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Balance

Seventh-grade artists learn balance — how visual weight is arranged in a composition. Symmetrical balance mirrors both sides; asymmetrical balance uses different elements that still feel stable. They check the ideas, then balance a composition.

Grade 7Balance45 minutes1 class periodArtistic ProcessExplicit teaching4 StandardsNCAS
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Define balance.
  • ✓Use symmetry.
  • ✓Try asymmetry.
  • ✓Balance a design.
Essential Question

What makes a composition feel stable — or off-kilter?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Check It · Interactive

Balance

Project each one and have students answer about balance.

⚖️ Understand balance in artTry it
Answer each question about balance.
The Lesson · Explicit teaching

45 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Look — Steady or Tipping

5 min

Does this composition feel steady, or like it’s tipping over?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show examples.
  • Ask the question.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Look.
  • Wonder.
  • Get ready.
2

Explore — Balance

11 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Balance.
  • Note symmetry mirrors.
  • Note asymmetry still balances.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Answer.
  • Note it.
  • Note it.
3

Create — Create

13 min

Students create.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Make a symmetrical design.
  • Try an asymmetrical one.
  • Check the weight.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Symmetry.
  • Asymmetry.
  • Check.
4

Share — Share

11 min

Students share.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Compare designs.
  • Name the balance type.
  • Give feedback.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Compare.
  • Name.
  • Feedback.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • What is balance?
  • What is symmetry?
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the National Core Arts Standards (Visual Arts).

NCAS
VA:Re7.2.7

Analyze balance in composition.

NCAS
VA:Cr2.1.7

Apply balance in artwork.

NCAS
VA:Re8.1.7

Interpret design choices.

NCAS
VA:Cr1.2.7

Plan a balanced composition.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Balance example cards.
  • Frame: "symmetry means ___."
  • Compare two layouts.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Focus on symmetry.
  • Use a center line.
  • Use examples.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Design with radial balance.
  • Analyze a famous work.
  • Balance with color weight.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • ⚖️Composition cards
  • 💻Balance
  • 📄Design paper
  • 📓Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

balancearrangement of visual weightsymmetrymirrored sidesasymmetrydifferent but balancedradialbalanced around a centercompositionhow a work is arrangedvisual weighthow much an element draws the eyestablefeels steadyelementa part of a design
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is balance in art?
How visual weight is arranged in a composition.
QUESTION 2
What is symmetrical balance?
Both sides mirror each other.
QUESTION 3
What is asymmetrical balance?
Different elements that still feel balanced.

Reflect: balance.

Have students create a balanced composition. A printable design sheet is in the Arts library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 BalanceFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
0

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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 BalanceQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ BalancePrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: asymmetry, balance, composition, element, radial, stable, symmetry, visual weight
  1. how a work is arranged
  2. a part of a design
  3. mirrored sides
  4. balanced around a center
  5. different but balanced
  6. feels steady
  7. arrangement of visual weight
  8. how much an element draws the eye

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is balance in art?
  2. What is symmetrical balance?
  3. What is asymmetrical balance?
Answer key — Part A: 1) composition · 2) element · 3) symmetry · 4) radial · 5) asymmetry · 6) stable · 7) balance · 8) visual weight
Part B: 1) How visual weight is arranged in a composition. 2) Both sides mirror each other. 3) Different elements that still feel balanced.