Unit Plan 2 (Grade K Art): Drawing from Imagination
Kindergarten Art: Students use imagination, stories, play, and observation to generate creative drawing ideas and create unique imaginative artworks.
Focus: Create artwork from imagination and play, generating ideas through stories, pretend play, and simple observations.
Grade Level: K
Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Creating)
Total Unit Duration: 1–3 weeks, 30–45 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, kindergarten students discover that their imaginations are powerful tools for making art. Through stories, pretend play, and looking closely at simple things around them, students come up with their own ideas for drawings. They learn that there is no single “right” answer in imaginative art—each person’s idea can look different and still be wonderful. By the end of the unit, students can describe something they imagined and show it in a drawing that comes from their own mind, play, or observations.
Essential Questions
- Where do art ideas come from?
- How can my imagination help me make art?
- How can play and pretend help me think of something to draw?
- What can I see around me that might give me an idea for artwork?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Generate simple art ideas using imagination, stories, or pretend play.
- Describe their idea in simple language before or after drawing (“I’m drawing a flying cat,” “This is a castle in the clouds”).
- Create a drawing that shows something imaginary or something they noticed and changed with their imagination.
- Understand that different students’ drawings can all be different and correct.
- Share their imaginative artwork with a partner, naming what they drew.
Standards Alignment — Kindergarten (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Cr1.Ka — Generate artistic ideas through imagination, play, and observation.
- Example: Students draw something they see outside or something imaginary.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can think of an idea for my art by using my imagination or play.
- I can say what I decided to draw.
- I can make a drawing that shows something real plus pretend or just pretend.
- I can listen to my friends’ ideas and see that they are all different and good.