Unit Plan 6 (Grade 6 Art): Media Exploration Lab
Grade 6 art unit where students experiment with drawing, painting, and collage media to explore mark-making, texture, layering, and expressive mixed-media techniques.
Focus: Experiment with multiple tools and techniques to discover how different media affect mark-making, texture, layering, and expression.
Grade Level: 6
Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Media & Techniques • Process Exploration)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students turn the classroom into a Media Exploration Lab, trying out a variety of drawing, painting, and collage materials. The focus is on curiosity and discovery, not on perfect final products. Students rotate through stations, experiment with techniques (such as blending, layering, resist, and texturing), and record observations in a Media Log. By the end of the week, they compare media, discuss which tools best match different ideas or moods, and create a small “Media Sampler” composition that intentionally combines at least two media.
Essential Questions
- What is a medium, and how do different media behave on the page?
- How can experimenting with multiple tools and techniques expand my artistic skills and ideas?
- How do I decide which medium or combination of media best fits a subject, mood, or message?
- What can I learn from mistakes, accidents, and surprises during experimentation?
- How can I document my experiments so I can make smarter choices in future artworks?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Define art media and describe basic properties of at least three to four different media (e.g., colored pencil, marker, watercolor, collage materials) (VA:Cr2.6b).
- Experiment at media stations with a variety of tools and techniques (e.g., blending, layering, washes, resist, texturing) and record observations in a Media Exploration Log (VA:Cr2.6b).
- Compare results from different media, noticing which are opaque/transparent, smooth/rough, easy to control, or expressive (VA:Cr2.6b).
- Choose one or two favorite media or combinations for a simple design idea and plan how to use them intentionally (VA:Cr2.6b).
- Create a small Media Sampler composition that combines at least two media and explain how experimentation informed their choices (VA:Cr2.6b).
Standards Alignment — 6th Grade (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Cr2.6b — Experiment with a variety of materials and techniques to expand artistic skill and expressive possibilities.
- Example: Students test watercolor washes and blending techniques before finalizing artwork.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can name and describe several different art media and techniques.
- I can try new tools and methods, even if I feel unsure at first.
- I can record what I notice (likes, dislikes, effects) in my Media Log.
- I can explain why certain media are better for some ideas or moods than others.
- I can create a small artwork that uses more than one medium on purpose, not by accident.