Evaluation in the visual arts is no less important that in any other area of the curriculum. The purpose of evaluation is to discern the strengths and weakness of pupils’ work so that work can be planned accordingly. The following criteria provide a basis on which to assess children’s progress:

What should be assessed ?

1. The child’s ability to make art
2. Ability to look with understanding at and respond to works of art
3. The quality of the child’s engagement with art.

These skills and dispositions are inter-related and are assessed on the basis of : perceptual awareness, expressive abilities and skills, critical and aesthetic awareness and disposition towards art activities.

Assessing perceptual awareness: the child’s ability to explore, observe, understand and discuss art elements

Assessing expressive abilities and skills: the child’s ability to express ideas, feelings, and experiences through art; to make imaginative use of materials and tools; to respond to stimuli and develop intentionally

Assessing critical awareness: the child’s ability to view, question, recognise categories, understand and respond to art works

Assessing disposition towards Art activities: the child’s ability to take a positive, personal approach to art work

Assessment tools

• Teacher observation
• Teacher designed tasks
• Work-samples, portfolios
• Curriculum profiles

Evaluation

Evaluation may be linked to characteristics related to stages of development and the skills learned from the programme covered in each standard

Check lists

Infants

Developmental Characteristics

• Line used purposefully (drawing a definite object)
• Beginning to use symbols
• Baseline used
• Skyline used
• Correct colour for objects

Skills

• Can draw with a crayon
• Can draw with chalk
• Can draw with brush
• Can create line patterns
• Can create shape patterns
• Can use brush to paste objects
• Can use scissors
• Can fold paper
• Can manipulate clay
• Can identify a new colour
• Can name a new colour
• Can use side of crayon
• Can weaver 4 strips of paper
• Can cut and paste wool

First and Second Classes

Developmental Characteristics

• Symbols used
• Realistic human figure
• Clothes drawn realistically
• Emotion shown on faces in drawings – smile, frown
• X-Ray pictures
• Symmetrical pictures
• What is known is drawn rather than what is seen
• Colour related to object
• Improved use of tools

Skills

• Can draw with crayon
• Can use crayon heavily
• Can draw with side of crayon
• Can etch with crayon
• Can use crayon transfer
• Can draw with chalk
• Can draw with brush
• Can create line patterns
• Can create shape patterns
• Can show texture in brushwork
• Can use brush to paste objects
• Can use scissors
• Can fold paper
• Can cut and assemble paper and waste materials
• Can manipulate clay
• Can manipulate wool
• Can identify a new colour
• Can name a new colour
• Can follow directions on choice of colour

Third and Fourth Classes

Developmental characteristics

• Use of horizon line (distance)
• Objects placed on page in relation to distance
• Human face /figure in profile
• Increased use of detail

Skills

• Can draw with crayon
• Can use crayon heavily
• Can draw with side of crayon
• Can etch with crayon
• Can use crayon transfer
• Can draw with chalk
• Can draw with brush
• Can create line patterns
• Can create shape patterns
• Can show texture in brushwork
• Can use brush to paste objects
• Can manipulate scissors (more complex cuttings)
• Can fold paper
• Can cut and assemble paper and waste materials
• Can manipulate clay
• Can weave with wool
• Can identify a new colour
• Can name a new colour
• Can follow directions on choice of colour
• Can note variations in colour (different reds)

Fifth and Sixth Classes

Developmental characteristics

• Visually realistic drawing
• 3D accuracy emerging in drawing (distance and space)
• longer work span possible
• 3 D work improved
• colour sense well-developed
• discouraged by inability to reach adult standards

Skills

• Can draw with crayon
• Can use crayon heavily
• Can draw with side of crayon
• Can etch with crayon
• Can use crayon transfer
• Can draw with chalk
• Can draw with brush
• Can create line patterns
• Can create shape patterns
• Can show texture in brushwork
• Can use brush to paste objects
• Can print with single objects and blocks
• Can manipulate scissors (more complex cuttings)
• Can fold paper
• Can cut and assemble paper and waste materials
• Can use clear and decorative lettering
• Can manipulate clay
• Can weave with wool
• Can use tie and dye techniques
• Can identify a new colour (hue)
• Can name a new colour (chroma: red-brown)

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