Unit Plan 31 (PreK Art): Display Makes a Difference

Focus: Notice how placement of artwork (where and how it is hung) changes what stands out and how it looks.

Grade Level: PreK

Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Presenting)

Total Unit Duration: 1–3 weeks, 20–30 minutes per session

I. Introduction

In this unit, preschool children explore how artwork can look different depending on where and how it is displayed. They see the same picture in different places (high, low, by the door, alone, in a group) and talk about what they notice and what stands out first. Children help move a few sample pieces around the room and compare how the display changes what people see and notice. By the end of the unit, children understand that display choices matter for how artwork looks and feels in a space.

Essential Questions

• How does artwork look when it is on the wall instead of on the table?
• What happens when we move artwork to a different place in the room?
• Which pictures stand out or get seen first, and why?
• How do our choices about where we put artwork change how people look at it?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Children will be able to:

1. Talk about how artwork looks when it is displayed on the wall or bulletin board.
2. Notice and describe simple differences in display, such as high vs. low, alone vs. in a group, or near the door vs. in the corner.
3. Use simple language to say which artwork they see first or what stands out in a display.
4. Help move sample artworks to different spots and compare how the display changes.
5. Begin to share preferences for display choices (“I like it here because people can see it”).

Standards Alignment — PreK (NCAS-Aligned)

• VA:Pr6.PKa — Talk about how artwork looks when displayed.
  • Example: A child says, “It looks big on the wall!”

Success Criteria — Child-Friendly Language

• I can say how artwork looks when it is on the wall.
• I can notice when a picture is high, low, alone, or in a group.
• I can say which picture I see first in a display.
• I can help move pictures and talk about which place I like for them.
• I can tell how our classroom looks when we change how art is displayed.