Unit Plan 12 (Grade 2 Art): Art & Culture Exploration
Grade 2 art unit where students explore how art reflects traditions, celebrations, and culture, then create and explain artwork that shows something special about their own lives or communities.
Focus: Explore how art reflects traditions, celebrations, and culture, and create artwork that shows something special about students’ own lives or communities.
Grade Level: 2
Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Connecting/Responding)
Total Unit Duration: 1–3 weeks, 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Students discover that artists around the world make art that shows who they are, where they are from, and what they celebrate. By looking at examples of cultural art (such as patterns, clothing, buildings, or festival decorations), they notice colors, symbols, and designs that connect to traditions. Then they think about their own lives—family, school, community—and create a simple artwork that shows something special about their own culture or traditions.
Essential Questions
- How can art show where people come from and what they care about?
- What do colors, patterns, and symbols tell us about a culture or tradition?
- How can I make art that shows something special about my life or my family?
- Why is it important to respect and learn about art from different cultures?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Look at examples of art from different cultures and name at least one detail that shows a tradition or way of life.
- Describe how colors, patterns, or symbols in an artwork might connect to a celebration, place, or group of people.
- Share one idea about how art can tell a story about culture or history.
- Create a simple artwork that shows something special about their own family, community, or tradition.
- Explain in one or two sentences how their artwork connects to a tradition, celebration, or cultural detail from their own life.
Standards Alignment — 2nd Grade (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Cn11.5a — Describe how art reflects cultural or historical traditions and influences interpretation.
- Example: Students examine traditional art forms and discuss their purpose.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can notice and talk about details (colors, patterns, symbols) in art from different places.
- I can say how an artwork might be connected to a celebration, tradition, or culture.
- I can make an artwork that shows something special about my life, family, or community.
- I can explain how my artwork is connected to a tradition or special activity I know.
- I can listen to and respect other people’s ideas about their culture and traditions.