised, and the interplay of light and shadow will form another aspect of the children’s artistic development this year.
Their books are always expected to be composed to a high standard; artistic layout and presentation may now be expected to be designed and executed by the children with little teacher modelling required.
Waldorf Achievement Objectives
Soul and Emotional Development: The children will be led towards
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A sense of artistic competence and achievement
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A deeper understanding of the importance of art to humanity through the ages and across cultures
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Authentic experiences of artistic expression
Within the expected range of Class 7, the children will be able to:
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Use colour appropriately
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Analyse and express the interplay of light and shadow in an artistic work
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Use perspective techniques accurately
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Copy given art works