Dance Benchmarks
Dance Making
Through ongoing participation in dance, students develop strength, flexibility, and endurance. They layer compositional elements and select themes for group choreography, apply their increasing awareness of dance forms as they learn more complex dances, demonstrate self-initiative, and collaborate actively with others in class, rehearsal, and performance.

Dance Literacy
Students expand their dance vocabulary of words and symbols to further refine their understanding and communication of ideas and themes in dance. They practice constructive criticism using dance language, and explore the elements that contribute to expression and meaning in dance.

Making Connections
Students illuminate their relationship to dance by exploring dances of different cultures and periods, find shared elements among the arts, use video and interactive technology to support dance learning, and analyze the effects of dance on body and mind.

Working With Community and Cultural Resources
In a variety of school partnerships with dance cultural institutions, community organizations, and colleges and universities, students attend performances at dance venues citywide, work with dance teaching artists, see professional dance performances at their schools, and become familiar with a range of resources for learning about dance.

Exploring Careers and Lifelong Learning
Students make inquiries into the variety of careers in dance and dance-related fields. They begin to develop personal goals in their own dancing. They visit local dance venues, and learn about the physical and social benefits of dancing.
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Music Benchmarks
Music Making
General Music
Through the development of more formal musical skills, students will perform and create music that draws upon more challenging techniques and repertoire, while beginning to develop personal expression and musicianship.
Choral/Vocal Music
Through the discovery of the voice as a distinct instrument, students will begin to develop vocal techniques in order to sing age-appropriate repertoire.
Instrumental Music
Through the development of fine motor skills and systematic thinking, students will learn basic instrumental technique in age-appropriate repertoire and creative self-expression.

Music Literacy
General Music
Making use of a variety of styles and genres and the repertoire being studied, students will become musically literate.
Choral/Vocal Music
Making use of the performance repertoire being studied, students will: respond imaginatively to the expressive qualities of musical works; listen critically through analyzing works of music; understand and apply musical notation; understand and use music vocabulary to become literate musicians.
Instrumental Music
Making use of the performance repertoire being studied, students will: respond imaginatively to the expressive qualities of musical works; listen critically through analyzing works of music; understand and apply musical notation; understand and use music vocabulary to become literate musicians.

Making Connections
Instrumental Music
Students will make connections to the music they are performing, creating, and improvising.
Choral/Vocal Music
Students will make connections to the music they are performing, creating, and improvising.
Instrumental Music
Students will make connections to the music they are performing, creating, and improvising.

Community Resources
General/Choral/Vocal/Instrumental Music
Students will gain knowledge and make use of community and cultural resources in order to support the Music Making (I), Music Literacy (II), Connections (III), and Careers (V) portions of the curriculum.

Careers In Music
General/Choral/Vocal/Instrumental Music
Students will gain awareness of the variety of careers available in music; set goals and career plans with attention to personal, social, and professional values; and gain an appreciation of music as a source of personal enjoyment and lifelong learning.
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Theater Benchmarks
Theater Making Benchmarks
Acting
Imagination, Analysis, and Process Skills
Students continue to activate and expand their imaginations, and explore the analytical, concentration, and process skills associated with acting.
Performance Skills
Students exercise and refine the actors instrument the body, voice, and mind through ongoing exploration of the physical, vocal, characterization, and staging components of acting.
Students participate in a variety of group and solo activities in rehearsal and performance, demonstrating self-discipline and the ability to work collaboratively.
Playwriting/Play Making
Understanding Dramatic Structure
Students gain skills as emergent playwrights by identifying and using elements of dramatic literature in writing, theater exercises, and activities.
Imagination, Analysis, and Process
Students apply imaginative, analytical, and process skills to the creation of original dramatic works.
Through research, editing, revision, and critique, students become aware of the various stages of playwriting.
Designing and Technical Theater
Understanding Design
Students further their understanding of design and technical theater by connecting design choices to the requirements of a script.
Students apply methods and processes of a designer to their own work and to the theater works they encounter.
Using Theaterical Space and Elements
Students participate as theater technicians, using basic theater vocabulary and applying technical skills in school productions.
Directing
Knowledge and Understanding
Students investigate the various management and artistic roles of the director.
Students use theater vocabulary to communicate basic directorial concepts and ideas to actors and designers.
Imagination, Analysis, and Process
Students work constructively with peers engaging in guided activities as emerging directors.

Developing Theater Literacy Benchmark
Understanding Dramatic Text
Students refine their knowledge of dramatic literature though an examination of a range of scripts.
Understanding Theater History
Students examine theater history to further understand its social and cultural context.
Responding to Theater Performance
Students practice constructive responses to theater performance using observable evidence to support opinion.

Making Connections Through Theater Benchmarks
Connecting Theater to the Arts and Other Disciplines
Students deepen their relationship to theater by exploring elements of theater that are shared with other art forms and disciplines.
Connecting Theater to Personal Experience, Community, and Society Through an Exploration of Themes, Culture, and History
Students refine their personal responses to theater by comparing various interpretations of a work and the context that informs the production of that work.

Working With Community & Cultural Resources Benchmarks
Partnering With Theater Organizations Outside of School
Students see live theater in school and at outside venues through partnerships with theater and theater education organizations.
Working With Theater Professionals in the School
Students explore theater organizations and companies through in-school residencies aligned with the theater curriculum.
Use Theater Archives, Online Materials, Libraries, Museums and Other Resources
Students become familiar with various resources for learning about theater.
Performing in the Community
Students share their theater learning through performances for others, including their own school, families, and communities.

Exploring Careers and Lifelong Learning Benchmarks
Awareness of Careers in Theater
Students examine the variety of careers in theater and related fields.
Set Career Goals and Develop a Career Plan
Students recognize their personal skills, likes, and dislikes as related to particular theater jobs.
Theater for Enjoyment and Lifelong Learning
Students reflect upon and communicate their experiences as audience members to peers, families, and professionals.
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Visual Arts
Art Making
Students begin sequential unit projects; extend knowledge of art media and compositional and design elements; choose new ways of using familiar tools and materials; and deepen imaginative capacities, observational, and expressive skills.

Developing Art Literacy
Students hone observation skills and discuss works of art; develop visual arts vocabulary to describe art making, the tools and techniques used to produce art, and the elements and principles of design; read and write about art to reinforce literacy skills; interpret artwork by providing evidence to support assertions; reflect on the process of making art.

Making Connections Through Visual Arts
Students recognize the societal, cultural, and historical significance of art; connect the visual arts to other disciplines; apply the skills and knowledge learned in visual arts to interpreting the world.

Community and Cultural Resources
By working with a variety of school staff, students access primary resources in the community, the borough, and the city to extend their learning beyond the classroom.

Exploring Careers and Lifelong Learning
Students gain an awareness of careers in visual arts; recognize personal, social and professional goals; develop a career plan; learn to work independently and in teams; gain an appreciation of art as a source of enjoyment and lifelong learning.
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