Ashley Alexander, Durham Intermediate School Art Teacher

 DIS Art Webpage  

DIS Art Overview

Fifth grade students at DIS attend art four times a week for two separate six weeks. They will have the opportunity to learn to use a variety of materials with projects in drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. In fifth grade an emphasis is placed on developing drawing skills. Developing confidence, taking pride in artwork, and gaining an appreciation for different kinds of art are also goals for each student. Students are exposed to art history through lessons that are taught with a focus on a particular artist or art style.

Sixth grade students attend art every day for two separate six weeks if they are not in band. In this second year of intermediate school art they further develop their ability to use materials with a greater focus on self-expression. Projects are designed to give students opportunity to express ideas that are important to them, while still learning art history and appropriate use of art media.

Throughout the school year our students will have art on display on our campus and around the community. Our largest exhibitions are at the Southlake Public Library Display and Art in the Square. Dates for these shows will be on the district and DIS calendar, as well as listed on the DIS art website. Letters will be sent home with students when they have art on display in one of these shows.

Our school has two special art programs in addition to our classroom art curriculum. The Art Docent Program is a monthly presentation by parent volunteers that further exposes students to artists, history, and culture. The Art Club is a chance for interested students to participate in extracurricular art making that also helps to beautify Durham. More information on the Art Docent Program and Art Club can be found on the art website.

Art TEKS “4 Strands”

1.      Perception: Develop and organize ideas from the environment

2.      Creative Expression: Express ideas in art through media and skills

3.      Historic/Cultural Heritage: Art and Culture are a record of human achievement

4.      Response/Evaluation: Informed judgments about personal and others’ artwork