YourStateStandards

Tennessee K–6 visual art standards

Tennessee writes its own visual art standards. They are published as Tennessee Academic Standards for Fine Arts, adopted 2018 and are not a version of a national framework. 103 of 105 are matched to a national standard.

Visual Arts (VA) only — the NCAS arts split (README 2026-07-26) puts music/dance/theatre/media-arts in their own subjects. CSP had mis-routed Instrumental and Vocal Music into this bucket and held grade 6 alone.

Framework
Tennessee Academic Standards for Fine Arts
Adopted
2018
Source last checked
August 8, 2026
Read the official document

105 standards, kindergarten through 6th grade

  • K.VA.Cn1.AK
    Create art that tells a story about a life experience.
  • K.VA.Cn2.AK
    Identify a purpose of an artwork.
  • K.VA.Cr1.AK
    Explore and experiment imaginatively with ideas and materials.
  • K.VA.Cr1.BK
    Collaborate in creative art-making in response to an artistic problem.
  • K.VA.Cr2.AK
    Through experimentation, build skills in various media and art-making approaches, using developmentally appropriate craftsmanship.
  • K.VA.Cr2.BK
    Use art materials, tools, and equipment safely.
  • K.VA.Cr2.CK
    Create art that represents natural and constructed environments.
  • K.VA.Cr3.AK
    Explain the process of making art while creating.
  • K.VA.P1.AK
    Select art objects for personal portfolio and display, explaining why they were chosen.
  • K.VA.P2.AK
    Explain the purpose of a portfolio or collection.
  • K.VA.P3.AK
    Explain the function of an art museum, and distinguish how an art museum is different from other buildings and presentation spaces.
  • K.VA.R1.AK
    Describe what an image represents.
  • K.VA.R1.BK
    Identify uses of art within one's personal environment.
  • K.VA.R2.AK
    Interpret art by identifying subject matter and describing relevant details while using appropriate art vocabulary.
  • K.VA.R3.AK
    Explain reasons for selecting a preferred artwork.
  • 1.VA.Cn1.A1
    Identify times, places, and reasons students make art outside of school.
  • 1.VA.Cn2.A1
    Express how people from different places and times have made art for a variety of reasons.
  • 1.VA.Cr1.A1
    Explore and experiment imaginatively with ideas and materials through collaboration.
  • 1.VA.Cr1.B1
    Use observation and investigation in preparation for making a work of art.
  • 1.VA.Cr2.A1
    Explore uses of materials and tools to create works of art or design, using developmentally appropriate craftsmanship.
  • 1.VA.Cr2.B1
    Demonstrate safe and proper procedures for using materials, tools, and equipment.
  • 1.VA.Cr2.C1
    Identify and classify uses of everyday objects through diverse visual art media.
  • 1.VA.Cr3.A1
    Use art vocabulary to describe choices while creating art.
  • 1.VA.P1.A1
    Explain why some objects, artifacts, and artwork are valued over others.
  • 1.VA.P2.A1
    Ask and answer questions such as where, when, why, and how artwork should be prepared for presentation or preservation.
  • 1.VA.P3.A1
    Identify the roles and responsibilities of people who work in and visit traditional and emerging presentation spaces.
  • 1.VA.R1.A1
    Compare images that represent the same subject.
  • 1.VA.R1.B1
    Select and describe works of art that illustrate daily life experiences.
  • 1.VA.R2.A1
    Interpret art by categorizing subject matter and describing relevant details while using appropriate art vocabulary.
  • 1.VA.R3.A1
    Classify artwork based on different reasons for preferences.
  • 2.VA.Cn1.A2
    Create art about events in home, school, or community life.
  • 2.VA.Cn2.A2
    Compare and contrast purposes of artwork from various cultures, times, and places.
  • 2.VA.Cr1.A2
    Brainstorm collaboratively multiple approaches to an art or design problem.
  • 2.VA.Cr1.B2
    Make art or design with a variety of materials and tools, exploring personal interests, questions, and curiosities.
  • 2.VA.Cr2.A2
