YourStateStandards

Illinois K–6 visual art standards

Illinois writes its own visual art standards. They are published as Illinois Arts Learning Standards, adopted 2016 and are not a version of a national framework. Every one is matched to a national standard.

Framework
Illinois Arts Learning Standards
Adopted
2016
Source last checked
July 23, 2026
Read the official document

105 standards, kindergarten through 6th grade

  • VA:Cn10.1.K.aK
    Create art that tells a story about a life experience.
  • VA:Cn11.1.K.aK
    Identify a purpose of an artwork.
  • VA:Cr1.1.K.aK
    Engage in exploration and imaginative play with materials.
  • VA:Cr1.2.K.aK
    Engage collaboratively in creative art making in response to an artistic problem.
  • VA:Cr2.1.K.aK
    Through experimentation, build skills in various media and approaches to artmaking.
  • VA:Cr2.2.K.aK
    Identify safe and nontoxic art materials, tools, and equipment.
  • VA:Cr2.3.K.aK
    Create art that represents natural and constructed environments.
  • VA:Cr3.1.K.aK
    Explain the process of making art while creating.
  • VA:Pr4.1.K.aK
    Select art objects for a personal portfolio and display, explaining why they were chosen.
  • VA:Pr5.1.K.aK
    Explain the purpose of a portfolio or collection.
  • VA:Pr6.1.K.aK
    Explain what an art museum is and distinguish how an art museum is different from other buildings.
  • VA:Re7.1.K.aK
    Identify uses of art within one's environment.
  • VA:Re7.2.K.aK
    Describe what an image represents.
  • VA:Re8.1.K.aK
    List details and identify subject matter of works of art.
  • VA:Re9.2.K.aK
    Explain reasons for selecting a preferred artwork.
  • VA:Cn10.1.1.a1
    Identify times, places, and reasons by which students make art outside of school.
  • VA:Cn11.1.1.a1
    Understand that people from different places and times have made art for a variety of reasons.
  • VA:Cr1.1.1.a1
    Engage collaboratively in exploration and imaginative play with materials.
  • VA:Cr1.2.1.a1
    Use observation and investigation in preparation for making a work of art.
  • VA:Cr2.1.1.a1
    Explore uses of materials and tools to create works of art or design.
  • VA:Cr2.2.1.a1
    Demonstrate safe and proper procedures for using materials, tools, and equipment while making art.
  • VA:Cr2.3.1.a1
    Identify and classify uses of everyday objects through drawings, diagrams, sculptures, or other visual means.
  • VA:Cr3.1.1.a1
    Use art vocabulary to describe choices while creating art.
  • VA:Pr4.1.1.a1
    Explain why some objects, artifacts, and artworks are valued over others.
  • VA:Pr5.1.1.a1
    Ask and answer questions such as where, when, why, and how artwork should be prepared for presentation or preservation.
  • VA:Pr6.1.1.a1
    Identify the roles and responsibilities of people who work in and visit museums and other art venues.
  • VA:Re7.1.1.a1
    Select and describe works of art that illustrate daily life experiences of self and others.
  • VA:Re7.2.1.a1
    Compare images that represent the same subject.
  • VA:Re8.1.1.a1
    Identify subject matter and describe characteristics of works of art.
  • VA:Re9.2.1.a1
    Classify artwork based on different reasons for preferences.
  • VA:Cn10.1.2.a2
    Create works of art about events in home, school, or community life.
  • VA:Cn11.1.2.a2
    Compare and contrast cultural uses of artwork from different times and places.
  • VA:Cr1.1.2.a2
    Brainstorm collaboratively multiple approaches to an art or design problem.
  • VA:Cr1.2.2.a2
    Make art or design with various materials and tools to explore personal interests, questions, and curiosity.
  • VA:Cr2.1.2.a2
    Experiment with various materials and tools to explore personal interests in a work of art or design.
  • VA:Cr2.2.2.a2
    Demonstrate safe procedures for using and cleaning art tools, equipment, and studio spaces.
  • VA:Cr2.3.2.a2
    Repurpose objects to make something new.
  • VA:Cr3.1.2.a2
    Discuss and reflect with peers about choices made in creating artwork.
  • VA:Pr4.1.2.a2
    Categorize artwork based on a theme or concept for an exhibit.
