What’s the Big Idea?

What’s the Big Idea?

Did you know that the new Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Fine Arts encourage teaching through themes and big ideas? Students are “expected to explore and communicate ideas drawn from life experience about self, peers, family, school, or community and from the imagination as sources for original works of art.” They are also expected to “develop global awareness and respect for the traditions and contributions of diverse cultures.”

HUMAN COMMONALITIES

All humans share:

A Search for MeaningThe Life Cycle of Birth, Growth, Death

The Use of Symbols to Express thoughts and Emotions

The Arts as a Universal LanguageThe Ability to Recall the Past and Anticipate the

FutureA Need for Belonging

A Need to Work and Be ProductiveConnections with the Natural World

Explorations in Art, 4th Grade, Unit 5, Davis Publications

A Tradition of QuiltingTraditions of Quilting

A Tradition of Paper CuttingTraditions

Molas: A Cloth Tradition

Student work, 4th grade.