The new Texas essential knowledge and skills for fine arts promote teaching through themes and big ideas that encourage students to explore their life experiences and develop original works of art. Students are also expected to foster global awareness and respect for diverse cultures. Core human commonalities such as the search for meaning, life cycles, and the universal language of art are emphasized.

1. What’s the Big Idea?

2. Did you know that the new Texas Essential
Knowledge and Skills for Fine Arts encourage
teaching through themes and big ideas?
Students are “expected to explore and
communicate ideas drawn from life experience
about self, peers, family, school, or community
and from the imagination as sources for original
works of art.” They are also expected to
“develop global awareness and respect for the
traditions and contributions of diverse cultures.”

3. HUMAN COMMONALITIES
All humans share:
A Search for Meaning
The Life Cycle of Birth, Growth, Death
The Use of Symbols to Express thoughts and
Emotions
The Arts as a Universal Language
The Ability to Recall the Past and Anticipate the Future
A Need for Belonging
A Need to Work and Be Productive
Connections with the Natural World