Art 1 Curriculum for High School

When I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Art Education, I felt confident in my ability to create lesson plans. However, stepping into my first year of teaching, where I was responsible for Art 1 (beginning art) and Art 2, I quickly realized that theory and practice can be very different. I vividly remember coming home, spreading my college materials across the floor, and feeling completely overwhelmed.

After a brief moment of panic, I turned to a book on the Elements of Art and Principles of Design, which reignited my inspiration. If I were to start from scratch and teach someone how to draw, what would be the first things I would focus on? The answer was clear: LINE and SHAPE. This became the foundation for my first project.

That initial project, called “Bug Patterns,” involved students repeatedly drawing a shape and a bug. Although the results were visually impressive, the students found the project too easy, so I decided not to repeat it. This experience, however, taught me valuable lessons about student engagement and curriculum design.

Check out these Elements of Art and Principles of Design resources: 

• Elements of Art and Principles of Design bundle
• Elements of Art and Principles of Design Flash cards
• Elements of Art and Principles of Design Posters

Designing an Art Curriculum

Jump to the Art Curriculum Map

Over the past 15 years, my approach to teaching Art 1 has evolved, but that initial “aha” moment about the importance of incorporating the Elements of Art and Principles of Design remains a guiding foundation. Art 1 is often the only art class some students will take, so my goals for beginning art includes:

1. Teaching students how to draw.

2. Presenting a variety of concepts including art history/cultural contexts, and materials.

3. Incorporating “Some” of  the “Elements of Art and Principles of Design” into every unit (to eventually go over all of them by the end of the year)

4. Ensuring each unit builds on the previous one, allowing for continuous review and understanding of new concepts.

Perfecting the Art 1 curriculum has taken years and continues to evolve with each new generation of students. The art standards in California have also changed to align more closely with the National Standards: Creating, Presenting, Responding, and Connecting.

To meet these standards, each unit in my curriculum now includes:

1. Introduction to the Unit: Engaging students with active learning to explain the goals (Responding, Connecting, and possibly Creating).

2. Art History/Cultural Context: Providing inspiration for the project (Connecting, Presenting).

3. Practice/Experimentation: Teacher-led demonstrations (Connecting, Responding).

4. Research/Brainstorm: Encouraging creativity and connection (Creating, Connecting).

5. Project: The art production (Creating).

6. Critique: Facilitating constructive feedback (Responding).

7. Self Evaluation/Reflection: Promoting personal growth and understanding (Responding).

Art Curriculum Map

The art curriculum map is designed to introduce beginning art students to the basics of drawing and gradually build on those foundational skills. We begin the school year by familiarizing students with the class structure and guiding them in creating sketchbooks and portfolios. These tools will be used for every art unit throughout the year, ensuring a consistent and organized approach to their artistic development

 Our first drawing lesson (and a class favorite) is the Basic Drawing Skills with Wyland Project, where students learn to break down complex images of marine life into simple shapes like circles, squares, and triangles. This approach teaches students to think like artists, focusing on basic shapes that are easier to draw rather than the entire image. This project promotes basic drawing skills and builds confidence in our students’ beginning abilities which sets them up for success as they move on through the year. 

Following the Wyland project, we build on the skills they’ve learned by introducing perspective in the Fantasyscape Project. In this project, students learn to create depth and continue practicing contour drawings, further enhancing their understanding and application of drawing techniques. This methodical progression helps students develop assurance and competence in their artistic abilities, ensuring a solid foundation for more advanced art concepts. Each unit builds on the previous one, progressing from value shading in pencil during the first semester to value painting in the second semester.

Here is what our Art 1, beginning art curriculum looks like

1ST sEMESTER:

TPT Link to: 1st Semester Art 1 Curriculum – 6 units + Pre-instruction & Midterm

2nd sEMESTER:

TPT Link to: 2nd Semester Art 1 Curriculum – 7 Units + a Final

Our goal is to ensure that students not only learn how to draw but also understand the broader context of their work, engage in meaningful practice, and develop critical thinking skills through reflection and critique. 

This curriculum is the result of years of refinement, and as educators, we will continue to adjust and perfect it with each new group of students. Beginning the year with sketchbook and portfolio creation sets a strong foundation for their artistic journey. As we explore various techniques and projects, I am excited to witness the creativity and growth of each student.

Feel free to share your thoughts, experiences, and questions in the comments below. Let’s create and learn together!

If you are looking for an Art 2 Curriculum —> CLICK HERE

If you are an AP® Art and Design teacher, Check out our blog on Developing a Successful AP® Art and Design Curriculum!