Unit Plan 14 (PreK Art): Plan My Picture

Focus: Talk about ideas before beginning artwork.

Grade Level: PreK

Subject Area: Art (Visual Arts • Creating)

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

I. Introduction

In this unit, preschool children practice planning their art by talking about what they want to make before they start drawing or painting. Instead of going straight to materials, they learn to pause, think, and say simple sentences about their ideas—who or what will be in the picture and what will be happening. Children use imagination and simple observations (“I want to draw my cat,” “I’m going to make a rainbow”) and then create artwork that tries to match their plan. By the end of the unit, children understand that artists often plan first, then create, and they can share a short plan before they start their art.

Essential Questions

• What does it mean to plan my picture?
• Why do artists sometimes talk about ideas before they start drawing or painting?
• How can I tell a grown-up or friend what I want to make in my artwork?
• How can my picture show the idea I planned?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Children will be able to:

1. Pause before starting artwork and say what they plan to make using simple sentences.
2. Use sentence starters such as “I’m going to make ___” or “I want to draw ___” to share ideas.
3. Choose basic subjects (people, animals, places, objects) and think about one or two details they might include.
4. Create artwork that shows at least part of their stated plan.
5. Begin to notice when their finished picture matches or changes from their original idea.

Standards Alignment — PreK (NCAS-Aligned)

• VA:Cr1.PKb — Talk about what they plan to create before beginning.
  • Example: A child says, “I’m going to make a rainbow.”

Success Criteria — Child-Friendly Language

• I can stop and think before I start my picture.
• I can say, “I’m going to make ___,” before I draw or paint.
• I can add at least one detail I thought about (like a color, animal, or place).
• I can make a picture that shows my idea.
• I can tell if my finished picture is like or different from my plan.