Unit Plan 7 (Grade 3 Art): Studio Project I — Organized Composition
Grade 3 art unit where students plan with thumbnails, use space and focal points, and create organized compositions with clear structure and craftsmanship.
Focus: Create artwork with intentional layout and structure that shows clear visual organization.
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 what they have learned about elements of art, balance, and space to plan and complete a more finished artwork with an organized composition. They explore how the placement of objects, the use of foreground and background, and spacing between shapes can make a picture feel clear instead of crowded or confusing. Through quick planning sketches and a final “Organized Composition” project, students practice making layout decisions on purpose and working with care from start to finish.
Essential Questions
- What does it mean for an artwork to have an organized composition?
- How does the placement of shapes or objects affect how we see and understand a picture?
- How can I use space, size, and overlap to show foreground and background or to keep my picture from feeling too crowded?
- How do planning and effort help me create a more successful final artwork?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Describe what makes a composition feel organized (clear focal point, not too crowded, thoughtful spacing).
- Create thumbnail sketches (small planning drawings) that explore different layouts for the same idea.
- Choose one layout and use it to create a finished artwork that shows foreground/background or clear grouping of objects.
- Demonstrate effort and craftsmanship by working carefully from planning to final details.
- Explain how they made intentional choices about placement, size, and spacing to keep their composition organized.
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 make planning sketches that test different ways to organize my picture.
- I can choose where to put objects and shapes so my picture looks organized, not random.
- I can use size, overlap, and space to show which parts are closer or farther away.
- I can work carefully from start to finish, showing effort and craftsmanship in my final artwork.
- I can explain how I organized my composition and why I chose that layout.