Unit Plan 25 (Grade 2 Art): Personal Narrative Planning

Focus: Plan an artwork based on a personal experience, using brainstorming, sketching, and simple story planning tools to connect real-life memories and feelings to picture ideas.

Grade Level: 2

Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Creating • Connecting)

Total Unit Duration: 1–3 weeks, 50–60 minutes per session

I. Introduction

In this unit, students will learn that artists often tell true stories from their lives through pictures. They think about special memories—like a birthday, a family trip, a new pet, or a moment when they felt proud or scared—and turn these into picture ideas. Through guided brainstorming and simple sketches, students plan one personal narrative artwork by choosing a moment, deciding who and what belongs in the picture, and thinking about how to show their feelings. By the end of the unit, students have a clear plan for an artwork that is inspired by their own experiences.

Essential Questions

• How can I use my own life and experiences to get ideas for art?
• What kinds of tools (lists, drawings, webs) help me brainstorm picture ideas?
• How do I decide which moment from my story to show in my artwork?
• How can I show my feelings in my picture using people, places, and objects from my life?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Recall and share at least three personal experiences that could become picture ideas.
2. Use simple brainstorming tools (word lists, webs, or idea boxes) to generate several possible narrative scenes.
3. Create thumbnail sketches (small practice drawings) for at least two story ideas.
4. Select one personal story idea and complete a planning sketch that shows main characters, setting, and important objects.
5. Explain how their planned artwork is inspired by a real experience or strong interest and what feeling they want to show.

Standards Alignment — 2nd Grade (NCAS-Aligned)

• VA:Cn10.5a — Create artwork inspired by personal experiences or interests and explain those influences.
  • Example: Students design artwork reflecting family traditions.
• VA:Cr1.5a — Generate artistic ideas by exploring themes, personal interests, or assigned prompts through brainstorming and sketching.
  • Example: Students sketch multiple ideas for a landscape that communicates a specific mood.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can think of real-life stories that I might turn into pictures.
• I can use brainstorming and small sketches to try out more than one idea.
• I can choose one personal story to plan for my artwork.
• I can make a planning sketch that shows who, where, and what is happening in my story.
• I can say how my picture plan is connected to my life and what feeling I want to show.