7th Grade Elements of Art Projects 7th Gr Art Lessons Time Activities Worksheets

This Grade 7 Elements of Art unit is a fully planned, no-prep art unit built around the theme of TIME. It is designed for middle school art teachers, general education teachers covering art in Grade 7, and homeschool families looking for a ready-made Grade 7 visual arts program.

The unit opens with an introductory video that teaches all 7 Elements of Art, followed by 7 step-by-step art tutorials (one for each element), 7 choice-based art lessons, a viewing art activity and an end of unit project. Students explore drawing, design and creativity through the lens of time, which opens up conversations about history, change, memory and the passing of moments.

WHAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING

★★★★ “I used this when I was one maternity leave. Sub liked that it was simple to follow, I still use this as a resource for elements of art today. The hourglass is so fun, and the clock is a good intro to charcoal.” whitney C.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE PDFS AND VIDEO IN A FOLDER)

• Unit Plan with the scope and sequence for the unit
• 1 Introductory Video on the Elements of Art, why artists use them and the unit theme, TIME
• 2 Introductory Lessons with full lesson plans and worksheets to practice drawing each element, plus sheets to color and practice before the full artworks
• 7 Step-by-Step Art Tutorials, each with a complete lesson plan (lesson hook, participation strategies, steps for instruction and conclusion), the step-by-step tutorial, artwork examples, a display sign, and a rubric, assessment and reflection
• 7 Choice-Based Art Lessons, each with a complete lesson plan, planning, rough draft and artwork pages, and rubric and reflection pages (no examples, so students lead their own ideas)
• Viewing Art Lesson Activity
• Choice-Based End of Unit Art Project
• Black-line printables, teacher instructions and planning materials

THE 7 ART PROJECT TUTORIALS

• Line: a clock artwork in soft pastels on construction paper that shows time ticking away as the clock hands move
• Color: an hourglass in pencil crayons using a warm and a cool color scheme, with a poem about time and color schemes to hook students and bring in literacy
• Value: a "Passage of Time" charcoal artwork showing how a subject such as architecture, fashion, technology or vehicles has changed over time, using value to set the past apart from the present
• Shape: abstract clock artworks in oil pastel using geometric and organic shapes, with an included article on geometric and organic shapes in relation to time
• Form: the stages of an apple's life, from seed and pollination to fruit and decay, drawn in oil pastel to build form and finished with watercolor paint
• Space: a landscape with melting clocks that uses size, overlapping and placement in relation to the horizon line and focal point to create the illusion of depth
• Texture: a graphite artwork inspired by Ancient Egyptian relief carvings, showing the value and texture of smooth and rough carved stone (graphite sticks preferred, but any type is fine)

HOW TO USE IT

Review the unit plan for the teaching sequence and start with the introductory video and lessons. Print a master copy and organize it in a binder or tub, using the binder cover as the cover or a section title page, then photocopy student pages as needed. Each lesson plan walks you through the hook, participation strategies, teaching steps and conclusion.

Use the choice-based lessons before a full tutorial so students can practice and play with an element first, or after it to reinforce techniques and let students investigate their own ideas. In the viewing art activity, students view an artwork from art history, identify the Elements of Art in it, listen to a poem and a reading about art galleries and museums, and learn how to interpret art, find its message and consider mood and characteristics of form. For the end of unit project, the class builds student-led criteria, then each student creates an artwork that uses two Elements of Art and the theme of TIME.

NATIONAL ART STANDARDS THIS UNIT COVERS

• VA:Cr1.2.7a Develop criteria to guide making a work of art or design to meet an identified goal.
• VA:Cr1.1.7a Apply methods to overcome creative blocks.
• VA:Cr2.1.7a Demonstrate persistence in developing skills with various materials, methods, and approaches in creating works of art or design.
• VA:Cr2.3.7a Apply visual organizational strategies to design and produce a work of art, design, or media that clearly communicates information or ideas.
• VA:Cr3.1.7a Reflect on and explain important information about personal artwork in an artist statement or another format.
• VA:Pr4.1.7a Compare and contrast how technologies have changed the way artwork is preserved, presented, and experienced.
• VA:Pr6.1.7a Compare and contrast viewing and experiencing collections and exhibitions in different venues.
• VA:Re.7.1.7a Explain how the method of display, the location, and the experience of an artwork influences how it is perceived and valued.
• VA:Re.7.2.7a Analyze multiple ways that images influence specific audiences.
• VA:Re8.1.7a Interpret art by analyzing art-making approaches, the characteristics of form and structure, relevant contextual information, subject matter, and use of media to identify ideas and mood conveyed.
• VA:Cn11.1.7a Analyze how response to art is influenced by understanding the time and place in which it was created, the available resources, and cultural uses.

FAQ

How long does the unit take?

It is very flexible. The introductory lessons take 1 to 2 periods (30 to 45 minutes each) with the video. Each art project takes 1 to 3 art periods, and each choice-based lesson about 1 period. The viewing art activity takes about 30 to 40 minutes and is optional, and the end of unit project can take 1 to 3 periods. You can teach it all over a full semester, or pick and choose the lessons you want.

Who is this for?

Middle school art teachers, general education teachers covering art in Grade 7, and homeschool families.

Is it editable?

No. The PDFs are non-editable.

Do I need to prepare examples for the choice-based lessons?

No. They intentionally have no examples, so students develop their own student-led ideas with your guidance.

Get free, classroom-ready art lessons and printables in my Free Art Lesson Library.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen McGiveron (Ms Artastic) is an artist who has been featured on NBC LX News and designs art lessons for kids and educational resources for teachers. She is the founder of Ms Artastic and hosts the Ms Artastic YouTube Channel and Podcast.

TERMS OF USE

Images and lessons are copyright products of Ms Artastic.

YOU MAY: use this resource year after year with the students in your classroom, use it in creative ways and have as much fun with it as you like, and buy additional licenses to share it with other teachers.

YOU MAY NOT: use this on OutSchool, use it for your own commercial business (it is a teaching resource for your classroom), share the video on any public website or blog such as YouTube, Vimeo or a classroom blog or website (it is for your classroom only, and you, the owner, can use it again and again), put it on your blog or any other public website, share it with other teachers, administration or districts (admin can buy additional licenses), sell it, give it out for free or photocopy it for others.

Sincerely,

Ms Artastic

ALL TEACHER REVIEWS (3)

★★★★ “Students were excited and engaged during this lesson.” Mike D.

★★★★ “I needed an art curriculum and Ms Artastic provided everything that l needed. She is awesome! We are in the process of making our way through the curriculum and enjoying every moment of it. Thank you!” michelle B.

★★★ “My students have thoroughly enjoyed learning about these concepts of art and it has helped them all to become better artists. Thank you for this great resource” Ms.Long's t.