Unit Plan 28 (Grade 1 Art): Exhibition Planning
Grade 1 Art: Students collaborate to plan and organize a classroom or hallway exhibition, grouping artwork and designing a clear, welcoming display path for viewers.
Focus: Work together to plan and organize artwork for a simple classroom or hallway exhibition, deciding where pieces go and how viewers will move through the display.
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 become exhibition planners, thinking about how to organize artwork so others can enjoy it. Building on their experience with mounting and labeling, students help decide where artworks should go, how to group them, and how to make sure labels can be seen. They consider what viewers will see first, how people will walk through the display, and how to make the exhibition feel neat and welcoming. By the end, students understand that planning an exhibition is part of sharing art with others and can explain at least one choice they helped make about the display.
Essential Questions
- What does it mean to plan an exhibition of artwork?
- How can we organize artwork so it is easy for people to see and enjoy?
- Why is it important to think about what viewers will see first and how they will move through the display?
- How does planning an exhibition help us feel proud of our class’s artwork?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Explain that an exhibition is a display of artwork organized for people to view.
- Help decide how to group and arrange artworks (e.g., in rows, by project, or by color/subject).
- Place or suggest placement of mounted and labeled artworks so they are straight, spaced, and easy to see.
- Consider the viewer’s path (where people start and where they go next) when planning the exhibition.
- Share one way they helped plan or organize the exhibition.
Standards Alignment — 1st Grade (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Pr5.1a — Prepare artwork for display by organizing and labeling it.
- Example: Students write their name and title on artwork.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can tell what an exhibition is.
- I can help decide how to organize artwork on a wall or board.
- I can help make sure artwork is straight and spaced so people can see it.
- I can think about where people will start looking and where they will go next.
- I can say one way I helped plan our class exhibition.