  • VA:Pr5.1.2.a2
    Distinguish between different materials or artistic techniques for preparing artwork for presentation.
  • VA:Pr6.1.2.a2
    Analyze how art exhibited inside and outside of schools (for example, in museums, galleries, virtual spaces, and other venues) contributes to communities.
  • VA:Re7.1.2.a2
    Perceive and describe aesthetic characteristics of one's natural world and constructed environments.
  • VA:Re7.2.2.a2
    Categorize images based on expressive properties.
  • VA:Re8.1.2.a2
    Communicate feelings when engaging works of art, and describe subject matter and characteristics.
  • VA:Re9.2.2.a2
    Use learned art vocabulary to express preferences about artwork.
  • VA:Cn10.1.3.a3
    Develop a work of art based on observations of surroundings.
  • VA:Cn11.1.3.a3
    Recognize that responses to art change depending on knowledge of the time and place in which it was made.
  • VA:Cr1.1.3.a3
    Elaborate on an imaginative idea.
  • VA:Cr1.2.3.a3
    Apply knowledge of available resources, tools, and technologies to investigate personal ideas through the artmaking process.
  • VA:Cr2.1.3.a3
    Create personally satisfying artwork using a variety of artistic processes and materials.
  • VA:Cr2.2.3.a3
    Demonstrate an understanding of the safe and proficient use of materials, tools, and equipment for a variety of artistic processes.
  • VA:Cr2.3.3.a3
    Individually or collaboratively construct representations, diagrams, or maps of places that are part of everyday life.
  • VA:Cr3.1.3.a3
    Elaborate visual information by adding details in an artwork to enhance emerging meaning.
  • VA:Pr4.1.3.a3
    Investigate and discuss possibilities and limitations of spaces, including electronic, for exhibiting artwork.
  • VA:Pr5.1.3.a3
    Identify exhibit space and prepare works of art, including artists' statements, for presentation.
  • VA:Pr6.1.3.a3
    Identify and explain how and where different cultures record and illustrate stories and history of life through art.
  • VA:Re7.1.3.a3
    Speculate about processes an artist uses to create a work of art.
  • VA:Re7.2.3.a3
    Determine messages communicated by an image.
  • VA:Re8.1.3.a3
    Communicate feelings when engaging works of art, and describe subject matter and formal characteristics to discuss meanings of artwork.
  • VA:Re9.2.3.a3
    Evaluate an artwork based on given criteria.
  • VA:Cn10.1.4.a4
    Create works of art that reflect community or cultural traditions.
  • VA:Cn11.1.4.a4
    Through observation, infer information about time, place, and culture in which a work of art was created.
  • VA:Cr1.1.4.a4
    Brainstorm multiple approaches to a creative art or design problem.
  • VA:Cr1.2.4.a4
    Collaboratively set goals and create artwork that is meaningful and has purpose to the makers.
  • VA:Cr2.1.4.a4
    Explore and invent art-making techniques and approaches.
  • VA:Cr2.2.4.a4
    When making works of art, utilize and care for materials, tools, and equipment in a manner that prevents danger to oneself and others.
  • VA:Cr2.3.4.a4
    Document, describe, and represent regional constructed environments.
  • VA:Cr3.1.4.a4
    Elaborate visual information by adding details in an artwork to enhance emerging meaning.
  • VA:Pr4.1.4.a4
    Compare and contrast how technologies have changed the way artwork is preserved, presented, and experienced.
  • VA:Pr5.1.4.a4
    Analyze the various considerations for presenting and protecting art in various locations, indoor or outdoor settings, in temporary or permanent forms, and in physical or digital formats.
  • VA:Pr6.1.4.a4
    Compare and contrast purposes of art museums, art galleries, and other venues, as well as the types of personal experiences they provide.
  • VA:Re7.1.4.a4
    Compare responses to a work of art before and after working in similar media.
  • VA:Re7.2.4.a4
    Analyze components in visual imagery that convey messages.
  • VA:Re8.1.4.a4
    Communicate feelings when engaging works of art and describe subject matter, formal characteristics, and art-making approaches to discuss meanings of artwork.
