Unit Plan 23 (Grade 5 Art): Portfolio Self-Assessment
Grade 5 art self-assessment unit where students evaluate their artwork using craftsmanship, composition, and message criteria, then reflect on growth and set future art goals.
Focus: Evaluate personal artwork using clear criteria such as craftsmanship, composition, and clarity of message, and use self-assessment to set future art goals.
Grade Level: 5
Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Responding)
Total Unit Duration: 1–3 weeks, 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Students become art evaluators of their own work, looking through their portfolio to see how their skills, ideas, and effort have grown. Using a simple, student-friendly criteria checklist (craftsmanship, composition, clarity of message), they practice giving themselves honest feedback and celebrating progress. They then write short reflections and set future goals for their art, learning that self-assessment is part of being a thoughtful, independent artist.
Essential Questions
- What does it mean to evaluate my own artwork using clear criteria?
- How can I tell if my artwork shows strong craftsmanship, composition, and clarity of message?
- Why is it important to look for both strengths and areas to grow in my portfolio?
- How can self-assessment help me set realistic goals for future artworks?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Gather and review a portfolio of their artworks from the year.
- Use a self-assessment checklist or rubric to evaluate their own work with criteria such as craftsmanship, composition, and clarity of message.
- Identify specific strengths and areas for improvement in at least two portfolio pieces.
- Write a short portfolio reflection that explains what they have learned and how they have grown as artists.
- Set at least one future art goal based on their self-assessment.
Standards Alignment — 5th Grade (NCAS-Aligned)
- 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 use a checklist with criteria like craftsmanship, composition, and message to evaluate my own artwork.
- I can point to specific parts of my art to show where I am strong and where I can improve.
- I can explain how my portfolio shows growth over time as an artist.
- I can write or talk about my work using art vocabulary like composition, craftsmanship, and clarity of message.
- I can set at least one goal for my future artwork based on my self-assessment.