South Sudan Primary 4 Curriculum - The Arts

Introduction

The Arts hold a significant place in the South Sudan primary curriculum, fostering creativity, cultural understanding, and personal development. The curriculum emphasizes an active learning approach, focusing on practical application, skill development, and understanding. The Arts curriculum is designed to be exciting and engaging for both learners and teachers, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of South Sudan while introducing students to diverse artistic styles and approaches.

Curriculum Framework

The Arts curriculum falls within the broader South Sudan Curriculum Framework, which outlines the overall goals of education, encompassing values, principles, and student competencies. These competencies are developed across all subjects, including The Arts, within the context of South Sudanese heritage and culture.

Subject Strands

The Arts curriculum comprises four interconnected strands:

• Visual Arts & Craft: This strand focuses on creating and appreciating visual art forms. Students engage in two- and three-dimensional work using various media. They develop skills in perceiving, exploring, responding to, and appreciating the visual world, including regional craft traditions.
• Music and Dance: This strand involves listening, responding, performing, choreographing, and composing. Learners explore sounds, learn to play instruments, and develop an appreciation for diverse musical styles, including the rich South Sudanese repertoire. Dance activities encourage expressive movement, exploration of body movements, and communication of moods and feelings.
• Drama: This strand uses interrelated activities to explore feelings, knowledge, and ideas. Students explore themes and issues within real, imagined, or historical contexts, developing their understanding of the world. They learn to make decisions and take responsibility within the safe context of drama.
• Critical Appreciation of the Arts: This strand emphasizes evaluating and appreciating art as an integral part of the creative process. It is linked to developing creative skills, knowledge, understanding, and enhancing enjoyment of the arts.

Progression and Assessment

Assessment in The Arts considers all aspects of learning, including the creative process, skill acquisition, knowledge of tools and techniques, understanding of the art world, and the ability to respond to and reflect on artwork. Assessment focuses on four key areas: generating ideas, making art, evaluating art, and experiencing art forms. Formative assessment is integrated into the teaching and learning process through observation, conversation, and product appraisal.

Syllabus Units

The Arts curriculum for Primary 4 typically includes 4 to 6 syllabus units, each covering a specific topic or theme. These units are further divided into lessons and activities. The units are designed to be flexible, allowing teachers to adapt them based on school resources and community events. Examples of units in other primary levels include: "Pottery," "Tuneful Accompaniments," "Sounds and Symbols," "Express Yourself," "Verbal or Non-Verbal Communication," and "Models and Materials." Cross-cutting issues such as peace education, environmental awareness, sustainability, and life skills are integrated into the units. Teachers are encouraged to use a variety of lesson formats and activities to promote student engagement and the development of student competencies.