MS Art Appreciation 6 Course Description The earliest humans expressed themselves through art. They used it to tell stories and remember events long before writing was invented. MS Art Appreciation 6 is a onesemester course that exposes you to the world of art through a historical study of ancient civilization's powerful expressions. The course starts with an examination of cave art painted thousands of years ago, the first expressions of creative activity demonstrated by early people. You will explore the art from Mesopotamia, where the Sumerians gave birth to the first written language known as cuneiform. You will continue the journey through art history with a study of ancient China and Japan, ancient Greece and Rome, and finally to the ancient Americas. Other exciting studies include the ancient Egyptians who designed and built the pyramids of Giza. You will learn the value of natural history museums and the importance of conserving the history of mankind that has been documented through art. Course Objectives When you finish this course, you will be able to: Understand and explain the significance of artworks produced in various world regions. Identify and discuss, utilizing relevant terminology, formal elements, principles of design, and stylistic characteristics found in artworks from various world regions. Converse with others about art and the function of artifacts and architectural structures in relation to ancient cultural conditions. Understand the mission of natural history museums and how museum staff interprets acquisitions. Analyze works, placing them in historical, social, and cultural contexts. Create hands-on activities demonstrating an understanding of the construction of ancient architecture and techniques used by ancient artisans. Course Assignment Values Assignment Type Points Possible % of Course Grade Homework 225 pts 24% Activity 100 pts 11%
Assignment Type Points Possible % of Course Grade Discussion 120 pts 13% Paper 300 pts 32% Midterm 80 pts 8% Final 120 12% Course Totals 945 pts 100% Suggested Course Schedule This course should take approximately 65 hours to complete. The schedule will give you an idea of how much time is required for each unit. You may work on each unit at your own pace, completing as many lessons and assessments as you d like in one sitting. However, keep in mind that you must finish the entire course within the time specified by your school district. Unit 1: Journey Through time When you think about art, what comes to mind? Do you think about why the artist decided to create a masterpiece? Have you ever wondered how the artist s culture influences the masterpiece? In this unit, you will take a journey through time and place and learn about some of the greatest masterpieces of all time. In this unit, you will learn how to search the Internet to locate an image that represents a specific purpose from an ancient culture. Then you will create a slide show presentation to showcase your image. 1 Activity Unit 2: What is Art? Approximate time to complete: 10 hours
What is the difference between art and an artifact? If someone asked you to define art, what would you say? In this unit, you are going to learn how to answer that question. You will have an opportunity to view images of prehistoric caves, rock paintings, and the famous Stonehenge in England. You will also learn about the language of art, which includes elements of design and the principles of art. As you work through the activities and projects, you will begin to understand and use the visual and organizational structures of art and reflect upon these effects in your own artwork. 2 Discussions Unit 3: Ancient Art The next time you pick up a piece of paper and start writing, ask yourself the following question: Who invented writing? In ancient times, what surface did people use for writing if paper wasn t invented? In this unit, you are going to learn about Mesopotamia and the Indus River Valley by exploring the Stele of Hammurabi, the Ishtar Gate, Mohenjo-Daro, and the Great Stupa. You will also learn about the Sumerians, who established the world s first civilization around 3500 BCE and how cuneiform became the first form of writing. You will research an epic story on the Internet and then write and illustrate the story in your own words to demonstrate your understanding of ancient art. Unit 4: Egyption Art When you think about Egypt, what comes to mind? Do you see a picture of the great pyramids or the Sphinx? Or do you imagine movies about mummies and hieroglyphics? Egyptians did more than just create pyramids. Their achievements included creating a system of mathematics; monumental pyramids, temples, and obelisks; a system of medicine; new types of literature; agricultural techniques; and the earliest known peace treaty. In this unit, you will view images of the culture and art of Egypt. To demonstrate your knowledge of Egyptian art, you will research ancient Egyptian burial practices online and create a report or PowerPoint presentation.
