Art History

Girls-Only & ​All-Gender Course; Prerequisite - Completion of one year of high school social studies; Full-year course 
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Students in Art History and AP® Art History examine and critically analyze major forms of artistic expression from diverse cultures spanning 27,000 years. By investigating an image set of 250 works, students develop a contextual understanding of art history from a global perspective. Influences such as patronage, politics, class, belief systems, gender, ethnicity, and cross-cultural interactions inform students’ analysis of the style and content of art.  Emphasis is placed on analytical and critical thinking skills, the language of art history, and the methods used by art historians to interpret art objects. Students experience, research, discuss, and write about art, artists, and art making. Upon completion of this course, students will have the tools to recognize important works of art and historical styles as well as understand historical and cultural context. Students choosing the AP® class are expected to delve deeper into the topics, take AP®-style assessments, and prepare for the AP® exam in the spring. 
WHAT STUDENTS SAY

"I actively search for art styles when going anywhere. I love to see how art reflects culture and what contemporary art says about my generation."

WHAT STUDENTS DO
Learning is an active process at One Schoolhouse. Students design, create and apply. And, they engage with classmates and connect with their teachers through discussions, video conferences, and projects. Specifically, in this class students will:
  • Set goals that drive their learning. Students reflect regularly on their growth, and meet on video chat with their online teacher to review progress towards their goals.
  • Have choice in how they learn new content and practice new skills. Students are given agency to determine the best ways for them to learn.
  • Apply what they are learning to the real world. Learning is meaningful and connects to concepts outside the classroom.
  • Practice constructive engagement in a diverse and changing world. Students interact with classmates from across the country and around the world.
  • Gain academic maturity. Online learning takes greater discipline and independence than a traditional face-to-face classroom. Teachers support students to build this skill.
MEET A TEACHER FOR THIS COURSE
SIGNATURE ACTIVITIES
Examples of signature activities and projects for this course are:
  • Comparisons are the building blocks of this course. Students compare two or more works of art and create connections between them – they will most often be from different global cultures (from pre-history to global contemporary) and different time periods. Students research the works of art and decide how they would like to present the comparison: an essay, video/screencast or a digital sketchbook page- a condensed poster and a great option for students who are visual and want to be creative.
  • Learning to attribute unknown works of art is another important skill in art history.  In the Mystery Art Object activity, students connect a work of art that they have never seen before to one that they are familiar with, and then they make educated guesses about when it might have been created, who might have made it and how it might have been used.
  • Because it is important to read, write, think and express ideas about art, students participate in Weekly Art Discussions. Students are encouraged to read articles on sites such as artsy.net or the Daily Art App, or go to museums or galleries, and then post a comment about what they have seen or read.
COURSE APPROVAL
This course is approved by: the NCAA and the University of California.

Fully accredited with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools & the Western Association of Schools and Colleges through December 1, 2025
Sara Macaulay
Art History Teacher
BA Middlebury College
MA ​Rhode Island School of Design