Unit Plan 18 (Grade 4 Art): Selecting Work for Display
Grade 4 art unit where students select and justify artwork for display, using effort, growth, and communication to curate and explain their artistic development.
Focus: Choose and justify artwork for display based on effort, growth, and effective communication of ideas.
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 learn how artists curate their own work by selecting pieces to share with others. They review artwork created across the year, look for evidence of growth, and decide which pieces best show their effort, improved craftsmanship, and clear ideas or messages. Using simple selection criteria and reflection prompts, students practice making thoughtful choices instead of just picking a favorite, learning to see their portfolios as stories about how they have developed as artists.
Essential Questions
- How do artists decide which artworks to present or display for others to see?
- What does it mean for an artwork to show effort, growth, and clear communication of an idea?
- How can looking back at my artwork help me see how I have improved over time?
- How can I explain why a particular piece is a strong choice for display?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Review a collection of their own artworks and notice changes in skill, effort, and ideas across time.
- Use simple selection criteria (effort, growth, communication) to evaluate which pieces are strong choices for display.
- Choose one or more artworks for display that demonstrate improvement and effective communication.
- Write or share a short explanation for why each selected piece is a good choice for presentation.
- Reflect on what their selected artworks say about their artistic growth this year.
Standards Alignment — 4th Grade (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Pr4.4a — Select artwork for presentation based on effort, growth, and effective communication.
- Example: Students choose artwork that demonstrates improved technique.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can look through my artwork and notice where my skills and ideas have changed or improved.
- I can use simple criteria (effort, growth, communication) to help me choose which artwork to display.
- I can explain why a piece I chose shows my best effort or biggest improvement.
- I can tell how my selected artworks communicate a clear idea or feeling to others.
- I can describe how my display choices show who I am and how I have grown as an artist.