Request an Art in the Dark Presentation for your class

SOCIAL STUDIES AND HISTORY

ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
Grade 6
Students observe and discuss the art and architecture of Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Hebrew, India, Ancient China, Greece, and Rome. Students look for cultural similarities and differences between the diverse peoples studied. Please note that content will vary depending on the presentation time.

For a more in-depth program, a two-part presentation option is available:
Part I - Prehistoric Art and Art of Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Hebrew, and India.
Part II - Art of Ancient China, Greece, and the Roman Empire.

MIDDLE AGES AND THE RENAISSANCE
Grade 7
Students review medieval art of Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Japan. They focus on the evolution of Renaissance art in Italy and Northern Europe with examples from Giotto, Brunelleschi, Donatello, da Vinci, Michelangelo, van Eyck, and Dürer. Please note that content will vary depending on the presentation time.

For a more in-depth program, a two-part presentation option is available:
Part I - Art and Architecture of the Middle Ages in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Japan.
Part II - Art of the Italian and Northern European Renaissance.

AMERICAN ART 1600–1900
Grade 8
Students view and discuss the art and innovative designs of the early European immigrants, the American Revolution, the Early Republic, the Westward Movement, the Civil War, and the Industrial Revolution with examples from Peale, Copley, Stuart, Bierstadt, Catlin, Remington, Eakins, and Homer.

For a more in-depth program, a two-part presentation option is available:
Part I – Art and innovation of the Early Republic – early immigrants and the American Revolution.
Part II – Art and innovation from the Civil War forward – early 1800’s, Civil War, and the Industrial Revolution.

CIVIL RIGHTS IN AMERICA: African-American Artists and the Struggle for Equality
Grade 8
Students analyze and interpret works of art by African-American artists spanning pre-civil rights era (Parks), The Spiral Collective (Bearden, Amos, Mayhew, Alston), Civil Rights during the 1950s and 1960s (Lawrence, Catlett), and The Black Arts to Contemporary Artists (Olugebefola, Kara Walker, Saar, Bradford).

ENGLISH AND WORLD LANGUAGES

Please note that all presentations are given in English.

THE LANGUAGE OF ART: The Elements of Art and Principles of Design
Grades 6–8, English - All levels
Students analyze and discuss artworks that can be customized to your subject in order to better understand artists’ evolving use of the elements of art and design principles.

For a more in-depth program, a two-part presentation option is available:
Part I – The Elements of Art
Part II – The Principles of Design

DIEGO RIVERA AND FRIDA KAHLO: 20th-Century Mexican Artists
Grades 6–8, Spanish - All levels
Students view Rivera’s murals and paintings and Kahlo’s self-portraits and other paintings, learning how their lives intertwined and how their styles differ. The connection among modern Mexico, the United States, and Russia is also discussed through the artworks of the two artists. Students look for the influences of cultural ideals and inventions on art.

If your class projects include an art aspect we recommend that you consider the Language of Arts presentation, detailed in the Visual Arts section or the Digital Visual Communication presentation, detailed in the STEAM section.

STEAM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, MATH)

CALIFORNIA ART AND SCIENCE
Grade 6
Students study how California's rich geologic history helped create its tremendous ecological diversity as they observe and discuss California landscapes presented by various artists both past and present. They further discuss how artists present the impact of California's diverse landscape on our human history and culture.

STEAM = STEM + ART - NEW
Grade 6–8 - By grade
Students investigate how principles of math and science are incorporated into artworks. Using the California Common Core State Standards (CCCSS) and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) as a guide, artworks and artistic processes are examined which provide real-world examples of the integration of math, science, technology, and engineering. This presentation is tailored to the Math CCCSS and NGSS for each grade level.

DIGITAL VISUAL COMMUNICATION - NEW
Grades 6–8, Technology - All levels
Students explore computer based graphic and information design, web design, and data visualization in the context of effective visual communication. They discuss and analyze how the selection of the content, the elements of art, and the principles of design impact modern communication.

VISUAL ARTS

DIGITAL VISUAL COMMUNICATION - NEW
Grades 6–8, 2-D Art - All levels
Students explore computer based graphic and information design, web design, and data visualization in the context of effective visual communication. They discuss and analyze how the selection of the content, the elements of art, and the principles of design impact modern communication.

THE LANGUAGE OF ART: The Elements of Art and Principles of Design
Grades 6–8, 2-D Art - All levels
Students analyze and discuss artworks that can be customized to your subject in order to better understand artists’ evolving use of the elements of art and design principles.

For a more in-depth program, a two-part presentation option is available:
Part I – The Elements of Art
Part II – The Principles of Design

DISCOVERING ART THROUGH CRITICAL THINKING
Grades 6–8, 2-D Art - All levels
Students use critical thinking skills to perform an in-depth analysis of form and content on a small number of contemporary artworks. They compare and contrast themes and the use of the elements of art, style, and varying media. Students interpret an artwork’s meaning and identify cultural and global significance while assessing how point of view and purpose shapes the content and style of the work(s).

PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE MODERNISTS
Grades 6–8, Photography - All levels
Through the studies of the photography and art of Stieglitz and Strand, as well as the Modernists (or Pioneers) O’Keefe, Dove, and Marin, students discover how these artists pushed the boundaries of American art of the 1900s.

NEW

STEAM = STEM + ART
Students investigate how principles of math and science are incorporated into artworks. Using the California Common Core State Standards (CCCSS) and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) as a guide, artworks and artistic processes are examined which provide real-world examples of the integration of math, science, technology, and engineering. This presentation is tailored to the Math CCCSS and NGSS for each grade level.

DIGITAL VISUAL COMMUNICATION
Students explore computer based graphic and information design, web design, and data visualization in the context of effective visual communication. They discuss and analyze how the selection of the content, the elements of art, and the principles of design impact modern communication.

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FAQS

What is a two-part presentation?
Two presentations given across the school year that allow for more depth in the subject and a better alignment with your curriculum. We recommend you schedule one for the first half of the year and one for the second half of the year.

How long are the presentations?
Each presentation is 50-60 minutes depending on grade level and class time available. Teachers must remain in the classroom during the entire presentation.

How can I customize the presentation for my class?
Fill in the note section of the request form and work with your assigned docent to let them know what would work best for your class. i.e. – We are a combined 5/6 social studies class and would like some Native American art included in the presentation.

How can I sign up?
To request a presentation for your class please use the online Art in the Dark Presentation Request Form. If you need assistance please e-mail llaa@sjmusart.org or call 408.291.5393. Plan early for best availability as programs fill very quickly. We make every effort to accommodate your scheduling preference, but because we cannot guarantee availability, your presentation date is confirmed only after you receive a confirmation email from one of our Art in the Dark docents.