Four basic strands--perception, creative expression/performance, historical and cultural heritage, and critical evaluation--provide broad, unifying structures for organizing the knowledge and skills students are expected to acquire. Students rely on their perceptions of the environment, developed through increasing visual awareness and sensitivity to surroundings, memory, imagination, and life experiences, as a source for creating art works. They express their thoughts and ideas creatively, while challenging their imagination, fostering reflective thinking, and developing disciplined effort and problem-solving skills.

By analyzing artistic styles and historical periods, students develop respect for the traditions and contributions of diverse cultures. Students respond to and analyze art works, thus contributing to the development of lifelong skills of making informed judgments and evaluations.