Grade three students should be guided to extend their explorations. Develop concepts which will, in later years, lead to an understanding of order in the visual environment and in their own visual expressions. The principles of design include emphasis, balance, movement, repetition, variety, contrast and unity. Pattern is created through repetition of shapes, colours, lines, textures and forms. In grade three, students should continue developing their awareness of pattern in both nature and the constructed environment.
Contrast refers to the range of difference between elements.
Artists and designers use contrast to emphasize or de-emphasize images, s hapes, etc. in their work. Students in grade two created patterns by repeating lines, colours, shapes, textures and forms. They explored the principle of contrast by creating art works using visual and tactile opposites. In grade three, students can begin to apply thei r knowledge of pattern and contrast to their art works in a more purposeful manner to emphasize or de-emphasize shapes, images, lines, etc. The teacher can ask the student to make choices about, for example, whether more or less contrast would suit the s tudent's purpose better.