Unit Plan 26 (Grade 3 Art): Narrative Studio Project
Grade 3 art unit where students create narrative artwork from a plan, demonstrating clear visual organization, effort, and follow-through.
Focus: Create narrative artwork based on a planned story, demonstrating clear visual organization, effort, and follow-through from sketch to final piece.
Grade Level: 3
Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Creating)
Total Unit Duration: 1–3 weeks, 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students use their narrative art plans (from the previous unit) to create a finished narrative artwork that clearly tells a story. They apply their planning sketches and story notes to organize characters, setting, and action in a way that makes sense to the viewer. As they work from sketch to final piece, students focus on visual organization, effort, and craftsmanship, learning that careful planning leads to stronger, clearer storytelling in their art.
Essential Questions
- How can I use my plan and sketches to create a clear narrative artwork?
- What choices about layout, space, and details help my story make sense to someone looking at my picture?
- How do effort and careful organization show up in a finished artwork?
- Why is it important for my artwork to have a clear beginning, middle, or big moment that a viewer can understand?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Use a narrative art plan (brainstorm + thumbnail sketch) as the starting point for a final artwork.
- Arrange characters, setting, and action in a way that creates clear visual organization (foreground, background, main focus).
- Demonstrate effort and craftsmanship by working carefully, using time well, and revising small areas as needed.
- Add details that support the story without making the picture confusing or overcrowded.
- Reflect on how planning helped them complete a finished narrative artwork that tells a story.
Standards Alignment — 3rd Grade (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Cr3.3b — Complete artwork that demonstrates planning, effort, and clear visual organization.
- Example: Students finalize a landscape showing foreground and background.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can use my plan and thumbnail to guide my final narrative artwork.
- I can organize people and objects so a viewer can tell who is doing what and where.
- I can show effort by working carefully, not rushing, and fixing small mistakes.
- I can add helpful details that support my story without making the picture messy or confusing.
- I can explain how my finished artwork shows a clear story to someone else.