  • VA:Re9.2.4.a4
    Apply one set of criteria to evaluate more than one work of art.
  • VA:Cn10.1.5.a5
    Apply formal and conceptual vocabularies of art and design to view surroundings in new ways through art making.
  • VA:Cn11.1.5.a5
    Identify how art is used to inform or change beliefs, values, or behaviors of an individual or society.
  • VA:Cr1.1.5.a5
    Combine ideas to generate an innovative idea for art making.
  • VA:Cr1.2.5.a5
    Identify and demonstrate diverse methods of artistic investigation to choose an approach for beginning a work of art.
  • VA:Cr2.1.5.a5
    Experiment and develop skills in multiple art-making techniques and approaches through practice.
  • VA:Cr2.2.5.a5
    Demonstrate quality craftsmanship through care for and use of materials, tools, and equipment.
  • VA:Cr2.3.5.a5
    Identify, describe, and visually document places or objects of personal significance.
  • VA:Cr3.1.5.a5
    Create artist statements using art vocabulary to describe personal choices made in art making.
  • VA:Pr4.1.5.a5
    Define the roles and responsibilities of a curator, explaining the skills and knowledge needed in preserving, maintaining, and presenting objects, artifacts and artwork.
  • VA:Pr5.1.5.a5
    Develop a logical argument for safe and effective use of materials and techniques for preparing and presenting artwork.
  • VA:Pr6.1.5.a5
    Cite evidence about how an exhibition in a museum or other venue presents ideas and provides information about a specific concept or topic.
  • VA:Re7.1.5.a5
    Compare one's own interpretation of a work of art with the interpretation of others.
  • VA:Re7.2.5.a5
    Identify and analyze cultural associations suggested by visual imagery.
  • VA:Re8.1.5.a5
    Interpret art through describing and analyzing feelings, subject matter, formal characteristics, artmaking approaches, and contextual information.
  • VA:Re9.2.5.a5
    Recognize differences in criteria used to evaluate works of art depending on styles, genres, and media as well as historical and cultural contexts.
  • VA:Cn10.1.6.a6
    Generate a collection of ideas reflecting current interests and concerns that could be investigated in art making.
  • VA:Cn11.1.6.a6
    Analyze how art reflects changing times, traditions, resources, and cultural uses.
  • VA:Cr1.1.6.a6
    Combine concepts collaboratively to generate innovative ideas for creating art.
  • VA:Cr1.2.6.a6
    Formulate an artistic investigation of personally relevant content for creating art.
  • VA:Cr2.1.6.a6
    Demonstrate openness in trying new ideas, materials, methods, and approaches in making works of art and design.
  • VA:Cr2.2.6.a6
    Explain environmental implications of conservation, care, and cleanup of art materials, tools, and equipment.
  • VA:Cr2.3.6.a6
    Design or redesign objects, places, or systems that meet the identified needs of diverse users.
  • VA:Cr3.1.6.a6
    Reflect on whether personal artwork conveys the intended meaning and revise accordingly.
  • VA:Pr4.1.6.a6
    Analyze similarities and differences associated with preserving and presenting two dimensional, three dimensional, and digital artwork.
  • VA:Pr5.1.6.a6
    Individually or collaboratively, develop a visual plan for displaying works of art, analyzing exhibit space, the needs of the viewer, and the layout of the exhibit.
  • VA:Pr6.1.6.a6
    Assess, explain, and provide evidence of how museums or other venues reflect history and values of a community.
  • VA:Re7.1.6.a6
    Identify and interpret works of art or design that reveal how people live around the world and what they value.
  • VA:Re7.2.6.a6
    Analyze ways that visual components and cultural associations suggested by images influence ideas, emotions, and actions.
  • VA:Re8.1.6.a6
    Collaboratively interpret art and generate meanings through describing and analyzing feelings, subject matter, formal characteristics, artmaking approaches, and contextual information.
  • VA:Re9.2.6.a6
    Develop and apply relevant criteria to evaluate a work of art.

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