The goal of Gerstell Academy’s Lower School Art Program is to develop in our students an understanding of the foundations of art and art history. Current classroom themes are incorporated into their art projects, along with an emphasis on leadership. Students in all grades learn to view and appreciate great works of art and study a variety of artists and artistic styles.
Lower School Art also introduces students to set design and construction. Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 5 students create the scenery and backdrops for our dramatic and musical productions.
Gerstell Academy's Lower School Art program focuses on historical and analytical aspects of art with strong emphasis on creativity and active participation by all students. The Elements of Art provide the foundation and framework for student projects and discussion.
Students in the primary grades focus on Color, Line, and Shape. They learn to recognize different kinds of lines and colors in nature and use them in their own artwork.
Students in first and second grades continue exploring Color, Line, & Shape as well as Form and Texture. They learn about the art and architecture of the civilizations they study in their social studies units.
Students in third grade utilize Color, Line, Shape, Form, Texture, Light, Space, and Value. They learn how these Elements of Art work together and explore how artists make two-dimensional art appear three-dimensional.
Students in fourth grade continue developing their understanding of the Elements of Art. Their projects reflect the artistic styles popular in the Middle Ages, in Islamic cultures, and during the American Revolutionary Period.
Students in the fifth grade review the Elements of Art and develop their use of symmetry in tessellations and portraiture. They are introduced to the major artists and masterworks of the Renaissance.
