Unit Plan 4 (Grade 3 Art): Elements of Art Review

Focus: Apply line, shape, color, value, and texture intentionally to create organized, visually interesting compositions and begin to analyze how these elements affect mood, emphasis, and structure.

Grade Level: 3

Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Creating/Responding)

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

I. Introduction

In this unit, students review the elements of art—line, shape, color, value, and texture—and practice using them on purpose instead of by accident. Through guided warm-ups and a small “Elements in Action” composition, they explore how different choices (thick vs. thin lines, warm vs. cool colors, light vs. dark values, smooth vs. rough textures) can change how an artwork looks and feels. Students also begin to talk about art using these elements, noticing how they create mood, emphasis, and structure in both their own work and simple examples.

Essential Questions

• How do line, shape, color, value, and texture help artists organize their artwork?
• How can I use the elements of art on purpose to make my picture more clear, balanced, or interesting?
• How do different colors, lines, and textures change the mood or feeling of an artwork?
• How can talking about elements of art help me understand and improve my own work?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Name and identify the elements of art used in simple artworks: line, shape, color, value, texture.
2. Practice using each element in quick warm-up boxes (line variety, simple shape groups, color sets, value steps, texture marks).
3. Create a small “Elements in Action” composition where line, shape, color, value, and texture are used intentionally to organize the picture.
4. Describe how at least one element (especially color, value, or line) helps create mood, emphasis, or structure in their own or a sample artwork.
5. Reflect on how using elements purposefully makes their artwork feel more organized and visually interesting.

Standards Alignment — 3rd Grade (NCAS-Aligned)

• VA:Cr2.3a — Apply elements of art and basic design principles to create organized and visually interesting compositions.
  • Example: Students use repetition and contrast to strengthen a design.
• VA:Re7.3a — Analyze how elements of art create mood, emphasis, and structure.
  • Example: Students explain how warm colors create excitement.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can name and find line, shape, color, value, and texture in artworks.
• I can use these elements on purpose in my own drawing to make it more organized and interesting.
• I can explain how my choice of color, line, or texture helps create a certain mood or feeling.
• I can point to a part of an artwork and say which element of art is making it stand out (emphasis) or helping hold the picture together (structure).
• I can talk about my artwork using art words like line, shape, color, value, and texture.