Grade 7 Creative Arts develops learners' creative and artistic abilities across four art forms: Visual Arts, Music, Drama and Dance. The CAPS curriculum integrates creative expression with knowledge of art techniques, cultural contexts and performance skills. Learners explore their own creativity while developing an appreciation of South African and global artistic traditions. Schools may focus on two of the four art forms depending on available resources and teacher expertise.
- Visual Art: elements of design — line, shape, colour, texture, space, form, value
- Colour theory: primary, secondary, tertiary colours; warm and cool colours
- Drawing techniques: proportion, perspective, shading
- Visual Art practical: portrait or observational drawing using pencil or charcoal
- Music: elements of music — pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture
- Music notation: treble clef, notes on the staff, time signatures (2/4, 3/4, 4/4)
- Music practical: perform a piece on an instrument or sing in parts
- Art appreciation: analyse a South African artwork using the elements of design
- Drama: elements of drama — role, situation, tension, focus, space, time, movement
- Voice and body as expressive instruments — warm-ups, breathing, projection
- Drama techniques: freeze frame, still image, hot seating, thought tracking
- Drama practical: create and perform a short scripted or devised scene
- Dance: elements of dance — body, space, time, energy, relationships
- South African indigenous dance forms — context and movements
- Dance practical: learn and perform a short indigenous or contemporary dance sequence
- Drama and Dance appreciation: compare performance styles across cultures
- Visual Art: printmaking — relief printing, monoprint; or sculpture using clay or recycled materials
- Visual Art: study of a South African artist — technique, context, personal response
- Music: music of South Africa — indigenous, jazz, gospel, kwaito — context and features
- Music: composition — create an 8-bar melody or rhythmic composition
- Drama: character development — objectives, obstacles, backstory
- Drama: performance skills — memorisation, cueing, stage placement
- Dance: choreography basics — pattern, motif, development
- Combined: plan and contribute to a class arts showcase
- Visual Art: mixed media artwork combining at least two techniques
- Music: ensemble performance — perform in a group, awareness of other parts
- Drama: full scene performance — blocking, props, costumes, lighting awareness
- Dance: full choreographed performance — group piece with a unifying concept
- Arts showcase: present work from all four terms
- Art criticism: write a short review of a classmate's or professional's work
- South African arts heritage: contribution of SA artists to world culture
- Reflection: personal growth as a creative artist across Grade 7
Practise technique regularly. Art skills improve through repetition. Sketch daily, practise scales, rehearse lines.
Use art vocabulary in written responses. Terms like 'proportion', 'dynamics', 'tension' and 'motif' show understanding and earn marks.
Connect art to its cultural context. Understanding where and why an art form developed helps you analyse it far more deeply.
Commit fully in drama and dance. Half-hearted performance earns half marks. Commit to character, movement and energy.
Art is about process, not just product. Teachers assess your thinking and creative choices, not just the final piece. Explain your decisions.