South Dakota K–6 visual art standards

South Dakota writes its own visual art standards. They are published as South Dakota Fine Arts Standards, adopted 2022 and are not a version of a national framework. Every one is matched to a national standard.

PASS structural+spot. 92 rows, SD Fine Arts Standards — Visual Arts (adopted 6 May 2022). Split by discipline token (VA) from the CSP `Fine Arts (2022-)` bucket (D21364470). Verified against the image-only FineArts-051822.pdf via PyMuPDF page render + vision OCR: the doc's own code scheme grade.disc.proc.anchor.outcome matches exactly, grade bands (per-grade K-5 + Grades 6-8 band=grade 6) captured, HS Proficient/Advanced excluded, clean coherent grid. Crosswalked to NCAS VA at anchor level by embedded process+anchor identity (grade-matched representative; mean text overlap 0.51).

Framework: South Dakota Fine Arts Standards
Adopted: 2022
Source last checked: August 2, 2026

Read the official document

92 standards, kindergarten through 6th grade

K.VA.Cn.10.1K
Identify within an artwork, a story or mood about a life experience.
K.VA.Cn.11.1K
Understand that artists create different artwork for various reasons.
K.VA.Cr.1.1K
Engage in exploration and imaginative play with materials.
K.VA.Cr.2.1K
Through experimentation, build safe skills in various media and approaches to art-making.
K.VA.Cr.3.1K
Describe the process of making art while creating.
K.VA.Pr.4.1K
Select artwork for personal portfolio or display and explain why.
K.VA.Pr.5.1K
Explain the purpose of a portfolio of artwork.
K.VA.Pr.6.1K
Explain what an art museum is and how it is different from other art venues and settings.
K.VA.Re.7.1K
Identify and describe uses of art.
K.VA.Re.8.1K
Describe what an artwork represents.
K.VA.Re.9.1K
Explain reasons for selecting a preferred artwork.
1.VA.Cn.10.11
Create and discuss art that tells a story or expresses a mood about a life experience.
1.VA.Cn.11.11
Understand that people from different places and times have made artwork for a variety of reasons.
1.VA.Cr.1.11
Engage in creative artmaking using observation and exploration.
1.VA.Cr.2.11
Explore safe uses of materials, tools, and procedures to create works of art.
1.VA.Cr.3.11
Use elements of art to describe choices while making art.
1.VA.Pr.4.11
Categorize artwork based on a theme or concept for an exhibit.
1.VA.Pr.5.11
Categorize art for the purpose of a portfolio of artwork.
1.VA.Pr.6.11
Discuss the responsibilities of visitors to museums and other art venues and settings.
1.VA.Re.7.11
Compare and contrast artworks that represent the same subject using elements of art.
1.VA.Re.8.11
Interpret various artwork that represents the same subject.
1.VA.Re.9.11
Classify artwork based on criteria or personal preferences.
2.VA.Cn.10.12
Create art that tells a story or expresses a mood about life experiences.
2.VA.Cn.11.12
Compare and contrast uses of artworks from different cultures throughout time and places.
2.VA.Cr.1.12
Brainstorm multiple approaches, materials, and tools used in the art-making process.
2.VA.Cr.1.22
Engage in problem-solving driven by personal interests and curiosity.
2.VA.Cr.2.12
Safely experiment with various materials and tools in creating works of art.
2.VA.Cr.3.12
Discuss and reflect about choices made in creating artwork using art vocabulary.
2.VA.Pr.4.12
Explain why some objects, artifacts, and artwork are valued over others.
2.VA.Pr.5.12
Distinguish between different techniques for preparing artwork for presentation.
2.VA.Pr.6.12
Analyze how art exhibited inside and outside of school contributes to communities.
2.VA.Re.7.12
Identify expressive properties suggested by an artwork.
2.VA.Re.8.12
Categorize an artwork based on expressive properties.
2.VA.Re.9.12
Utilize the elements of art to express personal preferences about artwork.
3.VA.Cn.10.13
Create art that is motivated by personal observations of surroundings.
3.VA.Cn.11.13
Discuss how responses to artwork change depending on the time and place it was created.
3.VA.Cr.1.13
Elaborate independently on an imaginative idea.
3.VA.Cr.1.23
Apply knowledge of resources, tools, and technologies to express personal ideas through the art-making process.
3.VA.Cr.2.13
Create personally satisfying artwork using a variety of artistic processes and materials.
3.VA.Cr.2.23
Demonstrate an understanding of the safe and proficient use of materials, tools, and equipment.
3.VA.Cr.3.13
Elaborate visual information by adding details in an artwork to enhance meaning.
3.VA.Pr.4.13
Investigate and discuss possibilities and limitations of spaces for exhibiting artwork.
3.VA.Pr.5.13
Prepare works of art for presentation, such as writing artists' statements.
3.VA.Pr.6.13
Discuss how different cultures record and illustrate stories and history of life through art.
3.VA.Re.7.13
Analyze messages communicated by an artwork.
3.VA.Re.8.13
Identify messages communicated by an artwork.
3.VA.Re.9.13
Discuss an artwork based on given criteria.
4.VA.Cn.10.14
Create art that reflects community or cultural traditions.
