The Arts
The Arts is a broad Curriculum area encompassing the 5 major art forms – Dance, Drama, Media Arts, Music and Visual Arts. The Arts areas are inter-related but each has specific techniques, characteristics and concepts and all make a unique contribution to children’s learning.
Through active involvement in the Arts, children of all abilities are given the opportunity to develop a variety of ways to express themselves, to entertain, create and develop a critical appreciation of the various arts forms.
Art activities and experiences are generally delivered by the class or specialist teachers but may also be covered through workshops and visiting performances.
Drama
Drama is an area where children can react to real and imagined events through role play, play making and performance. It gives them the opportunity to explore and represent their ideas and feelings in a dramatic form. Aspects covered can include characterisation, audience skills, mime, improvisation, script writing, body gestures, mask making, puppetry and costuming.
Music
Music is the aural representation of ideas as sounds and silences. They can be represented using the voice, body, found sounds, acoustic and electronic instruments or equipment.
Students are exposed to a variety of mediums including, rhythm, melody, harmony, beat, composition, tempo, pitch, learning about different instruments, music notations and the history of music.
Interested students may also have the opportunity to learn an instrument with a private music instructor or join the Primary Choir. Recorder is offered to Year 2 and 3 students.
Dance
In dance, children learn to express themselves through movement and in the process develop coordination, body awareness, team work and positive self esteem. The techniques and mediums which may be covered include balance, body position, choreography, rhythm, symmetry, levels in space and movement sequences. A 5 week Professional dance program is also offered to all students.
Visual Arts
Visual Arts is the exploration and expression of ideas using a broad range of approaches and techniques, including drawing and painting, patterning, printmaking, collage, construction and sculpture in experimental and conceptual forms. It involves the use of a variety of materials, tools and mediums such as ceramics, clay, textured materials, fabrics, charcoal, crayon, ink, paints, brushes and rollers.
Media Arts
Media Arts is a topic that encompasses areas such as animation, video games, movies, television, film making, newspapers, advertising and radio. Students can be involved in activities such as analysing media, script writing, filming, editing and producing.