Unit Plan 28 (Grade 8 Art): Exhibition Planning & Curation
Grade 8 art curation unit where students select works for exhibition using craftsmanship, message clarity, and growth to design a cohesive display of progress.
Focus: Select works for final exhibition based on craftsmanship, clarity of message, and evidence of growth, using curatorial thinking to plan a cohesive display.
Grade Level: 8
Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Curation & Presentation • Reflection & Growth)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students take on the role of curators of their own work, planning a final Exhibition of Growth from the year. Instead of simply hanging all pieces, they learn to select artworks intentionally using criteria such as craftsmanship, clarity of message, and evidence of personal growth. Students compare early and recent pieces, write short labels and curatorial statements, and design how the works will be arranged for a class exhibition or portfolio display. By the end of the week, each student will have a curated selection and exhibition plan that tells a story about their development as an artist.
Essential Questions
- What makes an artwork a strong candidate for exhibition?
- How can I use criteria like craftsmanship, clarity of message, and growth to select my best work?
- How does curation—the way artworks are chosen and arranged—change how viewers understand them?
- In what ways can an exhibition reflect my artistic journey and not just my “prettiest” pieces?
- How can I communicate my growth and ideas to an audience through artwork selection, labels, and layout?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Gather and review their artworks from the year and identify strengths and growth areas using established criteria (craftsmanship, clarity of message, originality, personal growth).
- Apply selection criteria to choose a focused set of artworks (e.g., 3–5 pieces) for a final exhibition or portfolio (VA:Pr4.8a).
- Organize selected works into a cohesive exhibition that tells a story about their growth, interests, or themes explored.
- Write artwork labels and a short curatorial statement explaining why each piece was chosen and how it demonstrates growth or clarity.
- Design a simple exhibition layout (wall plan, table display, or digital sequence) that considers viewing order, spacing, and visual balance.
- Reflect on their artistic development over time and explain how their exhibition showcases that journey to an audience.
Standards Alignment — 8th Grade (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Pr4.8a — Select artworks for presentation based on criteria such as craftsmanship, clarity of message, and personal growth.
- Example: Students curate several works for a portfolio or exhibition, using a checklist or rubric to justify their selections.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can use clear criteria (craftsmanship, clarity, growth) to decide which pieces belong in my exhibition.
- I can explain why each selected artwork is a good choice for the show.
- I can arrange my artworks in an order or layout that makes sense and feels balanced.
- I can write labels and a curatorial statement that describe my choices and my growth as an artist.
- I can talk about my exhibition as a story of my art this year, not just a random collection of pieces.