Unit Plan 4 (Grade 2 Art): Lines & Shapes in Action
Grade 2 art unit where students use line and shape intentionally to create mood and focus in simple compositions.
Focus: Use line and shape intentionally in simple compositions to show mood and focus.
Grade Level: 2
Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Creating • Responding)
Total Unit Duration: 1–3 weeks, 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students explore how lines and shapes can do important jobs in artwork—not just “fill the page,” but show movement, create mood, and help the viewer know what to look at first. By looking closely at example artworks and making their own line-and-shape compositions, students learn to choose thick/thin, straight/curved, and big/small shapes on purpose. They begin to describe how these choices make artwork feel calm, busy, excited, or quiet and what becomes the main focus.
Essential Questions
- How can different kinds of lines (straight, curvy, zigzag) change how an artwork looks and feels?
- How do shapes and where we put them on the page help show what is most important?
- In what ways can line and shape work together to create a simple but strong composition?
- How can I talk about how line and shape create mood and focus in my own artwork and others’ artwork?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Identify and draw a variety of lines (straight, curved, zigzag, wavy, thick, thin) and shapes (geometric and simple organic).
- Use lines and shapes intentionally to create a simple composition where one area clearly feels like the main focus.
- Describe, in simple language, how the lines and shapes in an artwork make it feel (e.g., calm, busy, excited).
- Arrange lines and shapes to create simple patterns, movement, or balance on the page.
- Share their artwork and explain one way they used line or shape on purpose to create mood or focus.
Standards Alignment — 2nd Grade (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Cr2.2a — Use elements of art (line, shape, color, texture, value) intentionally in artwork.
- Example: Students use thick and thin lines to show movement.
- VA:Re7.2a — Describe how elements of art help create mood and focus.
- Example: Students explain how bright colors make artwork feel cheerful.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can draw different kinds of lines and shapes on purpose.
- I can use line and shape so that one part of my picture is the main focus.
- I can tell how the lines and shapes in a picture make it feel calm, busy, or excited.
- I can explain one choice I made with line or shape and what I wanted it to do.
- I can look at a classmate’s artwork and say how line and shape help mood and focus.