Animals in Art

Unit: Exploring Animal Art Techniques

Lesson 1 of 5

Duration: 60 minutes

Class size: 20 Year 1 students

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Recognise and describe animals represented in artworks using simple visual language such as colour, shape, and form.
Express preferences and ideas about animals in art using basic art vocabulary.
Develop observation skills by identifying details in animal artworks.
Appreciate that animals have inspired artists for many years and across cultures.

Australian Curriculum Links

Visual Arts (ACAVAM109)

Explore ideas, observations, and imagination to create visual artworks and design, including using materials, techniques, and processes.
Respond to visual artworks and consider where and why artworks are made, including the different meanings and messages.

Critical and Creative Thinking (ACARA general capabilities)

Make observations and pose questions about artworks.
Represent ideas visually and verbally.

Lesson Overview

Time	Activity	Description
0-10 mins	Introduction & Warm-up	Gather students in a circle. Introduce the topic: Animals in Art. Show a range of artworks (colourful prints, paintings, and photographs) featuring animals – local Australian fauna and others (e.g., kangaroos, birds, fish, and other imaginative animals). Ask open-ended questions: "What animals do you see? What shapes or colours do you notice?"
10-25 mins	Visual Art Exploration	Display 4-5 different animal artworks around the classroom. Students walk in pairs to observe and discuss. Encourage them to talk about colours used, shapes, and textures. Prompt with questions such as: "Is the animal big or small in the artwork?" "What colours did the artist use?" "Do you think the animal looks happy or sad? Why?"
25-35 mins	Group Discussion and Vocabulary	Back in the circle, gather student observations. Introduce simple art terms: colour, shape, texture, form. Record students’ comments on a large chart to reinforce vocabulary.
35-50 mins	Creative Drawing Activity	Students draw their favourite animal from the artworks observed, focusing on colours and shapes they noticed. Encourage creativity and imagination—animals do not have to look realistic. Circulate and ask questions to support articulation of their choices.
50-58 mins	Sharing and Reflecting	Students share their drawings with a partner or the whole class. Guide them to use vocabulary from the lesson: "I chose this colour because…", "My animal has big shapes because…"
58-60 mins	Conclusion and Preparation for Next Lesson	Summarise key points. Explain that in the next lesson they will learn simple art techniques to create animal art. Sing a quick “animals in art” song or chant for engagement and closure.

Resources Required

Printed or digital images of animal artworks — preferably including Australian animals and diverse cultural representations.
Large chart paper and markers.
Drawing paper and coloured pencils/crayons.
A simple “animal art” song or chant (can be teacher-created with repetitive rhythms suitable for Year 1).

Teaching Tips

Use clear, simple language and lots of praise.
Allow ample wait time for young learners to respond.
Support students with visual aids and realia if possible (e.g., toy animals or animal masks).
Encourage creative freedom; there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to draw an animal.
Keep the atmosphere playful and engaging to build positive associations with art learning.

Assessment

Formative assessment through observation: Monitor how students discuss artworks and their use of art vocabulary during group discussions and paired sharing.
Drawing task: Check for recognition of animal shapes and colours in children’s drawings and listen for verbal explanations to gauge their understanding and engagement.

This lesson sets a foundation for the unit by building students' observation skills, introducing basic art language, and linking personal expression with visual examples — all aligned with the Australian Curriculum for Visual Arts at Year 1 level.

Teaching Instructions