Principles of Design: Balance and EmphasisActivities & Teaching Strategies
Active learning helps young students grasp balance and emphasis by letting them see and touch these ideas in real time. When children fold paper or arrange shapes, they feel how stability and focus work, not just hear about them. These hands-on moves turn abstract principles into something they can test and trust.
Learning Objectives
- 1Identify examples of symmetrical and asymmetrical balance in artworks.
- 2Compare and contrast the use of balance in two different visual compositions.
- 3Create an artwork that demonstrates either symmetrical or asymmetrical balance.
- 4Explain which element in a given artwork is the focal point and how emphasis is achieved.
Want a complete lesson plan with these objectives? Generate a Mission →
Pairs: Symmetry Fold Drawings
Fold A4 paper in half. Students draw half a simple object or face on one side in pairs, swap papers, and complete the mirror image. Unfold to check balance, then discuss adjustments for perfect symmetry. Extend by adding asymmetrical elements.
Prepare & details
Does this picture look the same on both sides?
Facilitation Tip: In Focal Point Layers, have students use colored pencils in two layers so the top layer’s details pop against the base layer’s background.
Setup: Flexible workspace with access to materials and technology
Materials: Project brief with driving question, Planning template and timeline, Rubric with milestones, Presentation materials
Small Groups: Asymmetrical Balance Sort
Provide cut shapes in varied sizes and colors. Groups arrange them on a central line to create balance without mirroring. Test by gently spinning the paper; readjust if it tips. Record successful combinations.
Prepare & details
What part of this picture do you look at first?
Setup: Flexible workspace with access to materials and technology
Materials: Project brief with driving question, Planning template and timeline, Rubric with milestones, Presentation materials
Whole Class: Emphasis Spotlight Walk
Students create quick sketches with a focal point. Display around the room. Class walks and uses pointers to identify what draws the eye first, discussing techniques like bright color or isolation.
Prepare & details
Can you make a picture that looks balanced on both sides?
Setup: Flexible workspace with access to materials and technology
Materials: Project brief with driving question, Planning template and timeline, Rubric with milestones, Presentation materials
Individual: Focal Point Layers
Draw a background scene. Layer elements to emphasize one part using size, pattern, or contrast. Compare before-and-after versions to note eye movement.
Prepare & details
Does this picture look the same on both sides?
Setup: Flexible workspace with access to materials and technology
Materials: Project brief with driving question, Planning template and timeline, Rubric with milestones, Presentation materials
Teaching This Topic
Teach balance by letting students feel the difference between literal weight and visual weight. Use quick, low-stakes trials so mistakes become learning moments. Emphasis works best when students compare real examples side by side, not just listen to definitions. Keep talks short and move to making as soon as possible.
What to Expect
Students will name symmetrical and asymmetrical balance in their own words, identify focal points in images with confidence, and use color, size, or placement to create clear emphasis in their work. You will see them pointing to balanced parts and leading peers to key details during discussions.
These activities are a starting point. A full mission is the experience.
- Complete facilitation script with teacher dialogue
- Printable student materials, ready for class
- Differentiation strategies for every learner
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Common MisconceptionDuring Symmetry Fold Drawings, watch for students who fold off-center and create wobbly lines, thinking their work is still symmetrical.
What to Teach Instead
Stop by each pair, place a ruler along the fold, and ask them to measure both sides. Have them re-crease until both halves match exactly, then trace over the line in bold marker for clarity.
Common MisconceptionDuring Asymmetrical Balance Sort, watch for students who place large shapes close to the center and call the arrangement balanced, ignoring empty space.
What to Teach Instead
Bring out a balance scale and place the large shape on one side, then ask students to add small shapes to the other side until the scale tips evenly. Transfer this idea to their paper by spacing clusters to feel stable.
Common MisconceptionDuring Emphasis Spotlight Walk, watch for students who point to the brightest color and call it the focal point without checking placement or size.
What to Teach Instead
Have each student stand where the color sits and ask the group to take three steps back. If the bright spot still pulls the eye, it’s emphasis; if it blends in, they need to adjust contrast or position.
Assessment Ideas
After Pairs: Symmetry Fold Drawings, hold up one symmetrical and one asymmetrical example from the room and ask students to point to the symmetrical one and explain how they know. Then ask which image feels more lively and why.
During Whole Class: Emphasis Spotlight Walk, hand out a simple line drawing of a tree. Ask students to add one bird to create emphasis through placement and one leaf to create asymmetrical balance through size and color.
After Small Groups: Asymmetrical Balance Sort, display a classroom poster with a clear focal point. Ask: 'What do you notice first? How did the artist make that part stand out?' Then ask: 'Does this picture feel balanced? How can you tell using the shapes and spaces?'
Extensions & Scaffolding
- Challenge early finishers to create a symmetrical design that hides a small focal point in one corner, using only lines and dots.
- Scaffolding for struggling students: Provide pre-cut shapes in two sizes and three colors to reduce choices and let them focus on position first.
- Deeper exploration: Invite students to photograph a balanced or emphasized scene at home, then present it to the class with labels.
Key Vocabulary
| Symmetrical Balance | A type of balance where one side of an artwork is a mirror image of the other side. It creates a feeling of stability and formality. |
| Asymmetrical Balance | A type of balance where different elements on each side of a central axis are not identical but still create a sense of equilibrium. It often feels more dynamic. |
| Emphasis | The part of an artwork that is noticed first or that stands out the most. It is the focal point of the composition. |
| Focal Point | The area in a work of art that attracts the viewer's attention. Emphasis is used to create a focal point. |
Suggested Methodologies
More in The Artist's Eye
Visual Storytelling in Art
Looking at narrative paintings and identifying the characters, setting, plot, and implied emotions.
3 methodologies
Elements of Art: Line, Shape, Color, Texture
Deepening understanding of the fundamental elements of art and how artists manipulate them.
3 methodologies
Art Criticism: Analyzing and Interpreting
Understanding how to approach art critically, using descriptive, analytical, interpretive, and evaluative steps.
3 methodologies
Art Movements: Impressionism to Pop Art
An overview of key art movements, understanding their historical context, defining characteristics, and influential artists.
3 methodologies
Art and Culture: Global Perspectives
Exploring how art reflects and shapes different cultures around the world, from ancient artifacts to contemporary global art.
3 methodologies
Ready to teach Principles of Design: Balance and Emphasis?
Generate a full mission with everything you need
Generate a Mission