Art 1 Curriculum for High School: A Ready Foundation Course
If you teach Art 1 or Intro to Art in high school and need a full year, Art Complete – High School gives you 100+ ready-to-teach resources for grades 9–12. It covers analysis of art across cultures and periods plus drawing, painting, mixed media and design, with a concept-to-final-artwork process that suits a foundation class full of freshmen and upperclassmen meeting art for the first time.
See the high school curriculum →Art Complete – High School, from $149.90, is a grades 9–12 art curriculum with 100+ no-prep resources. For an Art 1 foundation course it covers visual analysis (style, symbolism, composition, intention) and studio practice in drawing, painting, mixed media and design, using traditional and digital media. Units can be taught in sequence or individually, so you can select a foundation year and save later material for advanced courses.
The curriculum
Art Complete – High School, Grades 9–12
Start with the full curriculum. The other resources below are optional add-ons. Open any cover for the full contents and price.
The real problem
Why Art 1 is harder to plan than it looks
Art 1 is usually the most mixed class in the department. You get ninth graders filling an elective, juniors who need a fine arts credit to graduate, and a few students who have drawn every day since they were six and want to get to Art 2 as fast as possible. Some had strong middle school art. Some had none. The course has to teach foundations, the elements and principles, observation, basic media handling, without boring the experienced students or overwhelming the beginners. It also has to do more than technique. High school students can handle real questions about why art looks the way it does, how context shapes meaning and what an artist intended. An Art 1 course that is all skill drills leaves them unprepared for the analysis and independent work in later courses. Many Art 1 teachers also teach Art 2, 3 or a specialty class, so the foundation course gets the least planning time even though it reaches the most students. What helps is a course already organized from concept to finished artwork, with analysis built in and enough range to differentiate within one room.
Why it fits
How it serves an Art 1 class
The curriculum spans grades 9–12 with increasing independence. For Art 1, you take the foundation material and leave the rest for upper levels.
- Drawing, painting, mixed media and design lessons cover the core media of a foundation year.
- Concept-to-final-artwork structure teaches beginners a process they will use in every later course.
- Analysis of style, symbolism and intention brings real art thinking into an intro class.
- Traditional and digital media options fit whatever equipment your room has.
- Differentiated worksheets help with mixed classes of freshmen and seniors.
- Material for growing independence can be saved for Art 2 and beyond.
Getting started
Your first two weeks of Art 1
This is one way to open a foundation course. The product does not ship with a semester calendar, so treat it as a suggestion.
- Select your Art 1 unitsRead through the 100+ resources and choose a foundation set in drawing, painting, design and analysis. Mark the more independent and conceptual material for Art 2 or later.
- Find out who is in the roomStart with a short analysis lesson on a single artwork and a quick sketch task. You see who can already draw and who needs basics, without anyone being put on the spot. Note who needs extra support early.
- Teach the process earlyIntroduce the concept-to-final-artwork approach with a small project. Students learn to brainstorm, sketch and revise before committing to a final piece. The habit carries through every later project.
- Pair analysis with makingAlternate studio days with lessons on style, composition and intention. Students apply what they analyze to their own work. Over time, students begin to use analysis vocabulary when they talk about their own pieces.
- Set differentiated goalsUse the differentiated tasks to give experienced students a stretch while beginners focus on fundamentals. It keeps both groups working in the same project. That keeps both groups engaged and working at an appropriate level of challenge.
Which version
Picking the right version for Art 1
The $149.90 version includes all 100+ resources and covers Art 1 with material left for upper-level courses. The $189.90 version adds Teach-Life-Balance, a digital time-saving course with planner, guides and templates. It does not add art content, but if you teach four or five different art preps, help with your own planning may be worth it. If your school places eighth graders or a combined middle and high school group in your intro class, Art Complete – Middle School can be added and TEACHMORE15 gives 15% off two or more Complete Curriculum packages.
Honest limits
What it does not cover
The curriculum does not supply art materials, digital equipment or software. It does not guarantee that a course built from it meets your state's fine arts graduation credit; check that with your district or school. You choose which units make up Art 1 and how long each runs. If other art teachers at your school want to use it, send Teach Lessons a short message first. If it is not what you need, you can exchange it within 7 days for store credit of equal value. It is store credit, not a cash refund.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is it aligned to high school art standards?
It is written for U.S. high school art classrooms in grades 9–12. It is not approved, adopted, endorsed or certified by any state, district or the National Core Arts Standards. Check the content against your state's high school art requirements and your district's Art 1 course description before adopting it. Many districts publish their Art 1 course description, which makes the comparison quick.
Will a course built from this count for fine arts credit?
That depends on your state and district, not on the curriculum. The product does not claim to satisfy any credit requirement. Confirm with your district or school what a fine arts course needs to include. Ask your counselor or district office early, since course codes and credit rules are set locally and can take time to confirm.
Is it too advanced for beginners?
The curriculum increases in independence across grades 9–12, so the earlier and more foundational material suits beginners. Differentiated tasks let you support students with no art background while giving others more challenge. You can also start the year with analysis lessons, where everyone can take part, before the first studio project.
Can I use the same purchase for Art 2?
Yes. Units can be taught individually, so you can use foundation units in Art 1 and the more independent, conceptual material in Art 2 or later courses. If you teach both levels, keep a simple record of which units each group used so students who move up meet new work.
Does it need digital equipment?
It includes both traditional and digital media approaches. You choose which to teach based on what your school has. The product does not include software or devices. Schools without devices can teach the traditional media lessons and treat digital work as an option for later.
Where can I see the contents?
The product page lists what is included. Access is instant after purchase through an emailed download link, and the files also sit in your customer account under Orders. You can download them again on another computer, which is useful if you plan at home and teach from a school machine.
Build Art 1 on a foundation you do not have to write
Review the contents on the product page and pick the units that make up your foundation course.
See the high school curriculum →