Unit Plan 28 (Grade 6 Art): Exhibition Planning
Curate and organize Grade 6 student artwork with clear grouping, signage, and visitor flow—build a thoughtful exhibition layout that guides viewers and highlights artistic growth.
Focus: Organize display space thoughtfully, making decisions about placement, grouping, signage, and viewer pathway.
Grade Level: 6
Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Presentation • Curation Skills)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students act as junior curators, planning how their class artwork will be arranged in an exhibition space. Building on their experience mounting and labeling pieces, they now think about where and how artworks should be displayed so the show feels organized and engaging. Students consider flow, grouping, eye level, and signage to design a layout that respects both the artists and the audience. By the end of the unit, the class has a clear exhibition plan ready for installation.
Essential Questions
- How do placement and grouping of artworks affect how a viewer experiences an exhibition?
- What does it mean to organize display space thoughtfully instead of just filling every empty spot?
- How can signs, titles, and directions help visitors understand and enjoy an art exhibit?
- What responsibilities do we have as a class when planning a display for other people to see?
- How can our exhibition plan show both our growth as artists and our respect for viewers?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Describe qualities of a well-organized exhibition, including spacing, alignment, and clear signage (VA:Pr5.6a).
- Analyze a display space and identify constraints (size, height, traffic flow) and opportunities (focal walls, entrance areas) (VA:Pr5.6a).
- Work in small groups to create exhibition layout sketches that show artwork placement, labels, and signs (VA:Pr5.6a).
- Use criteria (clarity, balance, theme, viewer path) to evaluate and refine proposed exhibition plans (VA:Pr5.6a).
- Develop a final class exhibition plan that organizes display space appropriately and can guide installation (VA:Pr5.6a).
Standards Alignment — 6th Grade (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Pr5.6a — Prepare artwork for presentation by mounting, labeling, and organizing display space appropriately.
- Example: Students create simple title cards and mount artwork neatly.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can explain what makes an exhibition feel organized and easy to navigate.
- I can look at our display space and think about height, spacing, and flow.
- I can help design a layout sketch showing where artwork, labels, and signs will go.
- I can use criteria to decide which layout plan is most effective for our audience.
- I can describe how our final exhibition plan organizes the space thoughtfully.