Grade 7 Art Curriculum for the Middle Year of Middle School
For seventh grade art teachers who need a full year of material, Art Complete – Middle School is a grades 6–8 curriculum with 70+ no-prep resources you can use with grade 7. It mixes art analysis, studio work in drawing, painting and mixed media, and lessons on art, culture and meaning, so seventh graders can move beyond technique toward ideas and intention.
Check the curriculum →Art Complete – Middle School starts at $149.90 and covers grades 6–8 with 70+ no-prep resources. For grade 7, it gives you structured units in visual literacy, studio practice and art in cultural context. The curriculum does not assign units to grades, so you choose which ones to teach seventh graders, which makes it easier to avoid repeating what they did in sixth grade.
The curriculum
Art Complete – Middle School, Grades 6–8
Start with the full curriculum. The other resources below are optional add-ons. Open any cover for the full contents and price.
Art Complete – Ready-to-Use Curriculum for Middle School Art
Complete Art Curriculum Bundle | 14 Hands-On Art Studios | Middle School Art | Grades 5–9
BUNDLE XXL: Complete Art Curriculum for Grades 5–9 – Workbook, Projects & Activities
Art Complete – Ready-to-Use Curriculum for High School Art (Grades 9–12)
Teach-Life-Balance: The Complete Time-Saving Course for Teachers (incl. Planner, Guides & Templates)
The real problem
What makes seventh grade art tricky
Seventh grade is the year students start comparing themselves to each other. The kid who loved art in sixth grade suddenly worries the drawing will look babyish. Some students will only draw if no one is looking. Others want to try more ambitious work but do not yet have the patience for a project that takes several weeks. On top of that, many seventh graders already had you, or someone, last year. They remember the color wheel lesson and the self-portrait. They will tell you. A seventh grade art year needs to feel like a step up: more emphasis on why an artist made certain choices, more student decision-making, and projects where an idea matters as much as the finish. It also needs some quiet entry points for students who are self-conscious, such as analysis and design tasks where they can succeed without putting a drawing on display. And it has to fit the same building, schedule and supply closet as everything else you teach. Writing a separate seventh grade course from scratch is a lot to ask in a year when you may also be teaching sixth and eighth.
Why it fits
How it works for seventh graders
Because the curriculum is one grades 6–8 set, you build the seventh grade year by choosing units, ideally ones these students have not seen yet.
- Symbolism and visual storytelling lessons push seventh graders from what they see toward meaning.
- Art, culture and meaning content connects artwork to identity and context at this age.
- Experimentation in practice lessons gives cautious students permission to try things without judgment.
- Design projects offer a way in for students who are shy about drawing.
- Sketch-to-finished-artwork structure builds the patience for longer, multi-session pieces.
- Differentiated worksheets keep both reluctant and advanced seventh graders working.
Getting started
Starting the seventh grade year
One way to approach the first weeks. The sequence is a suggestion and not a calendar included in the product.
- Check what they did last yearFind out which units or projects your seventh graders had in grade 6, whether from you or a colleague. Then choose grade 7 units from the curriculum that do not repeat them.
- Open with an artwork about meaningStart with an analysis lesson focused on symbolism or visual storytelling. Ask why the artist made each choice, not just what it shows. It sets the tone for the year.
- Run a design task earlyA design project lets self-conscious students participate fully without a drawing on the wall. It also teaches composition and planning that carry into later studio work.
- Build up to a longer pieceMove into a sketch-to-finished-artwork project across several sessions. Check sketches before students commit, so ideas are worked out before materials are used. Short check-ins between sessions keep progress steady.
- Use culture lessons as a bridgeBetween studio projects, teach a lesson from the art, culture and meaning strand. It keeps the year varied and connects making to the wider world. It also gives students a break between bigger projects.
Which version
Choosing your version for grade 7
The $149.90 version covers all 70+ resources and is the practical pick for a seventh grade teacher, especially if you will also use it for grade 6 or 8. The $189.90 version adds Teach-Life-Balance, a digital course with planner, guides and templates for organizing your workload. It does not change the art content. It is worth considering if you teach several grades and your planning periods keep disappearing to other duties.
Honest limits
What the curriculum leaves to you
There is no ready-made grade 7 course inside. You pick the units for seventh grade and check them against your state or district art expectations. Supplies, images beyond those in the materials and display space are yours to arrange. If colleagues teaching other sections of grade 7 art want to use it too, send Teach Lessons a short message first. If it is not right for your classes, you can exchange it within 7 days for store credit of equal value. It is not a cash refund.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is this aligned to 7th grade art standards?
It is written for U.S. middle school art classrooms in grades 6–8. It is not approved, endorsed or certified by any state, district or the National Core Arts Standards, and it does not claim official grade 7 alignment. Compare it with your own state's grade 7 expectations when choosing units.
How do I avoid repeating sixth grade?
The curriculum does not label units by grade, so you choose. Find out what students did last year and pick other units for grade 7. Since content spans 6–8, there is enough material to give returning students something new. A quick conversation with the sixth grade art teacher, or a look at your own records, is usually all it takes.
My seventh graders are self-conscious about drawing. Will this help?
Analysis, design and experimentation lessons give students ways to succeed without showing a finished drawing right away. The sketch-to-final approach also lets students plan and revise privately before committing to a piece. Let students choose whether to display finished work at first; many become more willing as the year goes on.
Can I use it if I teach only grade 7?
Yes. Units can be taught individually, so you can build a full grade 7 year from the set and leave the rest unused or keep it for review and sub days. Unused units also make good extension work for students who finish early. Some teachers also keep them for review days.
Does it include art history?
It includes lessons on artworks from diverse cultures and periods, fine art, design and visual culture, along with art, culture and meaning content. It is not a separate art history course, but history is woven through the analysis lessons. Students see how artwork connects to culture and meaning across time, which suits the more reflective work of seventh grade.
Where do I see what is in it?
The product page lists what is included. After buying, you get instant access through an email download link and through your customer account under Orders. That means you can download the files again on a school computer or at home whenever you plan. The product page lists what is included, so check it before you buy.
Make seventh grade art feel like a step forward
Look through the units on the product page and plan a grade 7 year that does not repeat last year.
Check the curriculum →