Unit Plan 18 (Grade 2 Art): Selecting Work for Display
Showcase Grade 2 art growth with a gallery-ready unit where students use criteria to select and explain a display piece that highlights effort, improvement, and a clear message.
Focus: Choose artwork for display that shows effort, growth, and clear communication of an idea or message, and explain why it is a strong choice.
Grade Level: 2
Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Presenting • Responding)
Total Unit Duration: 1–3 weeks, 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students learn that choosing artwork for display is about more than just “the prettiest picture.” They explore how effort, growth, and clear message help decide which pieces best represent their learning. Looking at their own work from recent units, students practice using simple criteria to select one artwork to show in a class gallery and explain why they are proud of it. By the end, students understand that displays tell a story about their hard work and improvement, not just perfection.
Essential Questions
- How do we decide which artwork is a good choice for display?
- Why is it important to think about effort, growth, and clear message when choosing art to show others?
- How can a display or gallery tell a story about our class as artists?
- How can I respectfully celebrate my own work and my classmates’ work?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Use simple criteria (effort, growth, clear message) to look at and talk about artwork.
- Review 3–5 of their own recent artworks and notice where they see improvement and hard work.
- Select at least one artwork for display that shows effort, growth, and a clear idea or message.
- Complete a short selection card explaining why they chose that artwork.
- Help arrange or imagine a simple class display that shares their learning with an audience.
Standards Alignment — 2nd Grade (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Pr4.5a — Select artwork for presentation based on effort, growth, and effective communication.
- Example: Students choose artwork for a class gallery showing improvement.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can use criteria (effort, growth, clear idea) to help me choose artwork.
- I can look at my own pieces and see where I have improved.
- I can pick an artwork for display and explain why I chose it.
- I can help make a display that shows what our class has been learning in art.
- I can show respect for my own work and for my classmates’ work.