Units, Stage 1 – Creative Arts
Stage 1 sample units to support implementation of the Creative Arts K–6 Syllabus (2024).
Syllabus
Syllabus outcomes and content descriptors from Creative Arts K–6 Syllabus (2024) © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2025.
Creative Arts K–6 sample units align with the department’s scope and sequence. The structure follows NESA’s sample whole school curriculum plan and is organised on an 8-term-per-stage basis. Eight sample units for Stage 1 will be released in a phased approach across 2025 and 2026.
This unit teaches students to use dance and music for creative expression and storytelling.
In Dance, students explore traditional African dances and use space and time to improvise movement inspired by living things.
In Music, students create soundscapes and performances inspired by African songs and animals, focusing on duration, pitch, timbre and structure.
This unit teaches students to explore how people use movement and sound to celebrate, connect and communicate.
In Dance, students compose and perform dances inspired by festivals, cultural traditions and community events.
In Music, students perform, compose, and notate music inspired by celebrations.
This unit teaches students to explore how characters and stories are shaped through art and performance.
In Drama, students explore cultural influences on circus traditions from around the world and reflect on how drama communicates ideas, experiences and stories.
In Visual Arts, students explore artists and artworks from cultural and historical contexts and use the elements of art and design to make artworks.
- Unit 3 – Creative Arts, Stage 1 (staff only) (DOCX 9.8 MB)
- Warm-up videos – Drama K–6 (staff only) to support teaching dramatic elements
- Student performance videos – Drama, Stage 1 (staff only) reflect Drama activities in Stage 1, unit 3
This unit teaches students to explore how dance and music can communicate ideas and stories through movement and sound. Students investigate Bollywood dance and music inspired by Japanese and Norwegian folk tales, using the elements of dance and music to create and perform their own storytelling pieces.
This unit teaches students to explore how our stories are told through dance and music.
In Dance, students learn that movement can communicate stories of connection, place and culture.
In Music, students learn that composers and performers use the elements of music to communicate personal and cultural stories.
This unit teaches students to explore how stories and ideas are communicated through drama and visual arts.
In Drama, students explore how stories can be communicated through drama by using familiar and reimagined fairytales.
In Visual arts, students explore ancient and historical artworks, including Chinese woodblock printing, Indian Rangoli and Mandala.
- Unit 7 – Creative Arts, Stage 1 (staff only) (DOCX 10.2 MB)
- Warm-up videos – Drama K–6 (staff only) to support teaching dramatic elements
- Student performance videos – Drama, Stage 1 (staff only) reflect Drama activities in Stage 1, unit 7
Feedback
We value your insights to inform the ongoing refinement of these units. After teaching, we invite you to provide feedback on the unit's effectiveness, what worked well and what could be improved.
To access the survey, scan the QR code or go to Creative Arts K–6 units survey.
