Unit Plan 34 (Grade 1 Art): Final Artwork Selection
Grade 1 Art: Students choose exhibition artwork based on effort, pride, or favorite pieces and explain why their selected work deserves to be displayed.
Focus: Choose artwork for exhibition based on effort, pride, and favorite choice.
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 practice being curators of their own art. Students look back at several pieces they created during the year and learn how to choose one or two artworks to share in an exhibition. Using very simple ideas—such as “I worked hard on this,” “This is my favorite,” and “This shows my best work”—they decide which artwork they want others to see. They also practice talking about why they chose a particular piece using kid-friendly language. By the end, students can select artwork for display based on effort or favorite choice and explain, in a simple way, why it belongs in the exhibition.
Essential Questions
- What does it mean to choose artwork for exhibition?
- How can I tell which artwork shows my best effort or is my favorite?
- Why is it important to feel proud of the artwork I choose to share?
- How can I explain to others why I picked a certain piece for display?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Look carefully at several of their own artworks from the year.
- Use simple ideas (effort, favorite, pride) to decide which artwork they want to share.
- Choose at least one artwork for exhibition and place a mark or label on it.
- Explain in one or two sentences why they chose that artwork (e.g., “I worked hard,” “It’s my favorite,” “It shows my best drawing”).
- Show respect for classmates’ choices and understand that everyone may choose different favorite pieces.
Standards Alignment — 1st Grade (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Pr4.1a — Select artwork to share based on effort or favorite choice.
- Example: Students choose one artwork for a classroom display.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can look at my artwork and think about which pieces show my best effort.
- I can choose one or more artworks as my favorite to share.
- I can say why I picked an artwork for the exhibition.
- I can respect my friends’ choices, even if they are different from mine.
- I can feel proud of the artwork I chose to display.