Unit Plan 35 (Grade 2 Art): Exhibition Showcase
Grade 2 students present artwork in a class exhibition, exploring how spacing, height, and grouping change what viewers notice first and how art is experienced.
Focus: Present finished artwork in a class exhibition and talk about how different display choices (spacing, height, grouping) change what viewers see and notice first.
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 take part in a simple exhibition showcase of their end-of-year artwork. They think about how artwork looks different when it is displayed in different ways—close together or spread out, high or low, in a group or alone. Students practice being “gallery guides” who introduce their art and ask visitors what they see and feel. By the end of the unit, students can explain how presentation choices change the viewer experience and what people notice first in the display.
Essential Questions
- How does artwork look different when we display it in different ways?
- What happens when artwork is spread out or close together on the wall?
- How can we be gallery guides who help visitors look at our art carefully?
- What do we want visitors to see, feel, and notice first in our exhibition?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Notice and describe how artwork looks different when it is displayed closer together, farther apart, higher, lower, or in a different order.
- Use simple language to explain how spacing and grouping can change what viewers see first.
- Practice a short gallery guide talk to introduce their artwork in the exhibition.
- Ask visitors or classmates simple questions about their viewer experience (“What did you see first?” “How did this part feel?”).
- Share one idea for how they might display artwork in the future to help viewers notice important parts.
Standards Alignment — 2nd Grade (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Pr6.2a — Explain how artwork looks different when displayed in different ways.
- Example: Students discuss how spacing changes what viewers notice first.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can tell how artwork looks different when we move it or hang it in new ways.
- I can say how spacing and grouping change what people see first.
- I can stand by my artwork and give a short gallery talk about it.
- I can ask visitors what they notice and feel when they look at our display.
- I can share one idea about how to hang or place art so viewers can see the important parts.