Unit Plan 14 (Grade 4 Art): Communicating a Message
Grade 4 art unit where students plan personal message artwork by brainstorming and sketching multiple layout options, then choosing the strongest design to communicate their idea clearly.
Focus: Plan artwork that expresses a personal idea or message, using multiple layout options before selecting the strongest solution.
Grade Level: 4
Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Connecting/Creating)
Total Unit Duration: 1–3 weeks, 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students learn how artists use images to communicate messages about their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. They identify topics that matter personally—such as friendship, fairness, nature, or hobbies—and explore how to turn those ideas into visuals. Through guided brainstorming and multiple sketch solutions, students experiment with different ways to arrange subject matter and symbols. By the end, each student develops a clear plan for an artwork that expresses a personal message and can explain why they chose their final design.
Essential Questions
- How can artwork express a personal idea or message about my life or what I care about?
- What kinds of images, symbols, and layouts help make my message clear to a viewer?
- Why is it helpful to create more than one design idea before choosing a final plan?
- How can I describe how my personal experiences or interests inspired my artwork?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Identify a personal experience, interest, or idea they want to communicate through artwork.
- Brainstorm visual ways to show that message using subject matter and simple symbols.
- Develop two or more thumbnail sketches that solve the challenge of making their message clear.
- Choose the strongest design solution and explain why it best communicates their idea.
- Begin or complete an artwork based on their chosen plan and describe how it connects to their own life or interests.
Standards Alignment — 4th Grade (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Cn10.4a — Create artwork inspired by personal experiences or interests and describe those influences.
- Example: Students create artwork inspired by a favorite activity.
- VA:Cr1.4b — Develop more than one possible solution to a visual challenge and choose the strongest option with explanation.
- Example: Students compare two layout ideas before selecting one for final artwork.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can choose a personal idea or experience that I want to communicate in my artwork.
- I can create several sketches that show different ways to arrange my message.
- I can pick my strongest design and explain why it communicates my idea clearly.
- I can show a connection between my artwork and something from my life or interests.
- I can talk or write about the message I want viewers to understand when they see my art.