Unit Plan 34 (Grade 7 Art): Craftsmanship Mastery Workshop
Grade 7 art technique unit focused on craftsmanship—students use targeted drills and feedback to refine line quality, shading, edges, and details, showing clear before/after improvements through revision.
Focus: Refine technical control and detail precision by revising artworks based on targeted practice and feedback.
Grade Level: 7
Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Technique • Refinement)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students focus on craftsmanship—how carefully and skillfully artwork is made—by strengthening their technical control and detail precision. Using existing or in-progress artworks, they identify areas that need improvement (line quality, shading, edges, texture, small details) and complete focused skill drills to build control. Students then apply peer and teacher feedback to revise one chosen piece, making visible “before and after” improvements. By the end, they can explain how specific technical changes improved clarity, organization, and overall quality of their work.
Essential Questions
- What does craftsmanship mean in visual art, and why does it matter?
- How do technical skills like line control, shading, and clean edges affect how viewers experience an artwork?
- How can feedback from peers and teachers help me refine and improve my work?
- What strategies help me move from “good enough” to intentional, polished craftsmanship?
- How can I use what I learn in this workshop to keep improving my technique in future projects?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Define craftsmanship and identify specific technical strengths and areas for growth in their own artworks (VA:Cr3.7a).
- Use peer and teacher feedback to select one artwork for refinement and set clear technical goals (e.g., smoother shading, cleaner lines, more precise details) (VA:Cr3.7a).
- Practice targeted skill drills (line control, value gradients, edges, textures, small details) to build technical control.
- Apply what they learned in drills to revise and refine one artwork, improving clarity, technique, and organization (VA:Cr3.7a).
- Reflect in writing on how specific revisions improved their craftsmanship and how they will continue to strengthen technique in future work (VA:Cr3.7a).
Standards Alignment — 7th Grade (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Cr3.7a — Refine artwork by incorporating feedback from peers and teachers to improve clarity, technique, and organization.
- Example: Students revise proportion after critique discussion.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can explain what craftsmanship is and point to specific examples of strong or weak craftsmanship in my work.
- I can listen to feedback and turn it into clear goals for improving my artwork.
- I can use skill drills to practice line, shading, texture, and detail with more control.
- I can show a clear “before and after” difference in at least one artwork by refining technique and organization.
- I can describe how my changes improved my artwork’s clarity, neatness, and overall impact.