Unit Plan 28 (Grade 4 Art): Exhibition Planning

Focus: Organize a classroom art exhibition thoughtfully by planning how mounted and labeled artworks will be arranged for viewers.

Grade Level: 4

Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Presenting)

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

I. Introduction

In this unit, students step into the role of curators, making decisions about how to arrange their class artworks for a display. Building on their skills in mounting and labeling, they explore how the order, grouping, and spacing of artworks affect how people experience an exhibition. Students consider fairness, visibility, and flow—who sees what first, how similar artworks can be grouped, and how labels help guide the viewer. By the end, they will have designed a clear plan for a classroom exhibition that shows respect for every artist’s work.

Essential Questions

• How does the arrangement of artwork on a wall or in a room change how viewers experience it?
• What choices do curators make when planning an exhibition (order, grouping, spacing, height)?
• How can we organize a display that is both fair to all artists and easy to understand for viewers?
• In what ways do mounting and labeling work together with layout to create a professional-looking show?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Describe what a curator does and identify basic exhibition planning decisions (height, spacing, grouping, sequence).
2. Work with classmates to design a layout plan for a classroom display using sketches, mock walls, or paper maps.
3. Apply knowledge of mounting and labeling to decide where artworks and labels should be placed for best visibility and clarity.
4. Arrange or help arrange a section of the classroom display following an agreed-upon plan.
5. Reflect on how their exhibition plan supports viewers in seeing, understanding, and appreciating the artwork.

Standards Alignment — 4th Grade (NCAS-Aligned)

• VA:Pr5.4a — Prepare artwork for display using appropriate mounting and labeling techniques.
  • Example: Students create simple labels including title and medium.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can explain how a curator helps organize an exhibition.
• I can help create a plan for how our class artworks will be arranged on the wall.
• I can think about height, spacing, and grouping when deciding where artworks and labels should go.
• I can follow our group’s plan to help arrange a classroom display.
• I can explain how our exhibition layout helps viewers see and understand the artwork.