Mission Basilica School recognizes how important art is to a well-rounded education. Integrating art into the curriculum, students become better problem solvers, expand their vocabulary and enhance their critical thinking as they develop new expressive skills while gaining self-confidence.  Grades from preschool to 8th will be visited once a week and introduced to the most famous and celebrated artists.  Some of artists that will be studied this year are:  Charles Sheeler, Georges Seurat, Andrew Wyeth, Piet Mondrian, Joan Miro and Edgar Degas. Through in-class projects, the students will have the opportunity to work with a wide variety of medium similar to the master artists.

Each grade will have art once a week.  It will be a three step process for each artist:

First Session - Visual Presentations

Students will become familiar with each famous artist using an arrangement of IPads, fun interactive apps and slide presentations.  A combination of art samples, books, music and posters will be presented for each grade level to bring the time period to life. 

Second Session - Practice Pages

The next step, practice pages are completed which reinforce the master artists’ technique and style.  We will discuss how each artist included math, science, social studies and language arts in their work. This helps each student to prepare for their hands-on studio project and build self-assurance.

Third Session - Studio Art Projects

Now students are ready to become masters themselves!  They will have a chance to work with a wide variety of material including chalk, oil pastels, acrylic paint, clay, starch and water color incorporating similar style as the original master artist.  Although, each student is challenged to be as creative as possible and do their best, it is reinforced that there is no wrong in art but only originality, self-expression and self-pride which promotes a love for art!

Integrated Curriculum and Special Events

Working closely with teachers, additional creative projects will be added throughout the school year.  At special events, such as Open House, some of your student’s art work will be exhibited.