High School Curriculum Explorer · Grades 9–12

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138 original mini-lessons with video choices23 courses9 subject areas

Suggested pathways · Selected standards contributions · No calculus
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Each course has six lessons in three suggested units. Grade ranges guide placement; they are not universal requirements.

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35 minutes

Visual Arts

Suggested grades 9–12 · Unit 1: Composition and Space

Make a Focal Point With Value

Design and compare two original composition thumbnails using contrast rather than extra decoration.

▷ 2 teacher video choices: Make a Focal Point With Value
Preview lesson: Make a Focal Point With Value

Goal: Produce two thumbnails and justify a focal hierarchy with three specific visual observations.

Before this: Recognize light, middle and dark values.

Try together: Together compare the two thumbnails and name one competing contrast. Ask a clarifying question before offering a change.

Supporting literacy connectionSL.9-10.1Grades 9–10
Subject-content alignment not yet verified
Open lesson →: Make a Focal Point With Value
40 minutes

Visual Arts

Suggested grades 9–12 · Unit 1: Composition and Space

Build and Question a One-Point Space

Construct an original gallery interior and explain which lines follow the perspective model.

▷ 2 teacher video choices: Build and Question a One-Point Space
Preview lesson: Build and Question a One-Point Space

Goal: Draw a gallery with a horizon, vanishing point and three correctly directed depth edges.

Before this: Identify horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines.

Try together: Together mark depth-direction edges with one symbol and front-facing edges with another. Explain the classification before correcting any line.

Supporting literacy connectionSL.9-10.1Grades 9–10
Subject-content alignment not yet verified
Open lesson →: Build and Question a One-Point Space
35 minutes

Visual Arts

Suggested grades 9–12 · Unit 2: Meaning and Accessible Design

Tell a Story Without Explaining Every Detail

Use an original three-panel sequence to test how visual evidence supports different readings.

▷ 2 teacher video choices: Tell a Story Without Explaining Every Detail
Preview lesson: Tell a Story Without Explaining Every Detail

Goal: Create a sequence with a repeated motif and justify two possible interpretations using panel details.

Before this: Describe shapes, scale and arrangement.

Try together: Together compare one interpretation based on a visible feature with one based only on an invented event outside the panels.

Supporting literacy connectionSL.9-10.1Grades 9–10
Subject-content alignment not yet verified
Open lesson →: Tell a Story Without Explaining Every Detail
40 minutes

Visual Arts

Suggested grades 9–12 · Unit 2: Meaning and Accessible Design

Make a Message Readable in More Than One Way

Design a paper wayfinding system using labels, shapes and contrast rather than color alone.

▷ 2 teacher video choices: Make a Message Readable in More Than One Way
Preview lesson: Make a Message Readable in More Than One Way

Goal: Create two route signs and evaluate them against three stated communication criteria.

Before this: Recognize a legend and directional arrow.

Try together: Together audit a proposed sign “B □ Workshop ←” against the three criteria and ask what a first-time visitor might still need.

Supporting literacy connectionSL.11-12.1Grades 11–12
Subject-content alignment not yet verified
Open lesson →: Make a Message Readable in More Than One Way
35 minutes

Visual Arts

Suggested grades 9–12 · Unit 3: Critique and Curation

Separate Observation From an Art Claim

Practice a structured critique of an original still-life plan and revise a claim after considering alternatives.

▷ 2 teacher video choices: Separate Observation From an Art Claim
Preview lesson: Separate Observation From an Art Claim

Goal: Support an interpretation with three visual details and distinguish descriptive, interpretive and evaluative statements.

Before this: Describe line, value, space and composition.

Try together: Together sort “a crack appears,” “the scene suggests fragility” and “the sparse arrangement serves the intended mood” into observation, interpretation and criterion-based evaluation.

Supporting literacy connectionSL.11-12.1Grades 11–12
Subject-content alignment not yet verified
Open lesson →: Separate Observation From an Art Claim
40 minutes

Visual Arts

Suggested grades 9–12 · Unit 3: Critique and Curation

Curate a Small Exhibition With a Claim

Select and sequence original works to support a curatorial argument rather than merely display everything.

▷ 2 teacher video choices: Curate a Small Exhibition With a Claim
Preview lesson: Curate a Small Exhibition With a Claim

Goal: Produce a three-work exhibition plan and a revised statement supported by evidence from each selection.

Before this: Understand composition, critique and revision.

Try together: Together compare two possible orders and explain what each makes viewers notice before and after a work.

Supporting literacy connectionSL.11-12.1Grades 11–12
Subject-content alignment not yet verified
Open lesson →: Curate a Small Exhibition With a Claim

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