What your child is learning

In Grade 8, your child learns one or more of the arts: Dance, Drama, Music, and/or Visual Arts.

Your child learns and uses different elements, techniques, concepts and processes of dance, drama, music, and/or visual arts (Language and Tools).

Your child thinks of and develops different ideas to create and share dance, drama, music, and/or visual arts works (Creative Expression).

Your child learns about different art forms, styles, and traditions from various times. He or she explores the roles, purposes, influence, impact and meanings of the arts in their own lives, in the lives of their families, communities, and in different cultures around the world. (Understanding the Arts in Context)

Your child learns to question, analyze, reflect, construct meaning and share personal ideas about dance, drama, music, and/or visual arts works.

How your child is assessed

Assessment in Arts Education is based on the arts subject - overview described in the tab WHAT MY CHILD IS LEARNING. Your child’s progress will be reported under the four areas of learning that correspond to the arts subject area or areas being assessed.

• Language and Performance Skills (Visual Arts: Language and Tools): What dance, drama, music, and/or visual arts elements, concepts, techniques, and processes does your child know, understand, and use?
• Creative Expression: How does your child gather, organize, develop and share ideas in dance, drama, music, and/or visual arts? 
• Knowledge and Understanding of the Arts in Culture and Society: What different art forms, styles, and traditions from various times does your child know and understand? What roles, purposes, influence, impact and meanings of the arts can your child identify and talk about?

Analysis and Communication: How does your child question, analyze, reflect, construct meaning and share personal responses about dance, drama, music, and/or visual arts?

Resources

What resources are available for parents to help support their children’s learning in the arts?

At home:

• Listen to music, watch films, read books, check out internet sites, play games, and explore educational kits based on the arts.
• Observe and listen to your child to determine artistic interests.
• Provide a variety of available arts materials for your child and encourage your child to listen to different kinds of music, various artists, the music of your cultural heritage and home, Canadian music, and music of others.

At school:

• Be informed about what Art subject areas are offered at your child’s school and ask questions about what your child is doing in arts education.
• Visit your child’s school to see students’ artwork displayed in the school halls or classrooms.  
• Encourage your child to participate in after school or extra-curricular arts opportunities offered at your school (e.g. lunch choir, after school drama clubs, Orff clubs, recorder clubs, art clubs, folk-dance groups, etc.).
• Attend school arts-based events such as musicals, art shows, open-house events, plays, dance performances, etc. 
• Volunteer to help at arts-based activities and events at your child’s school.
• Accompany your child’s class on cultural and arts-based field trips.

In the community:

• Attend local concerts, performances, art exhibits, plays
• Visit art galleries and museums
• Participate in cultural events like the many free activities that are part of the annual Culture Days in Manitoba.
• Take part in local festivals such as Winnipeg Folk Festival, Festival du Voyageur, Winnipeg International Children’s Festival, etc.
• Check out the many arts-based camps offered to children across Manitoba in the summer
• Offer your child music lessons, drama classes, dance lessons, or visual arts lessons offered at local arts venues and schools across Manitoba.

Where to Find Arts-Based Resources for Parents?

The following list of resources is provided as suggestions and examples, and is certainly not exhaustive.

Arts in Manitoba

• Manitoba Culture
• Travel Manitoba – Arts & Culture
  

Music, Books, Films

• The Winnipeg Public Libraries
• Manitoba public library services for rural and northern communities
• Local Book Stores
• Local Music Stores
  

Games

Local Children’s Toy Stores

Art Materials

• Local art supplies and craft stores
• ArtsJunktion is a community-based, charitable organization committed to redistributing reusable materials.

Concerts

• Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
• Manitoba Chamber Orchestra (MCO)
• Winnipeg Youth Orchestras (WSO)

Dance Performances

• Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB)
• Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers
• Cultural Dance groups in Manitoba

Art Galleries and Museums

• Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG)
• Manitoba Museum

Theatre Productions

• Manitoba Theater for Young People (MTYP)
• Ligue d’improvisation du Manitoba (CCFM)
• Manitoba Theatre Centre (MTC)
• MTC warehouse
• Praire Theatre Exchange

Festivals

• Kids Fringe
• Brandon Folk, Music and Art Festival
• Winnipeg Folk Festival
• Festival du Voyageur
• Kidsfest : Winnipeg International Children’s Festival

Arts Based Camps

• International Music Camp
• Mini-U, University of Manitoba
• Manitoba Theatre for Young People
• Winnipeg Art Gallery

Dance lessons

• Royal Winnipeg Ballet
• Check Winnipeg Leisure guide and yellow pages

Music Lessons

• Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts
• Registered Music Teachers

Art Lessons

• Winnipeg Art Gallery
• Check Winnipeg Leisure guide and yellow pages

Theatre classes

• Manitoba Theater for Young People (MTYP)
• Praire Theatre Exchange

Book Resources for Parents

Arts Education

Jean Van't Hul. (2013). The Artful Parent: Simple Ways to Fill Your Family's Life with Art & Creativity.

Visual Arts

MaryAnn F. Kohl and Kim Solga.  (2002). Discovering Great Artists.

Mona Brookes. (2002). Drawing with Children.

Fiona Watt. (2010).  The Usborne complete book of art activities.

Linda Evans, Mary Thompson and Karen Backus. (2006). Art Projects from Around the World.

Susan Striker. (2001). Young at Art: Teaching Toddlers Self-Expression, Problem-Solving Skills, and an Appreciation for Art.

Susan Striker. (2001). The First Anti-Coloring Book: Creative Activities for Ages 6 and Up.

Music

Robert Levine and Meredith Hamilton. (2000).  The Story of the Orchestra: Listen While You Learn About the Instruments, the Music and the Composers Who Wrote the Music!

Genevieve Helsby. (2007). Those Amazing Musical Instruments! with CD: Your Guide to the Orchestra Through Sounds and Stories.

Sing Along Syms series.

Classical Kids CDs and DVDs.

Drama

Paul Rooyackers. (1997). 101 Drama Games for Children.

Lisa Bany-Winters. (2012). On Stage: Theater Games and Activities for Kids.

Dance

Paul Rooyackers. (2003). 101 More Dance Games for Children.

Laura Lee and Meredith Hamilton. (2007). Child's Introduction to Ballet: The Stories, Music, and Magic of

Classical Dance

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my child take Arts Education in every grade? Yes, all children from Kindergarten to Grade 8 receive of arts education in one or many of the following art subjects: dance, drama, music, visual arts. Education and Advanced Learning recommends a minimum of 10% instructional time be allotted for Grades 1-6 arts education and 8% instructional time for Grades 7 and 8.

Do all four Arts Subject Areas (Dance, Drama, Music, and Visual Arts) need to be taught and reported? No. Any one or more of the four arts education subjects may be taught to meet the arts education requirements. Schools have the flexibility to choose the number and combination of arts subjects appropriate to their local context, resources, needs, and the arts education implementation approach used in the school.

Where can I find curriculum information for the subjects of Dance, Drama, Music, and Visual Arts? Curriculum frameworks for K-4 Dance, Drama, Music, and Visual Arts are available on the Arts Education website.

Why is Arts Education important for my child? The arts are a vital part of every student’s education. They engage students’ bodies, minds, and spirits and provide new ways of seeing the world. Students have opportunities to be creative, explore ideas and feelings, use their imagination, think critically and work with others. Arts education helps students move toward becoming creative adults, enriching their own lives and the lives of their communities.