4.VA.Cn.11.14
Through observation, infer information about time, place, and culture within an artwork.
4.VA.Cr.1.14
Brainstorm and implement multiple approaches to solve an art or design problem.
4.VA.Cr.1.24
Set goals and create artworks that has meaning and purpose to the artist.
4.VA.Cr.2.14
Explore and invent artmaking techniques and approaches.
4.VA.Cr.2.24
Utilize and care for art materials, tools, and equipment in a safe and responsible manner.
4.VA.Cr.3.14
Refine artwork from insights gained through discussion.
4.VA.Pr.4.14
Analyze how technologies have impacted the preservation and presentation of artwork.
4.VA.Pr.5.14
Analyze various considerations for presenting and protecting art in various locations, settings, formats.
4.VA.Pr.6.14
Compare and contrast purposes of art venues and settings, and the experiences they provide.
4.VA.Re.7.14
Summarize messages in an artwork referring to contextual information.
4.VA.Re.8.14
Discuss components in an artwork that conveys messages.
4.VA.Re.9.14
Apply one set of criteria to evaluate artwork.
5.VA.Cn.10.15
Apply elements of art and principles of design through inventive artmaking.
5.VA.Cn.11.15
Identify how an artwork is used to inform on the beliefs, values, and behaviors of a community or group.
5.VA.Cr.1.15
Combine approaches and materials to generate an innovative idea for art-making.
5.VA.Cr.1.25
Demonstrate diverse methods of artistic inquiry to choose an approach for beginning a work of art.
5.VA.Cr.2.15
Develop skills in multiple artmaking techniques through practice.
5.VA.Cr.3.15
Create artist statements using the elements of art and principles of design to describe personal choices in artmaking.
5.VA.Pr.4.15
Define the responsibilities of curator and arts personnel, explaining the knowledge needed in preserving, maintaining, and presenting artwork.
5.VA.Pr.5.15
Evaluate and refine methods for preparing and presenting artwork.
5.VA.Pr.6.15
Cite evidence how an exhibition in an art venue or setting presents ideas and provides information about a specific concept or topic.
5.VA.Re.7.15
Compare personal interpretation of an artwork with the interpretation of others using the elements of art and principles of design.
5.VA.Re.8.15
Identify and discuss cultural associations suggested by an artwork
5.VA.Re.9.15
Recognize differences in criteria used to evaluate artwork depending on styles, genres, and media.
5.VA.Cr.2.26
Safely demonstrate quality practice and handling of materials, tools, and equipment.
6-8.VA.Cn.10.16
Individually or collaboratively create art to reflect current interests, concerns, events, community, or group identity.
6-8.VA.Cn.11.16
Analyze how artwork reflects the history, values, and cultural identity of a community or group.
6-8.VA.Cn.11.26
Understand how art from the past and present represents history and has evolved over time. Discuss how past and present art, artists, and genres influence personal art.
6-8.VA.Cr.1.16
Brainstorm and apply multiple approaches to overcome creative blocks with chosen media.
6-8.VA.Cr.1.26
Individually or collaboratively investigate techniques and media to develop a plan for artistic work.
6-8.VA.Cr.2.16
Experiment with techniques and demonstrate innovative risk-taking during the art-making process.
6-8.VA.Cr.2.26
Demonstrate proper techniques for conservation, care, and cleanup of art materials, tools, and equipment.
6-8.VA.Cr.2.36
Apply artistic foundations, the elements of art, and the principles of design, to produce that clearly communicates information or ideas.
6-8.VA.Cr.3.16
Analyze, discuss, and reflect on art after seeking feedback to determine revisions and completion.
6-8.VA.Cr.3.26
Refine artworks by emphasizing elements to reflect an understanding of purpose, audience, or place.
6-8.VA.Cr.3.36
Demonstrate adaptability using tools, techniques, and content in standard and experimental ways to communicate intent in the creation of artwork.
6-8.VA.Pr.4.16
Analyze similarities and differences associated with preserving and presenting two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and digital artwork.
6-8.VA.Pr.4.26
Develop and apply criteria for evaluating a collection of artwork for presentation.
6-8.VA.Pr.5.16
Individually or collaboratively prepare and present artwork with the consideration of the viewer's needs and the format of the exhibit.
6-8.VA.Pr.6.16
Assess an art exhibit to understand how and why art may influence ideas, beliefs, and experiences.
6-8.VA.Re.7.16
Describe how an artist's choices are influenced by culture, environment, and experiences.
6-8.VA.Re.7.26
Analyze and interpret how visual imagery influences the viewer's ideas, emotions, and actions.
6-8.VA.Re.8.16
Interpret the subject matter, art-making approaches, genre, and the context in which the art was created to understand meaning and mood of art.
6-8.VA.Re.9.16
Utilizing established criteria, formulate a logical and convincing critique of artwork.

South Dakota K–6 visual art standards

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