Aussie Animals Introduction

Year Level

Year 9

Duration

50 minutes

Class Size

7 students

Unit Overview: Aussie Animal Artistry

This is Lesson 1 of 10 in the unit.
Focus: Explore Australian animals and mixed media art techniques.
Outcome: Brainstorm ideas for a placemat artwork that reflects Aussie animals using mixed media.

Curriculum Alignment

Australian Curriculum (v9) - The Arts: Visual Arts Years 9-10

Content Descriptions:

AC9AVA10E01: Investigate how artists develop personal expression to represent ideas and perspectives (exploring subject matter relevant to the Australian context, eg animals) .
AC9AVA10C01: Evaluate critical feedback when planning, developing and refining visual arts practice to improve artworks .
AC9AVA8C02: Select and manipulate visual conventions, arts processes and/or materials to represent ideas.
Cross-curriculum priority: First Nations Australian perspectives on connection to Country through animals and environment can be integrated (suggested in elaborations on AC9L2F10C03) .

Lesson Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

Identify and discuss characteristics of selected Australian animals and understand their cultural and environmental significance.
Explore mixed media art techniques and materials appropriate for creating an Australian animal-themed placemat.
Brainstorm and generate ideas for their own mixed media placemat artwork inspired by Australian wildlife.
Reflect on how personal expression and cultural context can influence artwork ideas.

Materials Needed

Visuals/images of Australian animals (digital projector or printed)
Samples of mixed media materials: coloured paper, fabric scraps, paint, ink, charcoal, crayons, glue, scissors
Paper/plastic placemat templates (approx A3 size)
Brainstorming worksheets or art journals
Whiteboard or chart paper with markers

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction & Engagement (10 minutes)

Welcome students and introduce the unit "Aussie Animal Artistry".
Show a slideshow or printed pictures of diverse Australian animals (e.g., kangaroo, koala, echidna, kookaburra, platypus).
Facilitate a brief discussion:
- What unique features do these animals have?
- Why are these animals important culturally and environmentally in Australia?
- Highlight First Nations Peoples’ connection to animals and Country (link to cross-curriculum priorities).

Teaching Tip: Encourage descriptive language about textures, colours, shapes to prepare for later art exploration.

2. Introduction to Mixed Media Techniques (15 minutes)

Explain what mixed media art means: the combination of different art materials and processes in one artwork.
Show or demonstrate samples/snippets of mixed media techniques (eg layering fabric with paint, combining ink and charcoal, using natural textures).
Pass around actual samples of the materials and invite students to explore tactile qualities.
Discuss how different materials can represent animal characteristics and habitats effectively.

Curriculum Link: This activity supports AC9AVA8C02 around material experimentation and expression of ideas through visual arts.

3. Brainstorming Artwork Ideas (15 minutes)

Distribute placemat templates and brainstorming worksheets.
Guide the students to sketch or write ideas responding to:
- Which Australian animal(s) do I want to represent?
- What characteristics or story about this animal will I show? (shape, texture, habitat, symbolism)
- What mixed media materials might best express these ideas?
Encourage them to think about composition, textures, and colours.

Teacher Support: Circulate to engage with each student, prompt deeper thinking using questions such as, “How does this material show the roughness of a kangaroo’s fur?”

4. Sharing and Reflection (8 minutes)

Invite each student to briefly share their brainstorming outcomes with the class.
Facilitate positive feedback focusing on what excites them about their ideas.
Prompt a reflection question: “How can mixing different materials help me show the personality or story of my Aussie animal?”

Curriculum Aspect: This sharing and reflection develops students’ abilities to evaluate ideas and prepare for refining practice (AC9AVA10C01) .

5. Conclusion and Next Steps (2 minutes)

Summarise the lesson: today was about knowing Australian animals better, discovering mixed media possibilities, and starting to plan.
Briefly outline what will happen in the next lesson (starting the creation of placemat artworks).
Provide encouragement to think about their animals and materials over the next few days.

Assessment

Informal assessment through teacher observation of student engagement during discussions and brainstorming.
Collection of brainstorming sheets to assess understanding and creativity.
Use formative questioning to gauge grasp of mixed media techniques and animal characteristics.

Differentiation

Provide visual or tactile supports for students who need sensory input.
Challenge more advanced students to consider cultural symbolism or environmental messages in their artworks.
Allow additional time for students requiring it to explore materials or plan their ideas.

Extensions / Enrichment

Include a short video or guest presentation from a local Aboriginal artist explaining their connection to animals and art (digital or in person), linking culture and artistic expression.
Encourage students to research an Australian animal and prepare a mini-presentation for later lessons.

This lesson plan combines exploration of Australian fauna, artistic techniques, and personal expression aligned to the Australian Curriculum (v9) for Year 9 Visual Arts. It integrates cultural context thoughtfully and prepares students to develop their own meaningful artworks in subsequent lessons.

If you need, I can also provide detailed lesson plans for subsequent lessons in the unit.

Teaching Instructions