    Experiment with various materials and tools to explore personal interests in a work of art or design, using developmentally appropriate craftsmanship.
  • 2.VA.Cr2.B2
    Demonstrate safe procedures for using and cleaning art tools, equipment, and studio spaces.
  • 2.VA.Cr2.C2
    Repurpose objects to create something new.
  • 2.VA.Cr3.A2
    Discuss and reflect with peers about choices made in creating artwork.
  • 2.VA.P1.A2
    Categorize artwork based on a theme or concept for an exhibit.
  • 2.VA.P2.A2
    Distinguish between different materials or artistic techniques for preparing artwork for presentation.
  • 2.VA.P3.A2
    Analyze how art exhibited in traditional and emerging presentation spaces contributes to communities.
  • 2.VA.R1.A2
    Categorize images based on determined key information and relevant details.
  • 2.VA.R1.B2
    Perceive and describe aesthetic characteristics of one's natural world and constructed environments.
  • 2.VA.R2.A2
    Interpret art by identifying the suggested mood and describing relevant subject matter while using appropriate art vocabulary.
  • 2.VA.R3.A2
    Use art vocabulary to express preferences about artwork.
  • 3.VA.Cn1.A3
    Develop art based on observations of surroundings.
  • 3.VA.Cn2.A3
    Recognize that responses to art can change depending on knowledge of the time and place in which it was made.
  • 3.VA.Cr1.A3
    Elaborate on an imaginative idea.
  • 3.VA.Cr1.B3
    Apply knowledge of selected resources, tools, and technologies to investigate personal ideas through art-making.
  • 3.VA.Cr2.A3
    Create artwork to meet personal criteria, using a variety of artistic processes and materials and developmentally appropriate craftsmanship.
  • 3.VA.Cr2.B3
    Demonstrate an understanding of the safe and proficient use of materials, tools, and equipment for a variety of artistic processes.
  • 3.VA.Cr2.C3
    Individually or collaboratively construct visual representations of objects or places from everyday life.
  • 3.VA.Cr3.A3
    Add details to an artwork to enhance emerging meaning.
  • 3.VA.P1.A3
    Investigate and discuss possibilities and limitations of traditional and emerging presentation spaces.
  • 3.VA.P2.A3
    Identify traditional and emerging presentation spaces, and prepare works of art for presentation including an artist's statement.
  • 3.VA.P3.A3
    Identify and explain how and where different cultures record and illustrate stories and history of life through art.
  • 3.VA.R1.A3
    Categorize images based on expressive properties.
  • 3.VA.R1.B3
    Speculate about processes an artist uses to create a work of art.
  • 3.VA.R2.A3
    Interpret art by analyzing how use of media, mood, and subject matter shape meaning while using appropriate art vocabulary.
  • 3.VA.R3.A3
    Evaluate an artwork based on given criteria.
  • 4.VA.Cn1.A4
    Create art that communicates the cultural traditions of one's community.
  • 4.VA.Cn2.A4
    Through observation, infer information about time, place, and culture in which a work of art was created.
  • 4.VA.Cr1.A4
    Brainstorm original approaches to an art or design problem.
  • 4.VA.Cr1.B4
    Collaboratively set goals, and create artwork that is meaningful and has purpose to the makers.
  • 4.VA.Cr2.A4
    Explore and invent art-making techniques and approaches using developmentally appropriate craftsmanship.
  • 4.VA.Cr2.B4
    Utilize and care for materials, tools, and equipment in a manner that prevents danger to oneself and others.
  • 4.VA.Cr2.C4
    Document, describe, and represent community spaces and environments.
  • 4.VA.Cr3.A4
    Revise artwork in progress on the basis of insights gained through peer critique.
  • 4.VA.P1.A4
    Analyze how traditional and emerging technologies have impacted the preservation and presentation of artwork.
  • 4.VA.P2.A4
    Analyze strategies for exhibiting and preserving a variety of artforms in both traditional and emerging presentation spaces.
  • 4.VA.P3.A4
    Compare and contrast purposes of a variety of presentation spaces and the types of experiences they provide.
  • 4.VA.R1.A4
