Unit Plan 9 (Grade 5 Art): Finalize & Reflect — Project I
Grade 5 art unit where students finalize Project I, evaluate craftsmanship, composition, and message clarity, then present, reflect, and connect growth as artists.
Focus: Complete Project I artwork so it clearly communicates an idea and shows strong planning, effort, and composition, then evaluate the finished work using criteria for craftsmanship, composition, and clarity of message. Students curate, present, and reflect on their work, making connections between their design choices and their growth as artists.
Grade Level: 5
Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Creating • Responding)
Total Unit Duration: 1–3 weeks, 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Students bring Studio Project I — Composition Focus to a polished finish and step back to look at their work as an audience would. They add final details, clean up craftsmanship, and ensure the composition supports the idea they want to communicate. Then, using the criteria they have practiced (craftsmanship, composition, clarity of message), they evaluate their own work and their classmates’ work, and write/refine an artist statement that explains their design choices and personal growth.
Essential Questions
- How do I know when an artwork is truly finished and ready to share with others?
- How can I use criteria (craftsmanship, composition, clarity of message) to evaluate my own artwork fairly?
- In what ways do my design choices (focal point, balance, contrast, details) help communicate my idea?
- How have I grown as an artist through planning, revising, and completing Project I?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Apply final touches to Project I to improve craftsmanship, composition, and clarity of message.
- Use a shared criteria checklist to evaluate their own completed artwork.
- Write or revise an artist statement that clearly describes their idea and key design choices.
- Participate in a simple gallery-style evaluation, using criteria to reflect on peer work.
- Reflect on their growth and goals as artists based on the Project I process (planning → creating → revising → finalizing).
Standards Alignment — 5th Grade (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Cr3.5b — Complete artwork that demonstrates planning, effort, and effective communication of an idea.
- Example: Students finalize a mixed-media project with intentional composition.
- VA:Re9.5a — Evaluate artwork using criteria such as craftsmanship, composition, and clarity of message.
- Example: Students use a checklist to assess peer work.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can finish my artwork so it looks complete, careful, and organized, not rushed.
- I can use a checklist to judge how well my artwork shows craftsmanship, composition, and a clear idea.
- I can write an artist statement that explains what my artwork is about and why I arranged it the way I did.
- I can look at classmates’ artworks and give respectful comments based on our criteria.
- I can explain at least one way I have improved as an artist during Project I.