Unit Plan 4 (Grade 6 Art): Elements of Art in Action
Grade 6 art unit where students intentionally use line, shape, color, texture, and value to organize compositions, analyze how elements create mood, and produce an “Elements in Action” artwork with a short reflection.
Focus: Apply line, shape, color, texture, and value intentionally to organize compositions and communicate mood.
Grade Level: 6
Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Elements of Art • Visual Analysis)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students move from “just drawing” to purposefully using the elements of art—line, shape, color, texture, and value—to organize their artwork and communicate feelings or ideas. They explore how artists use these elements to create mood, focus, and structure, and then practice applying them in their own compositions. Through guided analysis of artworks and targeted mini-exercises, students learn to make intentional choices instead of random marks, leading to clearer, more expressive designs.
Essential Questions
- How do line, shape, color, texture, and value work together to organize a composition?
- In what ways can elements of art be used to create mood (calm, energetic, tense, joyful) in artwork?
- How can I use elements on purpose instead of by accident to make my ideas clearer?
- What do I notice about how other artists use elements of art, and how can that inspire my own work?
- How can analyzing the elements in artwork help me better understand what the artist is trying to communicate?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Identify and describe how line, shape, color, texture, and value are used in selected artworks to create mood and structure (VA:Re7.6a).
- Apply elements of art intentionally in guided exercises to improve composition clarity and emphasis (VA:Cr2.6a).
- Experiment with at least two different compositions of the same subject, changing how elements are used to shift mood or focus (VA:Cr2.6a, VA:Re7.6a).
- Create a small “Elements in Action” composition that uses line, shape, color, texture, and/or value to organize space and communicate a chosen mood (VA:Cr2.6a).
- Explain in writing or discussion how their use of elements supports mood and structure in their own artwork (VA:Re7.6a).
Standards Alignment — 6th Grade (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Cr2.6a — Apply elements of art and principles of design intentionally to organize composition and improve clarity.
- Example: Students use contrast and repetition to create emphasis.
- VA:Re7.6a — Analyze how elements of art and principles of design create mood and structure in artwork.
- Example: Students identify how color affects emotional tone.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can spot and name how line, shape, color, texture, and value are used in artwork.
- I can change how I use elements to make an artwork feel calm, energetic, or another mood.
- I can design a composition where elements are used on purpose, not randomly.
- I can explain how my choices about color, line, shape, texture, or value affect mood and clarity.
- I can create a small composition that feels organized and expressive because of how I used the elements of art.