Unit Plan 21 (PreK Art): Shape Collage
Preschool art unit where children create shape collages using circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles to build playful pictures and designs.
Focus: Create artwork using shapes intentionally through playful collage.
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 explore how shapes can be used to build pictures. They sort and name simple shapes (circles, squares, triangles, rectangles) and then experiment with gluing them together to make shape collages—houses, people, animals, or abstract designs. Children learn that artists can choose shapes on purpose to show ideas and practice using glue and paper pieces with care. By the end of the unit, each child will have created a collage that uses multiple shapes and can point out and name some of them.
Essential Questions
- What shapes do I see and use in my artwork?
- How can I put shapes together to make a picture or design?
- How do I use glue and paper carefully when I make a shape collage?
- How does choosing different shapes change what my picture looks like?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Children will be able to:
- Explore and handle a variety of shape pieces (paper circles, squares, triangles, rectangles) by sorting, naming, and arranging them.
- Experiment with collage materials and tools (paper, glue sticks, possibly scissors with guidance) to create a shape-based artwork.
- Use at least two different shapes in their collage.
- Use simple language to talk about some shapes in their artwork (e.g., “This is a circle,” “I used triangles for the roof”).
- Follow basic art routines when using glue and materials (small glue dots, keeping pieces on the table, cleaning up scraps).
Standards Alignment — PreK (NCAS-Aligned)
- VA:Cr2.PKa — Experiment with art materials such as paint, clay, paper, and collage tools.
- Example: Children explore mixing colors with their fingers or brushes.
Success Criteria — Child-Friendly Language
- I can touch and play with different shapes.
- I can glue shapes onto my paper to make a picture or design.
- I can use more than one kind of shape in my collage.
- I can point to a shape in my art and say its name (like circle or square).
- I can use glue and paper in a careful way and help clean up.