What Ontario grade 8 students learn in the arts

Your child will be able to create dances that express their feelings and ideas about topics important to them, such as climate change, community issues, or their relationship with adults.

Your child will be able to use dance to share ideas and feelings about important topics like fairness in society, protecting the environment, and how to solve problems like bullying or pollution.

Your child will be able to choose the best way to structure a dance (its "choreographic form") and create dances for different audiences or places. For example, they might create a story-based dance for younger children, or a dance specifically designed for an outdoor space.

Your child will be able to use technology like lights, costumes, or projected images to make the story or feeling of their dance even stronger.

Your child will be able to understand the main ideas or messages (themes) in their own dances and dances created by others, and share their thoughts about these themes using different creative methods like writing, talking, singing, or drawing.

Your child will be able to use dance words to talk about their own dances and dances by others. They will learn to spot the main parts of a dance (like how the body moves, how space is used, the timing, the energy, and how dancers relate to each other) and different ways dances are put together, explaining how these choices help tell a story or show an idea.

Your child will be able to recognize their own strengths and areas where they can improve when creating, performing, and watching dance. They will also be able to explain how they contribute to a dance performance.

Your child will learn how different things in society, like money, government, or popular beliefs, helped a specific type of dance come to be and change over time. For example, they might look at how modern dance developed in the 1900s or how the waltz became popular in the 1800s.

Your child will learn about different types of dances, like ballet or hip hop, and understand how they are used in society, such as for celebrations, entertainment, or to express feelings.

Your child will actively participate in drama activities and pretend play to understand different viewpoints and potential results of complicated topics, themes, and relationships from various sources and communities. They will be able to use improvisation (acting without a script) to show what they understand about life events and relationships.

Your child will understand the different parts of a play, like characters, setting, and plot, and be able to use them to create and improve their own drama performances and activities. For example, they might compare daily life from the past to today through a skit, build simple sets from available materials, or use movement and "blocking" (planning where actors stand and move) to make the play more engaging.

Your child will be able to help guide the story of a play by sharing ideas and working with others, both when they are acting as a character and when they are not.

Your child will be able to share their feelings, thoughts, and ideas in drama using things like music, videos, costumes, or props. They will learn to use these tools to help the audience understand the story and characters better.

Your child will be able to understand and explain their own thoughts about plays, connecting the ideas and themes in the play to real-world issues in their community and around the world.

Your child will be able to use drama terms to explain how well a play or drama activity used different parts of drama, like characters or setting, to keep the audience interested and get its message across.

Your child will be able to recognize their own strengths and interests in drama, as well as areas where they can improve, whether they are creating, performing, or watching a play. They will also learn to reflect on their work and think about how they could do things differently in the future.

Your child will understand how different types of media, like digital storytelling or multimedia presentations, have changed live theatre and drama. They will also learn how technology from other media is used to improve sets, special effects, and even create virtual characters.

Your child will be able to explain how drama and theatre have positively impacted society, culture, and the economy throughout history and in different parts of the world. This includes understanding how drama provides enjoyment, creates jobs, attracts tourists, teaches important lessons, and helps people develop communication and teamwork skills.

Your child will be able to sing or play music accurately, either alone or with others, from different cultures, styles, and time periods. They will also learn to improvise, which means making up music as they go.

Your child will be able to use the different parts of music, like rhythm and melody, to perform, create, or change songs for a specific reason. For example, they might create a jingle for an advertisement or rearrange a song for different instruments.

Your child will be able to create their own songs or musical pieces for different reasons and for different people, like writing a protest song about a social issue or a melody for a video game.

Your child will be able to use musical techniques and tools when performing, such as blending their sound with others, using articulation (how clearly notes are played or sung), and following conducting patterns. They will also learn to maintain good posture and proper control of their instrument or voice.

Your child will be able to understand and use standard musical notation (the symbols and signs used to write music) and other ways of writing music when they play or create their own music. For example, they will understand symbols that tell them to repeat parts of a song, Italian words that describe how loud or fast to play, and how to use all the notes in a chromatic scale (a scale made of half-steps).

Your child will be able to share their thoughts and feelings about music they hear in different ways, like writing in a journal, talking in an interview, or even acting like a music critic on the radio. They might also create art inspired by music.

Your child will be able to explain how different parts of music, like its structure or loudness (dynamics), are used in various musical styles and types of music they play, listen to, or create. This includes understanding how these elements are used in music that doesn't tell a story (absolute music) and music that does (program music).

Your child will be able to recognize their musical strengths and areas where they can improve, whether they are creating, performing, interpreting, or listening to music. They will also learn to set goals for improvement and reflect on their progress.

Your child will learn how things like history, society, and money can influence the creation of music. For example, they'll explore how historical events can inspire nationalistic music, or how different music styles like jazz or rap came about and affected culture.

Your child will be able to compare and contrast music from different times and places, noticing how it's similar and different. This includes looking at music from various cultures, older music, and modern styles.

Your child will be able to create different types of art, including digital art, to share their feelings, ideas, and opinions, and to show that they understand there are many ways to look at a topic.

Your child will be able to understand how to arrange elements in their artwork (composition) using different design principles to tell a story or explore a theme. For example, they might create a drawing where the main figure fills the space to make the artwork feel balanced and unified.

Your child will be able to use different visual art components like color, line, and shape to share ideas or messages in their artwork, keeping in mind who will see it and why it's being made. For example, they might create a drawing for a specific audience, using bright colors and repeated patterns to make it engaging.

Your child will learn to use different art supplies, tools, and methods, including technology, to solve more challenging art problems. For example, they might create a flipbook that combines different art styles, make small "artist trading cards" (ATCs) to show a current issue, or create a sculpture of a hero.

Your child will be able to look at different kinds of art and understand the feelings, ideas, and social messages they communicate. They will also be able to compare how different artists express similar themes.

Your child will be able to look at different artworks and understand how artists use things like color, line, and shape (these are called "elements and principles of design") to share a message or feeling. They will also decide how well the artist succeeded in communicating that message.

Your child will understand how to "read" and understand the meaning behind different signs, symbols, and artistic styles in various artworks. This includes recognizing how artists use elements like framing or focus to guide your attention, and understanding the purpose of symbols in advertising or how artists change popular images to make a statement.

Your child will be able to understand their own strengths and interests in art, as well as areas where they can improve, whether they are making art, understanding art, or looking at art.

Your child will learn how art traditions from different times and places have been kept alive, changed, or even taken and used in new ways. They will understand how art can reflect or challenge beliefs, how cultures influence art styles, and how artists combine different art forms to create new ideas.

Your child will learn how different things like feelings, politics, and money can influence what art is made and how artists work together. They will also understand how changes in government, funding, or technology can affect the art world.