This document summarizes the work of participants in California's Towards Arts Assessment Project (TAAP). The project participants worked on developing guidelines and plans for arts assessments. The document includes the TAAP participants' performance assessments as illustrations and as guidelines for continuing a dialogue in the feasibility and…

Young children bring a wide repertoire of visitor behaviours to traditional art museums, using their minds, senses, and bodies to respond to and interpret artworks. When given opportunities for self-expression, choice, and control during an art museum visit, children are empowered in this environment. Allowing children to take a leading role as…

An Artmobile exhibit was developed for Los Angeles secondary schools under an ESEA specially funded program. The exhibit involves two trailers and packaged instructional materials for a display of the work of 33 local artists. An instructional bulletin describes the operations of the Artmobile, presents some relevant art concepts, outlines several…

A national arts research agenda is presently substantiating claims about positive academic and social effects. As a result, states such as California responded with legislative activity that included the arts in mandates for educational reform. This was followed by the development of state content standards in dance, music, theater, and the visual…

This paper focuses on two questions: (1) Can visual arts be an effective way for students to express what they have learned in social studies?; and (2) Can creative activity improve motivation, participation, attitude, and enhance learning in social studies? The sample for study was drawn from 75 fifth-graders in 3 classes in a school located in a…

The booklet presents California guidelines for arts education of gifted students in Grades 1 through 6. An introductory section examines the relevance of cognitive domain factors (knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation) to the arts. The second section presents 12 sample lesson plans in creative movement and…

Fourth grade students in a multicultural art program studied the art of California Indians in cooperation with the social studies program. A survey was conducted to identify the students' responses to learning about the art of another culture. (AM)

Presented are brief descriptions and comments by administrators of some California arts programs on producing a quality arts program inexpensively. Topics discussed are: initiating a Comprehensive Arts program, the use of CETA artists-in-residence, curriculum development, and the coordination of a high school fine arts program. (Author/SJL)

The California Art Education Association has developed a statewide advocacy effort to counteract declines in art education brought about by financial pressures and the basic skills movement. This article describes the advocacy program's publicity efforts and commitments to work with the entire arts community in a "comprehensive arts"…

The author describes a lesson she did on abstract art with her high school art classes. She passed out a required step-by-step outline of the project process. She asked each of them to look at abstract art. They were to list five or six abstract artists they thought were interesting, narrow their list down to the one most personally intriguing,…

Teaching about Native artworks as part of school arts curriculum can serve to pass on traditional ecological knowledge while also contextualizing colonialism's influence on traditional and contemporary Native arts practices. This article explores how schools can actively engage in community arts partnerships with American Indians who have…

THE EFFECT OF ART EDUCATION ON IMPROVING THE ATTITUDES AND CULTURAL AWARENESS OF DISADVANTAGED YOUTH WAS STUDIED IN THIS PILOT PROGRAM. THE CALIFORNIA TEST OF PERSONALITY AND THE CHILDREN'S PERSONALITY QUESTIONNAIRE WERE ADMINISTERED BEFORE AND AFTER A SPECIAL, 12-MONTH ART PROGRAM TO 25 CHILDREN (AGES 8-12) FOR DATA ON PERSONAL AND SOCIAL…

In this bulletin, the author shares his observations on the status of art education in America. The study for this report is based upon the writer's own contacts in the education and industrial world and upon returns of a questionnaire which was sent to leading art educators, directors, supervisors, and teachers throughout the country. The author…

The focus on academic performance testing in elementary schools has caused a decrease in student experience in the arts. Visual arts (drawing, painting, sculpture, and collage) have been minimized in elementary schools. Without exposure to the special avenues of cognitive development and personal expression nurtured by visual arts, students are…

This book provides a framework of what California students should know about the arts and is organized around the vision of providing opportunities for all students to become responsible, creative, reasoning, understanding and thoughtful citizens. This guide clearly defines a balanced, comprehensive arts program for all those in grades K-12 in…