What First Grade Students Should Know and Be Able to Do
Take pride in their artistic efforts
Show acceptance of others’ efforts
Willingly participate in doing, looking at, and discussing works of art
Recognize colors: red, yellow, blue, violet, green, orange, black,
white, brown, pink
Identify kinds of lines
Name basic geometric shapes in their work and the work of others
Continue to develop the ability to recognize the difference between two-
dimensional shapes and three-dimensional forms
Recognize different textures on surfaces
Recognize differences in spaces: in/out, over/under, empty/full or near/far
Work to fill the entire page
Create images that appear to be balanced
Explain the relationships between the parts in their own work to create unity
Use a variety of lines, shapes, colors, and textures
Identify focus of interest in a composition
Recognize movement or direction of lines, shapes, colors, and
textures in a composition
Sense beyond purely visual observation
Trust their intuitive perceptions
Use life surroundings and experiences in their work
Become aware of the art around them
Create work that does NOT rely on copying or tracing
Use personal experiences to express their ideas and feeling visually
Talk about their work (both in progress and finished) in
guided questioning situationsTalk about the work of others in guided situations
Display fine and gross motor control when using basic drawing,
painting, and collage instruments
Achieve different visual effects and textures using basic drawing,
painting, and collage instruments
Create a representation of basic body parts and their connectionsUnderstand the color wheel and color wheel relationships (primary, secondary,
intermediate, neutrals)