Unit Plan 25 (Grade 6 Art): Personal Narrative Planning
Grade 6 art planning unit where students brainstorm, sketch, and set goals to design personal narrative artwork inspired by their experiences and identity.
Focus: Plan artwork inspired by personal experience, using brainstorming, sketching, and goal-setting to connect ideas and visuals.
Grade Level: 6
Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Identity & Story • Planning)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students begin planning a personal narrative artwork that grows from their own experiences, interests, and memories. Instead of rushing into a final product, they slow down to brainstorm, sketch, and select meaningful ideas. Through guided prompts, discussion, and thumbnail sketches, students decide which parts of their story to show, what symbols or images to use, and how to organize their compositions. The focus is on planning with purpose, making sure their visual choices connect clearly to the personal story they want to share.
Essential Questions
- How can my experiences, interests, and memories become the subject of an artwork?
- What kinds of images, symbols, and settings can help tell a personal story visually?
- How does planning (brainstorming, sketching, revising ideas) make my narrative artwork stronger?
- How can I choose the most important parts of my story to show in one composition?
- How do my identity and choices as an artist influence the artwork I plan and create?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Brainstorm personal interests, experiences, and memories that could be turned into a visual narrative (VA:Cn10.6a).
- Use brainstorming tools (lists, mind maps, quick sketches) to generate multiple ideas for personal narrative artwork (VA:Cr1.6a).
- Create thumbnail sketches that explore different ways to arrange images, symbols, and settings for their story (VA:Cr1.6a).
- Select one strong concept for a personal narrative artwork and explain how it connects to their life and interests (VA:Cn10.6a, VA:Cr1.6a).
- Develop a Personal Narrative Planning Sheet that clearly describes the story, important symbols, and overall composition they will use in a future project (VA:Cn10.6a, VA:Cr1.6a).
Standards Alignment — 6th Grade (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Cn10.6a — Create artwork inspired by personal interests or experiences and explain how those influenced design choices.
- Example: Students design artwork representing a favorite hobby.
- 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 brainstorm personal interests and experiences that matter to me and could become an artwork.
- I can use lists, mind maps, and thumbnails to develop more than one idea for my personal narrative.
- I can choose a strong concept and explain how it connects to my life.
- I can show how my symbols, setting, and characters help tell my story.
- I can complete a planning sheet that clearly describes what I will create and why it represents me.