    Determine the main idea of an image, and explain how it is supported by key details.
  • 4.VA.R1.B4
    Compare responses to a work of art before and after experimenting with similar processes.
  • 4.VA.R2.A4
    Interpret art by analyzing how context, relevant subject matter, and use of media shape meaning while using appropriate art vocabulary.
  • 4.VA.R3.A4
    Apply one set of criteria to evaluate more than one work of art.
  • 5.VA.Cn1.A5
    Create art based on personal experiences, current interests, and surroundings.
  • 5.VA.Cn2.A5
    Identify how art is used to inform or change beliefs, values, or behaviors of an individual or society.
  • 5.VA.Cr1.A5
    Combine ideas to generate an innovative plan for art-making.
  • 5.VA.Cr1.B5
    Identify and demonstrate various investigative methods in choosing an approach for beginning a work of art.
  • 5.VA.Cr2.A5
    Experiment and develop skills in multiple art-making techniques and approaches through practice using developmentally appropriate craftsmanship.
  • 5.VA.Cr2.B5
    Demonstrate resourceful care for and use of materials, tools, and equipment.
  • 5.VA.Cr2.C5
    Identify, describe, and visually document places and/or objects of personal significance.
  • 5.VA.Cr3.A5
    Communicate personal decisions in art-making in an artist statement or another format.
  • 5.VA.P1.A5
    Define and explain the qualifications and responsibilities of a curator.
  • 5.VA.P2.A5
    Demonstrate effective use of methods and techniques for preparing and presenting artwork.
  • 5.VA.P3.A5
    Explain how an exhibition in a traditional or emerging presentation space provides ideas and information about a specific concept or topic.
  • 5.VA.R1.A5
    Explain how images can convey cultural associations.
  • 5.VA.R1.B5
    Compare one's own interpretation of a work of art with the interpretation of others.
  • 5.VA.R2.A5
    Interpret art to identify ideas and mood conveyed by analyzing context, subject matter, and use of media while using appropriate art vocabulary.
  • 5.VA.R3.A5
    Recognize how styles, genres, media, and historical and cultural contexts influence criteria used to evaluate works of art.
  • 6.VA.Cn1.A6
    Generate and investigate a collection of ideas that reflect awareness of current interests and concerns through art-making.
  • 6.VA.Cn2.A6
    Analyze how art reflects changing times, traditions, resources, and cultural uses.
  • 6.VA.Cr1.A6
    Combine concepts collaboratively to generate innovative ideas for creating art.
  • 6.VA.Cr1.B6
    Investigate personally relevant content for creating art.
  • 6.VA.Cr2.A6
    Experiment with new ideas, materials, methods, and approaches in making works of art and design, using course specific craftsmanship.
  • 6.VA.Cr2.B6
    Explain environmental implications of conservation, care, and clean-up of art materials, tools, and equipment.
  • 6.VA.Cr2.C6
    Design or redesign objects, places, or systems that meet the identified needs of diverse users.
  • 6.VA.Cr3.A6
    Reflect on and revise personal artwork to convey intended meaning.
  • 6.VA.P1.A6
    Analyze similarities and differences associated with preserving and presenting traditional and emerging media.
  • 6.VA.P2.A6
    Individually or collaboratively, develop a plan to display works of art that includes analyzing the exhibit space, while considering the audience.
  • 6.VA.P3.A6
    Explain how an exhibition in a traditional or emerging presentation space reflects the history and values of a community.
  • 6.VA.R1.A6
    Analyze how images and cultural associations influence ideas, emotions, and actions.
  • 6.VA.R1.B6
    Identify and interpret works of art that reveal a variety of world cultures and values.
  • 6.VA.R2.A6
    Interpret art to identify ideas and mood conveyed by determining relevant context and analyzing use of media and subject matter while using appropriate art vocabulary.
  • 6.VA.R3.A6
    Develop and apply relevant criteria to evaluate a work of art.

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