Unit Plan 14 (Grade K Art): Planning a Picture Story
Kindergarten Art: Students plan a picture story by talking through who/where/what and making quick sketches before drawing, helping their artwork feel clearer and easier to create.
Focus: Talk about ideas and make simple plans before drawing a picture story.
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 practice planning a picture story before they start drawing. They learn to think about who will be in their picture, where the story happens, and what is happening—then share their ideas out loud or in quick sketches. Students discover that talking and planning first makes drawing easier and helps their stories make more sense. By the end of the unit, they can describe their picture story idea and use a simple plan to guide their artwork.
Essential Questions
- What does it mean to plan a picture story before I draw?
- How can talking about my ideas help me make better artwork?
- What do I need to decide for my picture story (who, where, what is happening)?
- How does a simple sketch or plan help me remember my story idea when I start drawing?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Share a simple picture story idea by naming who is in it, where it happens, and what is happening.
- Use talk or a quick planning sketch to make a simple plan for their artwork before drawing.
- Use planning time to decide on at least one important detail to include in their picture story.
- Begin a picture story drawing that clearly follows their plan.
- Explain how planning first helped them when it was time to draw.
Standards Alignment — Kindergarten (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Cr1.Kb — Create simple plans for artwork using drawing or discussion before beginning.
- Example: Students talk about what they will draw before starting.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can talk about my picture story idea before I draw.
- I can say who is in my story, where we are, and what is happening.
- I can make a quick plan with words or a sketch to help me remember my idea.
- I can start drawing a picture story that matches my plan.