Zambia Grade 8-9 Art and Design Syllabus

This syllabus outlines the curriculum for Art and Design in Zambia for Grades 8 and 9. It aims to equip learners with knowledge, skills, and values in various art forms, fostering creativity, resourcefulness, and economic participation. The syllabus is outcome-based, emphasizing practical application and real-life connections.

General Outcomes (Grades 8-9)

Learners are expected to:

• Develop knowledge, skills, and understanding of the design process, drawing, and painting.
• Gain practical experience with traditional and contemporary art and crafts.
• Understand their environment and the sustainable use of natural resources.

Grade 8

Key Competences:

• Create a composition from a group of arranged items.
• Demonstrate basic skills in handling tools and materials.
• Apply entrepreneurial knowledge and skills to market art products.

8.1 Introduction to Art

• Visual Arts: Understanding the different forms of visual art, including fine arts (drawing, painting, sculpture), crafts (pottery, basketry, fabric work), and design (posters, packaging, advertising).
• Visual Elements: Applying visual elements like line, shape, space, value, texture, and color in practical activities.
• Basic Shapes: Identifying and creating different 3D shapes (cuboid, pyramid, cone, rectangular box) and applying tonal gradation.
• Types of Shading: Identifying different textures and developing various shading techniques (pointillism, hatching, cross-hatching, smudging, scribbling, smash).
• Art Principles: Identifying and applying art principles like balance, proportion, emphasis, rhythm, pattern, and visual movement in practical activities.
• Perspectives: Understanding rules of perspective, including aerial perspective, scale, proportion, foreshortening, overlapping, and linear perspective.

8.2 Drawing and Painting

• Drawing: Demonstrating different forms of drawing (sketch, study, complete work).
• Colour: Identifying and mixing colors, including tertiary colors, warm and cool colors, and creating tints and shades. Designing a color wheel and exploring color schemes (monochromatic, analogous, complementary).
• Drawing and Painting from Observation: Composing pictures of natural objects (trees, flowers, fruits).
• Drawing and Painting from Still Life: Composing pictures of household objects and still life arrangements.
• Figure Drawing: Drawing and painting parts of the human body.
• Imaginative Composition: Creating compositions based on imagination and given themes (festivals, traditional dances).

8.3 Pattern Making

• Types of Patterns: Designing and printing different patterns, including border, geometrical, alternating, counter-change, wax resist, fabric printing, and decorative patterns.

8.4 Constructional Crafts

• Weaving, Plaiting, and Knotting: Creating patterns and functional items using weaving, plaiting, and knotting techniques.
• Modelling: Creating models using clay and papier-mâché.
• Construction: Constructing objects using various media (dolls, toys, puppets).
• Picture Making: Composing pictures using different techniques (frieze, montage, collage).
• Book Craft: Binding books using single-section binding (stapling).
• Carving: Carving and decorating items using suitable materials (wood, stone).
• General Crafts: Creating items using found materials.

8.5 Lettering and Poster Work

• Lettering: Designing different styles of letters, including block lettering and letter cutting.
• Poster Work: Designing posters depicting different themes.

8.6 Entrepreneurship in Art and Design

• Project Work: Identifying market needs, demonstrating economic use of resources, applying the design process to solve problems, and marketing art products.

Grade 9

Key Competences:

• Depict natural or man-made objects.
• Apply skills creatively and practically through designing, printing, making, and evaluating.

9.1 Drawing and Painting

• Colour: Creating tints and shades, designing a color wheel, identifying complementary colors, and using monochromatic colors in design.
• Drawing and Painting from Nature: Composing pictures of landscapes, tree trunks, logs, and twigs.
• Still Life Drawing: Composing pictures of bottles, boxes, kitchen utensils, skulls, bones, and simple machine parts.
• Figure Drawing: Drawing stick figures in action.
• Imaginative Composition: Creating compositions based on imagination and given themes (traditional ceremonies, contemporary life).

9.2 Pattern and Design

• Types of Patterns: Designing and printing random, regular, block stencil, intaglio, tie-dye, and batik patterns.

9.3 Constructional Crafts

• Weaving, Plaiting, and Knotting: Creating patterns and functional items using various techniques.
• Modelling: Modelling clay items using different techniques (slab pots, coil pots, plunge pots, pinch pots) and creating objects with papier-mâché.
• Construction/Assemblage: Constructing and assembling items using different media (sculptures, bicycles, houses, mobiles).
• Picture Making: Creating pictures using seed mosaic, paper mosaic, and bead mosaic.
• Book Craft: Binding books using different methods (stitching, spiral binding).
• Carving: Carving items from wood, stone, and plaster of Paris.
• General Crafts: Creating items using found materials (gourd decorations, junk sculpture).

9.4 Lettering and Poster Work

• Lettering: Creating new letter designs, signs, and banners using calligraphy.
• Poster Work: Designing posters on social issues relevant to Zambia.
• Computer Aided Design: Using computer software for design purposes, including creating logos, emblems, lettering, and cards.