Unit Plan 6 (Grade 8 Art): Concept to Final Plan
Grade 8 art planning unit—students select their strongest concept, refine composition and media choices, and create a full-scale artwork plan that supports meaning.
Focus: Select the strongest concept from multiple visual ideas and plan a full-scale artwork, using elements of art and principles of design intentionally to support meaning.
Grade Level: 8
Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Creative Process • Planning & Design)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Students bring together everything they’ve practiced—brainstorming, thumbnails, media tests, and composition skills—to move from concept to a detailed plan for a full-scale artwork. Rather than leaping straight into a final piece, they review multiple solutions, choose the concept with the strongest clarity, impact, and feasibility, and then build a thorough plan: refined composition, chosen media, color/value study, and step-by-step process. By the end of the unit, each student has a ready-to-execute plan that can launch a major project in the next unit or later in the course.
Essential Questions
- How do artists decide which idea is their strongest concept when they have many?
- What criteria can we use to judge clarity, impact, and feasibility in our visual ideas?
- How do elements of art and principles of design help us turn a rough idea into a solid, full-scale plan?
- Why is it important to plan composition, media, and steps before starting a major artwork?
- How can I describe my artistic intent and process clearly so another person understands my plan?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Review and compare multiple visual solutions (thumbnails, sketches, concept notes) for a visual problem or theme.
- Use a clear set of criteria (clarity, impact, feasibility, alignment with intent) to select their strongest concept (VA:Cr1.8b).
- Refine the chosen concept through improved composition, stronger visual hierarchy, and intentional use of elements and principles (VA:Cr2.8a).
- Choose appropriate media and techniques that support the concept, based on prior experimentation.
- Create a full-scale plan for a major artwork, including: refined sketch, value/color study, media list, and step-by-step process plan.
- Write a short Artist Plan Statement explaining artistic intent, design choices, and anticipated process.
Standards Alignment — 8th Grade (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Cr1.8b — Generate multiple solutions to a visual problem and select the strongest concept based on clarity and impact.
- Example: Students review three thumbnail compositions and choose one to develop into a full-scale artwork using a rubric.
- VA:Cr2.8a — Plan and organize artistic work by applying elements of art and principles of design intentionally to support meaning.
- Example: Students use contrast, emphasis, and balance to guide viewer attention in their planned full-scale piece.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can look at several of my thumbnails or ideas and explain which one is strongest and why.
- I can use words like clarity, impact, composition, and feasibility to talk about my concepts.
- I can refine a chosen concept into a clear composition with intentional use of elements and principles.
- I can choose media and techniques that fit my idea because of how they look and feel, not just out of habit.
- I can produce a detailed plan (sketches + notes) so I’d be ready to start a full-scale artwork next.
- I can write or talk about my artistic intent and how my design choices support it.