Unit Plan 2 (Grade 6 Art): Brainstorming & Sketch Development
Grade 6 art unit where students brainstorm prompts, create thumbnail sketches, compare visual options, and refine ideas into a strong planned composition.
Focus: Generate artistic ideas through thumbnail sketches by exploring prompts, experiences, and multiple visual options before choosing a final concept.
Grade Level: 6
Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Idea Generation • Planning/Sketching)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students learn how artists develop ideas over time instead of jumping straight into a final drawing. They explore how brainstorming and thumbnail sketches can turn a single prompt or experience into many possible compositions. By studying examples of sketches versus finished artworks, students see how quick, rough drawings help test layouts, viewpoints, and focal points. They then practice generating, comparing, and refining thumbnail sketches so they can select their strongest idea to carry forward in future projects.
Essential Questions
- How do artists use brainstorming and sketches to turn ideas into strong artworks?
- Why is it helpful to create multiple thumbnail sketches instead of only one?
- How can changing composition, viewpoint, and placement in a thumbnail change the meaning or impact of an artwork?
- What does it mean to refine an idea before starting a final piece?
- How can sketch development help me feel more confident and prepared when I begin a project?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Use brainstorming strategies (word webs, lists, visual notes) to explore themes, experiences, or prompts for artwork (VA:Cr1.6a).
- Create multiple thumbnail sketches (small, quick drawings) that show different compositions, viewpoints, or arrangements for the same idea (VA:Cr1.6a).
- Evaluate thumbnails using simple criteria (clarity, interest, composition) and select the strongest idea to develop (VA:Cr1.6a).
- Refine one chosen thumbnail into a more detailed, planned preliminary sketch that could guide a final artwork (VA:Cr1.6a).
- Reflect in writing on how brainstorming and sketch development helped improve their creative choices and planning (VA:Cr1.6a).
Standards Alignment — 6th Grade (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Cr1.6a — Generate artistic ideas by exploring themes, experiences, or assigned prompts through brainstorming and sketch development.
- Example: Students create preliminary sketches exploring the theme “change.”
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can use brainstorming to come up with more than one idea for a theme or prompt.
- I can draw several thumbnail sketches that show different ways to arrange the same idea.
- I can explain which thumbnail is my strongest composition and why.
- I can turn my best thumbnail into a more detailed planning sketch.
- I can describe how using thumbnails helps me feel more prepared for a final artwork.