Visual Arts and Design Enduring Understanding  1
Creative Processes – Visual Art and Design is the process of creative problem solving using both traditional and innovative media, tools, techniques, and processes in order to make the imagined visible.
Elementary Assessment Targets
Students formulate ideas for creating their own works of art and design using brainstorming strategies, sketching, and journaling; use a variety of media, techniques, and processes to express thoughts, feelings, and ideas; and apply basic art concepts (e.g., line, color, shape, texture, and pattern).
GSEs for Grades K-2
VAD 1 (K-2)-1
Students demonstrate knowledge and application of Visual Art and Design concepts by…
a. identifying and exploring basic VAD concepts: line, shape, form, texture, color, pattern, and contrast
b. experimenting with a variety of strategies and techniques to address artistic problems (e.g., "What colors will I use to make a cloudy sky?")
c. exploring  visual representation based on observation
d. maintaining a portfolio of self-created art work and explaining basic art concepts learned
VAD 1 (K-2) – 2
Students demonstrate knowledge and skill of media, tools, techniques, and processes of Visual Art and Design by…
a.  recognizing and exploring media, tools, techniques, and processes while creating two- and three- dimensional works of art and design (e.g., media, tools, and techniques in drawing, painting, mixed media, sculpture, ceramics, digital media)
b. Demonstrating knowledge of basic art vocabulary relating to describing lines, colors, and shapes

Visual Arts and Design Enduring Understanding  2
Cultural Contexts – Visual Art and Design creatively expresses the values and ideas of human experience, community, and civilization.~
Elementary Assessment Targets
Students recognize ways that works of art express unique characteristics based on culture, time, and place.
GSEs for Grades K-2
-VAD 2(K-2)-1
Students demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the role of Visual Art and Design in personal, cultural, and historical contexts by…
a. identifying a variety of purposes for making visual art and design (e.g., telling a story, communicating ideas and emotions, creating functional objects)
b. recognizing connections between Visual Arts and Design and other disciplines (e.g., clothes are designed by artists; scientists study objects by drawing them)
c. Identifying a variety of things that an artist does (e.g. designing shoes, desks, packaging, creating expressive images and sculptures)
e. recognizing how the visual arts and design are different and similar in different cultures or times

Visual Arts and Design Enduring Understanding 3
Communication – Visual Art and Design is a vehicle for expression and communication through the use and development of metaphor and symbol systems.
Elementary Assessment Targets
Students create works of art using VAD concepts to communicate their observations, ideas, and emotions and discuss works of art using VAD vocabulary.
GSEs for Grades K-2
VAD 3 (K-2) –1
Students demonstrate the ability to communicate in the language of Visual Art and Design by…
a. exploring media, techniques, processes, and visual arts and design concepts to convey feelings, ideas, or meaning
b. exploring the use of colors, shapes, and lines to create a unique expression representing a feeling, idea or meaning
c. identifying how visual symbols in everyday life represent meaning (e.g., red traffic lights tell us to stop; packages with friendly cartoon characters tell us that the product is good)
d. identifying how their own works of art or design are symbolic representations of  events, ideas, feelings, or beliefs
VAD 3 (K-2) –2
Students demonstrate the ability to extract meaning from works of art by…
a. identifying subject matter and basic feelings evoked (e.g., a mother loving her child)

Visual Arts and Design Enduring Understanding  4
Aesthetic - Applying knowledge of Visual Art and Design in order to reflect on and evaluate the work of self and others.
Elementary Assessment Targets
Students make observations and ask probing questions to demonstrate an understanding about the process for gaining meaning from works of art and design.
GSEs for Grades K-2
VAD 4 (K-2) –1
Students reflect upon, analyze and evaluate the work of self and others by…
a. describing subject matter, colors, shapes, and story seen in a work of art or design using affirmative statements
d. asking questions about other’s artwork relating to subject matter, colors, and shapes to gain a deeper understanding of the artwork’s meaning (e.g., Why is there so much red?)
e. contributing in individual or group discussions about work in which the student gives and receives constructive criticism
f. comparing one’s own work with the work of others by recognizing similarities and differences of subject matter, colors and shapes