Unit Plan 29 (Grade 1 Art): Display & Viewer Impact
Grade 1 Art: Students describe how the same artwork looks different in various spaces (wall, board, hallway, table) and explain how display choices like height, background, and spacing affect what viewers notice and feel.
Focus: Describe how artwork looks in different spaces and notice how display choices affect what people see and feel.
Grade Level: 1
Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Presenting)
Total Unit Duration: 1–3 weeks, 45–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, first graders explore how the place where artwork is displayed changes how it looks and how people notice it. Students compare what happens when artwork is shown on a busy wall, a blank wall, close to their eyes, far away, high up, or low down. They practice using simple words to describe how display choices can make artwork feel bright, hidden, important, or hard to see. By the end, students can describe how artwork looks in at least two different spaces and explain which display they like best and why.
Essential Questions
- What does it mean to display artwork in different places?
- How does artwork look different when it is on a bulletin board, a classroom wall, or a table?
- How do height, background color, and space around artwork change what people notice first?
- Why is it important to think about where we put artwork so viewers can see and enjoy it?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Explain that artwork can be displayed in different spaces (walls, boards, tables, hallway) and that it can look different in each place.
- Describe at least one way a display location changes how artwork looks (e.g., “brighter,” “harder to see,” “stands out,” “blends in”).
- Use simple words to talk about viewer impact—what people see first and how easy it is to notice details.
- Compare two display choices for the same artwork and state which one they like better and why.
- Help choose or suggest a display location that makes artwork easy to see and enjoyable for viewers.
Standards Alignment — 1st Grade (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Pr6.1a — Describe how artwork looks when displayed in different places.
- Example: Students notice how artwork stands out on a bulletin board.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can say where artwork is displayed (wall, board, hallway, table).
- I can tell how the artwork looks different in two places.
- I can use words like bright, hidden, high, low, easy to see, or hard to see.
- I can say which display I like better and why.
- I can help choose a place to put artwork so viewers can see it well.