Western Governors University

D703: Elementary Fine Arts Methods

The graduate-program version of WGU's fine arts methods course covering dance, drama, music and visual arts for elementary teachers.

Updated October 2026 · 5 min read

D703 appears to be the Master of Arts in Teaching version of Elementary Fine Arts Methods: 2 competency units in term 6 of the MAT path, compared with 3 in the bachelor's guidebook. Check your degree plan for your code.

WGU describes best practices for teaching the elements of the fine arts through strategies that are developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive, using the creative process and integrating with other subjects.

MAT candidates are often generalists, so the typical difficulty is precision: naming art elements correctly and justifying integrated lessons.

Course at a Glance

ItemDetails
UniversityWestern Governors University (WGU)
Course codeD703 (graduate-program version)
LevelMaster of Arts in Teaching, elementary education
Size2 competency units in the MAT guidebook
Subject areaDance, drama, music, visual arts
Work typeDescription and integrated lesson planning (confirm on your course page)

What D703 Covers

Competency (WGU wording, summarized)What it means in practice
Describes the creative process in fine arts instructionStages from idea to sharing
Identifies elements of fine arts in dance, drama, music and visual artsNaming the building blocks
Plans visual arts and music instruction integrated with other disciplinesArt and music that do learning work

Key Concepts Explained

Music Integrated with Mathematics

Example: Pupils clap rhythms using quarter notes (one beat) and half notes (two beats), then write fraction sentences: one half note equals two quarter notes. The music objective is steady beat and rhythm reading; the maths objective is equivalent amounts.

Visual Arts and Writing

Pupils draw a self-portrait using line and shape, then write three sentences about what the picture shows about them. The art element is practiced, and the writing objective is descriptive language.

Reflection

Ask children to say what they chose and why. Reflection turns making into learning.

Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them

Work typeWhat it testsHow to approach it
Creative process descriptionProcess knowledgeOne example per stage
Element identificationVocabularyA labeled table per art form
Integrated lesson planCross-subject planningBoth objectives, activities and checks

A Study Approach for the MAT Pace

  1. Memorize four elements per art form.
  2. Choose a content standard first, then the art form.
  3. Write one assessment for the art objective and one for the content objective.

Where Students Get Stuck

A Two-Objective Planning Template

ElementExample
Content objectivePupils sort sounds as high or low
Art objectivePupils sing a short phrase with steady pitch
Creative processImagine, create, reflect, share
DifferentiationEcho singing for some, composing for others
AssessmentA simple checklist for each objective

Both objectives and both checks should appear so the lesson is not art for its own sake.

Culturally Responsive Choices

Show you chose examples from more than one tradition and explain how they connect to your pupils. A dance lesson on pattern and rhythm could draw on folk dances from several regions. Avoid stereotypes by naming the specific tradition and its purpose, not treating a culture as a single style.

Assessing Process and Product

Use two or three simple criteria pupils can understand, such as "I used the element we practiced" and "I can explain one choice". Add a short reflection prompt. A tiny rubric keeps assessment fair and lets you show both the art objective and the content objective were checked.

CriterionEvidence
Uses the elementThe work shows it
Explains choicesSpoken or written reflection
Meets content aimAccurate response

Elements to Revise

Recheck the list of elements your course uses for each art form and practice spotting them in a short example: a rhythm clapped, a painting described, a short scene acted. Being able to say "this scene shows character and voice" quickly is what the identification competency tests.

A Final Check Before You Submit

Time and Materials Planning

Arts lessons often run over because setup and cleanup are forgotten. Show in the plan how long each stage takes, who hands out and collects materials and where unfinished work goes. A realistic timetable convinces evaluators that you can run the lesson, not only imagine it.

Study Tips for D703

How We Help with D703

Send the task, rubric and draft. A tutor can explain art-form elements, review your lesson or prepare a model with a different content link. See our education assignment help guide for wider support.

GradeEssays is independent of Western Governors University. We provide study support, model references and editing of your own work. You complete and submit your own work under WGU's integrity policy. Orders are written from scratch, with free revisions within the scope of your original request and a full refund if late. No pass is promised.

Shape Your D703 Integrated Lesson

Share the rubric and your idea. We help you connect the arts to the content standard.

Start My D703 Help

Free revisions · Full refund if late · Written from scratch for your order

Frequently Asked Questions

Is D703 the same as D695?

Same title and competencies; the MAT guidebook lists 2 competency units versus 3. Check your degree plan for your code.

Do I need to be an artist?

No. The course is about teaching methods.

Which art forms?

Dance, drama, music and visual arts.

What does integration mean?

Planning visual arts and music lessons that connect with other subjects.

Is cultural responsiveness expected?

WGU's description emphasizes culturally responsive strategies.

Can you write my lesson for me?

No. We tutor and edit your own work. You complete and submit it yourself.