The objective of the Central Atlantic Regional Educational Laboratory (CAREL) visual arts program was to develop a curriculum that would increase children's visual knowledge of artists and art work, develop their visual sensitivity and perceptual ability, and encourage creative production and perception of art work. Workshops were conducted to combine curriculum theory with teaching practice and to present a conceptual art framework to teachers. The curriculum was presented to 190 children, grades kindergarten through 3, from all socioeconomic levels. Focal points were definition of the artist, artistic expressiveness, spatial awareness and spatial relationships, visual rhythm (recognized pattern of parts to parts and parts to whole), and visits to an art museum. Teacher preparation and curriculum content were evaluated through classroom observation by the CAREL staff, teachers' responses to workshops and questionnaires, and anecodotal records. Results indicated a need for better teacher preparation and curriculum design planning. Children showed development of visual rhythm, and improvement in their perception of aesthetic qualities. Curriculum units and sample evaluations are are included. (DR)