Unit Plan 28 (Grade 2 Art): Exhibition Planning
Grade 2 students plan a class art exhibition by grouping, arranging, and adding clear section signs so artwork is organized, welcoming, and easy for visitors to enjoy.
Focus: Work together to organize artwork thoughtfully for display by deciding how to group, arrange, and add signs so a class exhibition is clear, welcoming, and easy for visitors to enjoy.
Grade Level: 2
Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Presenting)
Total Unit Duration: 1–3 weeks, 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students become “exhibition planners” and help organize a small class art show. Building on previously mounted and labeled artworks, they decide how to group pieces, where to place them, and what simple signs or section titles to include so visitors can easily understand what they are seeing. Students think about how people will walk through the display and how arrangement choices can make the gallery feel neat and inviting. By the end, they see that planning an exhibition is an important part of sharing art with others.
Essential Questions
- What does it mean to plan an exhibition of artwork?
- How can we group and arrange artworks so they are easy to see and enjoy?
- Why do artists and curators add signs or section titles to exhibitions?
- How can our choices about display show respect for artists and visitors?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Describe what an art exhibition is and how people move through one.
- Suggest at least one way to group artworks (by project, color, subject, or feeling).
- Help arrange mounted and labeled artworks into an organized layout (rows, clusters, or sections).
- Create simple signs or section titles that help visitors know what they are looking at.
- Explain one way that their exhibition plan helps visitors understand and enjoy the artwork.
Standards Alignment — 2nd Grade (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Pr5.5a — Prepare artwork for display using appropriate mounting, labeling, and organization techniques.
- Example: Students create display labels including title and medium.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can explain what an art exhibition is.
- I can help decide how to group and arrange artworks.
- I can help make a neat layout so pictures are straight and easy to see.
- I can help make signs that tell visitors what they are looking at.
- I can say how our exhibition planning makes the gallery better for visitors.