Middle School Art Curriculum for Private and Independent Schools
Art Complete – Middle School is a full-year art curriculum for grades 6–8 that a private or independent school can adopt without a district art guide behind it. You get 70+ resources on visual literacy, art analysis and studio practice, from sketch to finished artwork, with worksheets, slides and answer keys. It downloads instantly, so you can plan the year around your own studio and supplies.
See the art curriculum →Art Complete – Middle School, from $149.90, gives private and independent schools a structured art course for grades 6–8. It teaches the elements of art and principles of design, composition, color and symbolism through artworks from many cultures and periods, alongside drawing, painting, mixed media and design projects. It is a digital download for print or screen use. Schools set their own program requirements, so compare the content with yours before relying on it.
The curriculum
Art Complete – Middle School, Grades 6–8
Start with the full curriculum. The other resources below are optional add-ons. Open any cover for the full contents and price.
Art Complete – Ready-to-Use Curriculum for Middle School Art
Complete Art Curriculum Bundle | 14 Hands-On Art Studios | Middle School Art | Grades 5–9
BUNDLE XXL: Complete Art Curriculum for Grades 5–9 – Workbook, Projects & Activities
Art Complete – Ready-to-Use Curriculum for High School Art (Grades 9–12)
Teach-Life-Balance: The Complete Time-Saving Course for Teachers (incl. Planner, Guides & Templates)
The real problem
Why art is hard to structure at a small private school
At an independent school, art often runs on the teacher's personal enthusiasm. That can be wonderful, but it leaves gaps. One year is all clay because the kiln works; the next year is all drawing because the budget got cut. Without a district guide, nobody checks whether a student finishing grade 8 can actually talk about composition, balance or contrast, or explain why an artist made a choice. Parents at private schools also tend to ask direct questions. They want to know what their child is learning beyond projects that come home on Friday. The head of school wants something to show at admissions events. And because classes are small, you may teach a sixth grader and an eighth grader at the same table. Another real constraint is supplies. A small school's art room may have plenty of pencils and paper but limited paint or printmaking tools, so a curriculum that assumes a full studio does not help. You need lessons that balance art analysis with making, that work with modest materials, and that move from first sketch to finished piece in a way students and parents can follow.
Why it fits
How the curriculum supports a small art program
The curriculum gives you a written structure without dictating what your studio must look like.
- Lessons on elements of art and principles of design give every project a shared vocabulary.
- Artwork analysis from diverse cultures and periods shows families learning that goes beyond crafts.
- Studio units move from sketch to finished artwork, which makes progress visible at exhibitions.
- Drawing, painting, mixed media and design projects let you match units to the supplies you have.
- Differentiated worksheets help when sixth and eighth graders share a table in a combined section.
- The visual storytelling and symbolism lessons connect art to your English and history teachers.
Getting started
Your first two weeks with it
Here is a sensible way to get a private school art course running quickly.
- Inventory your art roomBefore choosing units, list what supplies you have. Then mark which drawing, painting, mixed media and design lessons you can run as written and which need simpler materials.
- Start with visual literacyOpen the year with the elements of art and principles of design. A shared vocabulary makes every later critique and studio task easier for students.
- Pick one project for displayChoose a sketch-to-final project early so finished work is ready for a hallway or admissions display. Parents see the course working within a few weeks.
- Pair analysis with makingAlternate an artwork analysis lesson with a studio session. Students who just studied color and symbolism in a painting then try those choices themselves. Critiques become more specific too.
- Write a short course outlineSummarize the units for grades 6, 7 and 8 on one page. Share it with your head of school so the program is documented beyond your own memory.
Which version
Choosing between the two versions
The standard version, 70+ resources at $149.90, is the full middle school art course and suits most private school art teachers. The $189.90 version adds Teach-Life-Balance, a digital course with planner, guides and templates for managing teacher time. Consider it if you also run clubs, set up shows and manage supplies alone, but skip it if planning time is not your problem. If you also teach music, or your school wants both art and music covered, buying Art Complete and Music Complete together with code TEACHMORE15 takes 15% off.
Honest limits
What it does not do
No art supplies are included; you provide the materials, and you may adapt studio tasks to what your room holds. Artwork images for analysis can be supplemented with your own books, prints or projected images. Lessons assume a U.S. middle school art classroom, yet your school decides what its art program must cover, so review it against your own requirements. Before colleagues use it, a short message to Teach Lessons is needed. Within 7 days, a purchase that does not fit can be exchanged for store credit of equal value; it is not a cash refund.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is it aligned to arts standards or approved for accredited schools?
Teach Lessons does not claim alignment with the National Core Arts Standards or any state framework, and no accreditor has approved it. It is written for U.S. middle school art classrooms. If your school must show standards coverage for accreditation, compare the units with those requirements yourself and confirm with your administration.
We have a tiny supply budget. Will this still work?
Much of the course depends on looking, discussing and drawing, which need little beyond paper and pencils. Painting, mixed media and design projects call for more materials, and you can choose which of those to run or substitute simpler media. The curriculum does not supply any materials itself.
Can the head of school see what is in it before buying?
The product page lists what is included, so you can share it directly. If your head of school has questions about school purchasing or about other teachers using the files, those can be sent to Teach Lessons before buying. That gives the head of school a clear picture of the year.
Are there related art products for our school?
Several supporting products may appear on the product page, such as the Complete Art Curriculum Bundle with 14 Hands-On Art Studios for grades 5–9 at $129.99, or the BUNDLE XXL Complete Art Curriculum for grades 5–9 at $49.90. They can add more studio projects but are not needed to teach the main course.
Does it work for a combined grade 6–8 art class?
Yes. Units can be taught as a full sequence or individually, and the worksheets are differentiated. In a combined class, teach the same concept, such as composition or color, to everyone and give older students more demanding analysis and studio tasks. Rotating projects by year keeps a combined class from repeating work.
How does it handle art history?
Art history appears through visual literacy lessons: students study artworks from diverse cultures and periods, fine art, design and visual culture, and discuss style, symbolism and visual storytelling. It is not a chronological survey course, so if your school wants that, plan to add your own sequence.
Give your art program a written backbone
The product page lists everything included in Art Complete – Middle School. Choose a version and plan your year this week.
See the art curriculum →