MS Art Appreciation 6 Midterm Exam Midterm Exam 80 pts Unit 5: Ancient China and Japan Historically, what do you know about China and Japan? Outside of what you learned in your history class, did you know that both countries contributed great historical works of art? In this unit, you will learn about Chinese dynasties and the importance of their bronze vessels and terra-cotta warriors. We will also learn about Japanese scrolls and Jomon vessels and see the architecture, paintings, and sculptures produced by the artists of China and Japan. You will participate in a discussion about Confucius, learn important vocabulary words, and complete a homework assignment. Unit 6: Ancient Greece When you think about ancient Greece, do you think about mythology? Or, do you think about the great Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle? In addition to producing great scholars, the people of ancient Greece created great architectural structures, pottery, and mythology. In this unit, you will be taking a journey to ancient Greece to visit the Acropolis and the famous Parthenon. As you complete activities and write a paper about the Olympics, you will demonstrate your knowledge of ancient Greek artistic contributions.
Unit 7: Ancient Rome Ancient Rome played an important part in history. You may remember watching movies about gladiators, Julius Caesar, and Roman battles. However, ancient Romans created quite a few famous architectural structures like triumphal arches and aqueducts. In this unit, you will visit ancient Rome and learn about the history of early Rome, the Colosseum, Augustus of Primaporta, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, and visit the town of Pompeii. The activities and assignments in this unit include a warm-up discussion about ancient Rome, a paper comparing and contrasting ancient Rome and ancient Greece, and a homework assignment. Unit 8: The Ancient Americas When it comes to artistic creations, Europe and Asia were not the only countries to create great works of art. The people of North America produced art and architecture that are admired today in Colorado, Mexico, and even in the state of Ohio. In this unit, you will take a journey across the ocean to visit the continents of the Americas. You will learn about the Adena people, the Anasazi people, the Olmecs, the Pueblos, and the Mayans. You will investigate mysterious findings such as the Great Serpent Mound, the Pueblo bonito of Chaco Canyon, and the Mesa Verde Cliff Palace. As you work through the activities and homework assignments, you will complete a paper comparing and contrasting the Mayans and the Egyptians, a vocabulary crossword puzzle, and one homework assignment.
Unit 9: Natural History Museums Did you know that there are over 100 natural history museums in the United States? Have you ever visited the Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC? In this unit, you will learn about natural history museums, including museum missions, the vision and values of a museum, deciding what items to include in the museum, and the careers associated with museums. In this unit, you will complete a discussion, an activity, and a homework assignment. 1 Activity MS Art Appreciation 6 Final Exam Final Exam 120 pts Contacting Your Instructor You are expected to communicate with your teacher regularly throughout the duration of this course. There are several different ways for you to connect with a teacher. You can start a chat by clicking the Talk to a Teacher button (at the top right of the screen) or the orange and white dialogue bubbles (the second icon on the menu on the left side of the screen). You can also send a ClassMail message by going to the Communications widget on your dashboard. You will also communicate with your teachers via written feedback on work that you submit, required chats, and/or online discussions. These opportunities for communication are woven throughout the course to provide a rich environment of academic discourse. You are expected to use these communication vehicles in addition to online chat and ClassMail. If you have a technology issue with your course, such as a problem with pop-up blockers or difficulty uploading documents, you can contact Support via the Question Mark icon on the main menu in the Classroom, or by calling toll-free at 1-866-235-3276. Support help is available day or night, every day of the week.
Privacy Policy No member of the staff is authorized to release student information without the written permission of the student s parent or legal guardian. Names, images, and/or class work of students will not be published in print, video/film, or on our public website without written student and guardian consent. Disability Statement If you have a disability or condition that may affect your ability to succeed in this course, please contact your teacher. It s important that you discuss the problem with him or her so accommodations may be made to give you every opportunity to perform well. Your teacher and virtual school program coordinators are committed to helping students with disabilities succeed, and every request will be treated with respect and confidentiality.