United States 3rd Grade Visual Arts Curriculum

This curriculum focuses on developing foundational visual arts skills, fostering creativity, and introducing students to art history and diverse artistic expressions. Students learn to communicate ideas and express themselves through various art forms, building upon skills learned in previous grades. The curriculum aligns with the National Core Arts Standards.

Creating

Students explore various media and techniques to create two- and three-dimensional artworks. They learn about the elements of art (line, shape, form, color, space, texture, and value) and principles of design (repetition, movement, emphasis, contrast, balance, proportion, harmony, and unity) to effectively communicate their ideas and feelings. Projects may include drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and mixed media.

Examples of 3rd grade art projects:

• Growing a garden of Georgia O'Keeffe flowers
• Painting watercolor winter landscapes
• Creating African masks
• Making mixed-media jellyfish
• Drawing Popsicles with chalk
• Painting aboriginal-style animals using dots
• Painting with salt
• Adding cotton steam to 3D mugs

Presenting

Students learn to present their artwork, describing their creative process and the choices they made. They develop skills in displaying and sharing their work with others.

Responding

Students learn to respond to and analyze artworks, both their own and those of others. They develop visual literacy skills, identifying themes and interpreting meaning in art. They learn to discuss and critique art using appropriate vocabulary.

Connecting

Students connect art to other subjects, exploring historical and cultural contexts. They learn about different art forms and artists from various cultures and time periods. They also connect art to their own lives and experiences.

Resources:

• Hazelwood School District - Elementary Visual Art Grade 3:
• Core Knowledge Foundation - Art Resources Grade 3:
• National Art Education Association - National Visual Arts Standards: