Uruguay Primary School Art Education (4th/5th Grade)

Art education in Uruguay is a vital part of the primary school curriculum, aiming to provide students with a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of art. The curriculum emphasizes the development of creativity, sensitivity, and perception through various artistic languages. While specific details about the 4th/5th grade curriculum are difficult to obtain without direct access to the "Programa de Educación Inicial y Primaria 2008" document, the available information suggests a focus on the following areas:

• Visual Arts: Students explore elements and principles of art through various mediums, including sculpture, drawing, painting, printmaking, and collage. They develop observational skills and learn the language of art to appreciate and create their own artwork. Some resources suggest topics like "the artist and their work" are introduced in earlier grades, progressing to more specific themes like "the painter and their artistic production" and "the sculptor and their work." By 4th and 5th grade, students may be studying art history, potentially focusing on Uruguayan art, regional art, or art from the Americas.
• Music: The music curriculum aims to develop students' auditory and sensorimotor skills, providing access to enriching experiences that promote vocal, instrumental, and bodily creativity. Students also learn to appreciate diverse aesthetic productions from various historical and cultural contexts, including their own heritage and that of other cultures.
• Expressive Movement/Dance: Students are encouraged to express themselves freely through movement, developing body awareness, skills, and creating images, rhythms, and spaces, both with and without music. This promotes the expression of emotions and feelings through the body and dance.
• Theater and Literature: These disciplines may be integrated into the art curriculum, combining various art forms like visual arts, literature, music, set design, costumes, and makeup.

The Uruguayan art curriculum emphasizes a socio-cultural perspective on art, viewing it as a form of cultural expression and communication. Students are encouraged to develop a critical understanding of art, considering the cultural context of artistic production and appreciating the diversity of artistic expressions. The curriculum also aims to foster creativity, encouraging students to develop originality, flexibility, and initiative in their artistic endeavors.