Unit Plan 19 (Grade 1 Art): Texture Exploration

Focus: Experiment with texture by using different tools and materials to develop better control in art-making.

Grade Level: 1

Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Creating)

Total Unit Duration: 1–3 weeks, 45–60 minutes per session

I. Introduction

In this unit, first graders become texture explorers. They discover that some surfaces feel bumpy, scratchy, smooth, or rough, and that artists can use tools and materials to show those feelings in artwork. Through guided play with crayons, rubbing plates, textured objects, and simple mark-making tools, students practice making different kinds of texture marks while also working on control—pressing lightly or firmly, moving slowly or quickly, and staying in a space. By the end, students can name different textures, show them with lines and marks, and talk about how they used tools in careful ways.

Essential Questions

• What is texture, and how can I feel it with my hands and see it in my artwork?
• How can I use different tools and materials to make textures like bumpy, rough, or smooth?
• How does practicing control (how hard I press, how I move my tool) change the way my textures look?
• How can texture make my artwork more interesting to look at and touch (when allowed)?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Identify and describe textures they feel and see (e.g., bumpy, rough, smooth, scratchy).
2. Experiment with different tools and materials (crayons, rubbing plates, textured objects, brushes, combs) to create a variety of textures.
3. Practice control with tools by changing pressure, direction, and speed to create different texture marks.
4. Create a simple texture exploration page or chart showing several textures they made.
5. Talk about which tools they used for certain textures and which ones they liked best.

Standards Alignment — 1st Grade (NCAS-Aligned)

• VA:Cr2.1b — Explore and experiment with different materials and tools to develop control.
  • Example: Students practice using paintbrushes with different strokes.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can feel and name textures like rough, smooth, and bumpy.
• I can use different tools and materials to make different textures on my paper.
• I can control how hard I press and how I move my tools.
• I can make a texture page that shows more than one kind of texture.
• I can tell someone which tools I used to make my favorite textures.