Visual Art
Visual Art in the specialist Art room involves the use of various pieces of art equipment to develop each student's ability to work within a group. Students also use a range of materials to individually solve problems and to stimulate their senses. They make art works where each student can develop their self-esteem through involvement with the whole process of art making.Working with 'concrete' materials enables our students to more meaningfully build their understanding and dexterity with such materials as well as providing a convenient vehicle to develop other skills. These might be listening, attending, selecting, participating, arranging, improvising, designing analysing and adapting skills. Thus students have the opportunity to find avenues for self-expression as well as personal exploration and development within a supportive environment. Visual art used in this way represents a powerful language of expression that enhances the learning process.
Activities in the specialist Art room are designed to support all students to develop many important social skills such as:
- their capacity to express and communicate feelings and preferences
- their ability to experiment with a variety of materials
- choosing and adapting ideas from a variety of sources
- working in groups to plan, make and present a work
- waiting for a turn, listening to others and showing respect and care for themselves
The activities that students pursue in the specialist Art room are also devised in such a way so as to, either directly or indirectly support the work being done in the classroom. This combined approach to planning and teaching is an important part of the work of staff at PPSS.