What Ontario grade 2 students learn in the arts

Your child will be able to create short dance movements based on activities they see in their community, like riding a bike or playing sports. They will also learn to use different paths (like straight or curvy), directions (like forward or backward), and shapes (like big or small, alone or with a partner) in their dances.

Your child will be able to use dance moves to show the main ideas from poems and stories, focusing on how their body moves and uses the space around them.

Your child will learn to start and end their dance movements in different ways, like pausing, freezing, or using specific body shapes.

Your child will be able to use different ways of moving, like walking, running, or jumping (locomotor movements), and movements done in one place, like twisting or bending (non-locomotor movements), to pretend to be animals or objects they see around them.

Your child will be able to describe how their dance moves are similar to those of others, noticing shared shapes, paths, heights, or whether they are moving around (locomotor) or staying in one place (non-locomotor).

Your child will be able to use dance words to talk about the different parts of a dance, like how body movements or using space can help tell a story, such as showing crashing waves.

Your child will be able to talk about what they're good at in dance, both when they're creating a dance and when they're watching one, and also mention things they want to improve.

Your child will be able to talk about different kinds of dances from around the world that they've seen, whether on TV, at a show, or during celebrations.

Your child will learn about different reasons why people dance, such as for fun with friends, to celebrate, to exercise, or to tell stories. They will also learn about different places and events where people dance, like at parties or special ceremonies.

Your child will be able to act out stories, taking on different roles and exploring the main ideas and characters from stories about various cultures, time periods, and places. This helps them understand different perspectives and situations.

Your child will be able to show they understand the idea of "role" in drama by expressing the thoughts, feelings, and viewpoints of the character they are playing. This means they can use their voice and actions to show a character's attitude or how they react to a situation.

Your child will be able to help guide a play or role-playing activity, using their own ideas and those of others. They will do this both while acting in character and when planning the play outside of their character.

Your child will be able to share their feelings and ideas with people they know, using simple props or technology to make their drama performances better. For example, they might use props to tell a story without words, or dim the lights to create a scary mood.

Your child will be able to share their thoughts and feelings about plays and drama activities in different ways, like writing in a journal, drawing, or acting out a character's thoughts.

Your child will learn about the different parts of a play, like characters and setting, and how these parts work together to tell a story and make it interesting. They will also understand how these elements help actors show feelings and ideas.

Your child will be able to talk about what they are good at in drama, what they enjoy, and what they can work on, both when they are performing and when they are watching.

Your child will be able to recognize and talk about different types of drama and theatre they see around them, like their favourite TV shows, movies, or even when they pretend with puppets.

Your child will learn about different ways people around the world use drama and theatre, like in festivals, circuses, or special ceremonies. They'll be able to give examples of how these traditions use things like special objects or a narrator to tell a story.

Your child will be able to sing songs together in tune, or play simple tunes and background music for songs from different cultures, styles, and times in history. For example, they might play a repeating three-note pattern to support a main tune.

Your child will be able to use musical ideas like pitch (how high or low a sound is) when they sing, play instruments, or move to music.

Your child will be able to create simple musical pieces for a specific reason and for people they know, such as making background music for songs or stories, or writing a simple song using a few specific notes.

Your child will learn how to use good musical techniques when they sing or play instruments, like breathing properly and keeping a steady beat.

Your child will learn how to connect musical symbols with sounds and sounds with musical symbols. For example, they will be able to match simple musical pictures with parts of a song, or use rhythm words like "ta ti-ti" to represent how long a note should be played.

Your child will be able to share their thoughts and feelings about music performances in different ways, like writing or drawing about them.

Your child will learn how different parts of music, like how fast or loud it is, or the unique sound of an instrument (timbre), are used to create different feelings and effects in the music they play, hear, and make.

Your child will be able to recognize what they're good at in music, whether performing, creating, understanding, or listening, and also understand where they can improve. They will be able to give examples of these strengths and areas for growth.

Your child will learn why people create music in their everyday lives, such as singing songs that are important to their family or using music at school to help others care about the environment. They will also understand different situations where people make music, like at family parties or during holiday celebrations.

Your child will be able to recognize different kinds of music from various cultures, time periods, and places, whether they are listening to it or performing it themselves.

Your child will be able to make art, both flat (2D) and with depth (3D), to show their feelings and ideas. This art will be inspired by things they see in nature or activities happening in their community.

Your child will understand how to arrange elements in their artwork (composition) using design principles like repetition and contrast to create art that tells a story or expresses a theme. For example, they might use the same color repeatedly to tell a story, or create a painting with depth and perspective by overlapping different-sized shapes.

Your child will be able to use different art techniques, like adding lighter shades of a colour or changing a sculpture's shape, to share their ideas and feelings in their artwork.

Your child will be able to use different art supplies, tools, and methods to solve creative problems. For example, they might draw trees to show distance, use various materials to create textured art, paint pictures of friends playing, make prints for a storybook, or sculpt insect shapes from natural items.

Your child will be able to share their thoughts and feelings about different artworks, like explaining why they like one piece more than another or how a piece of art reminds them of something they already know or have experienced.

Your child will be able to explain how artists use things like colour, texture, and patterns (elements and principles of design) to share ideas or feelings in their own art and the art of others.

Your child will be able to recognize and understand the meaning of different signs and symbols they see every day, like logos, traffic signs, or symbols in artwork that are important to their family or community.

Your child will be able to understand what they are good at in art, what they enjoy doing, and how they can make their art even better next time.

Your child will be able to point out and talk about different kinds of art they see around them, like the designs on everyday objects, pictures in books, or sculptures and murals in your community.

Your child will learn about different kinds of art and art traditions from various cultures, time periods, and places, such as Aboriginal textiles or Indian miniature paintings.