Welcome to the module that will introduce you to the newly adopted middle school art Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for levels 1 through 3. We will look closer at creativity as we begin to look at the revised TEKS and their focus on concept in addition to process. Creativity is key.
"Creativity is putting your imagination to work, and it's produced the most extraordinary results in human culture."Sir Kenneth Robinson, an English author, speaker and international advisor on education in the arts said, "Creativity is putting your imagination to work, and it's produced the most extraordinary results in human culture." World‐renowned concert cellist Yo Yo Ma said, "Passion is one great force that unleashes creativity, because if you're passionate about something, then you're more willing to take risks." These quotes cause us to reflect on creativity which by definition is the ability to make new things and think of new ideas.
"Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn't really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That's because they were able to connect experiences they've had and synthesize new things."
All of these quotes and the student art you see demonstrate the key to teaching the revised art TEKS in middle school—the courage to create.