PSLCE Arts and Life Skills cheat sheet

Elements of art: line, shape, form, value, texture, colour, space - the building blocks used to compose any artwork.

Principles of design: balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, unity, proportion, variety.

Colour theory: primary colours mix to form secondary colours; complementary colours sit opposite on the colour wheel and create maximum contrast.

Warm colours (red, orange, yellow) advance; cool colours (blue, green, violet) recede - used to create depth.

Tints add white to a colour; shades add black; tones add grey.

Hatching, cross-hatching, stippling and blending are shading techniques that create value and volume.

A colour wheel has 12 hues: 3 primaries, 3 secondaries, 6 tertiaries.

Symmetrical balance mirrors a design; asymmetrical balance uses unequal but visually weighted elements; radial balance radiates from a centre point.

Four-step art criticism process: describe (what you see), analyse (how elements/principles are used), interpret (what it means), evaluate (how successful it is).

Description uses observable facts only; interpretation uses evidence plus context; judgement comes last, not first.

Contextual analysis considers artist, period, culture, purpose and audience - meaning shifts with context.

Formal analysis examines how composition, colour, line and space direct the viewer's eye.

Aesthetic theories: imitationalism (looks realistic), formalism (design quality), emotionalism (evokes feeling).

Compare artworks using consistent criteria across the same dimensions (subject, style, technique, function).

Provenance and medium affect value and authenticity claims in art appraisal.

Elements of music: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure, silence.

Note values: semibreve (4 beats), minim (2), crotchet (1), quaver (½), semiquaver (¼) in 4/4 time.

Time signatures: top number = beats per bar; bottom number = note value receiving one beat.

Major scale pattern: tone–tone–semitone–tone–tone–tone–semitone.

Dance elements: body, action, space, time, energy (BASTE).

Unison = all move together; canon = same movement started at different times; formation = spatial arrangement of dancers.

Dynamics markings: p (soft), mp (moderately soft), mf (moderately loud), f (loud), crescendo (getting louder), diminuendo (getting softer).

Safe dance practice: warm-up, hydration, correct alignment, cool-down, appropriate footwear and floor.

Drama elements: role, character, situation, tension, focus, space, time, language, movement, mood, symbol.

Dramatic conventions include soliloquy (alone on stage revealing thoughts), aside (spoken to audience, unheard by others), freeze frame, tableau, mime, narration.

Stage areas (from actor's view facing audience): stage right, stage left, upstage (away from audience), downstage (towards audience), centre stage.

Rehearsal sequence: warm-up, improvisation, blocking (fixed movement), line learning, run-through, dress rehearsal, performance.

Vocal skills: projection, articulation, pace, pitch, pause, emphasis; physical skills: gesture, posture, facial expression, proxemics.

Tragedy, comedy, farce, melodrama and docudrama are recognised dramatic genres.

Stage directions describe entrances, exits, lighting, sound and character action; they are not spoken aloud.

Health has physical, mental, social and emotional dimensions; all four must be maintained for wellbeing.

Communicable diseases spread via air, water, food, vectors or contact; non-communicable diseases (diabetes, hypertension) are not transmitted between people.

Personal hygiene routines: handwashing with soap, daily bathing, oral care twice daily, clean clothing, safe food handling.

Adolescence brings physical, emotional and social change; puberty is driven by hormones such as oestrogen and testosterone.

First aid DRABC: Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation - check before acting.

Mental wellbeing practices: adequate sleep (8–10 hours for adolescents), exercise, social connection, help-seeking.

Substance abuse risks include addiction, organ damage, impaired judgement and reduced academic performance.

Goal setting using SMART criteria: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.

Food groups: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, water, fibre - a balanced meal includes each in appropriate proportion.

Food preservation methods: drying, salting, smoking, freezing, canning, pickling - each inhibits microbial growth differently.

Cross-contamination is prevented by separate boards for raw meat and ready-to-eat food and by cooking to safe internal temperatures.

Budgeting rule: income minus fixed expenses minus variable expenses equals savings; needs precede wants.

A consumer has rights to safety, information, choice, redress and representation, and responsibilities to verify and complain.

Unit price = total price ÷ quantity; comparing unit prices reveals the better value.

Reading a label: check ingredients (listed by weight, largest first), expiry date, storage instructions and nutritional information.

Sewing and repair skills extend garment life; basic stitches include running, backstitch and hemming.

A citizen's duties include obeying laws, paying taxes, respecting others' rights, voting and protecting public property.

Human rights are universal, inalienable and indivisible; they pair with responsibilities.

The three arms of government: legislature (makes laws), executive (implements), judiciary (interprets).

Environmental management hierarchy: reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, dispose - reduction is the highest priority.

Hazards at home: electrical (water plus electricity), fire (fuel, heat, oxygen triangle), chemical (ventilation, labelling), road (pedestrian rules).

Emergency response: raise alarm, evacuate, call emergency services, do not re-enter a burning building.

Sustainable practices: water conservation, tree planting, waste segregation, energy efficiency, avoiding single-use plastics.

Signs of abuse (physical, emotional, neglect, exploitation) require reporting to a trusted adult or authority.

Project cycle: identify problem, research, plan, design, make, test, evaluate, communicate.

A design brief states the problem, target user, constraints and success criteria before making begins.

A working drawing includes dimensions, materials, scale and views; a sketch communicates ideas quickly.

Tool safety: use the right tool for the task, keep blades away from the body, secure workpieces, wear protective equipment.

Material selection balances cost, durability, availability, safety and environmental impact.

Evaluation compares the finished product against the original success criteria, not against personal preference alone.

Record keeping (sketches, photos, notes, test results) supports evidence-based evaluation and improvement.

Time and cost planning: list tasks, estimate duration, sequence dependencies, track spending against budget.