Melting Surreal Time

Learning Area/Topic

Visual Arts — Surrealism and Time Representation

Grade

Year 2

Time

60 minutes

SCSA Curriculum Links

• AC9AVA2C01: Use visual conventions, visual arts processes and materials to create artworks.
• AC9AVA2D01: Experiment and play with visual conventions, visual arts processes and materials.
• AC9AVA2E02: Explore examples of visual arts created by artists from different cultures and times to express ideas and feelings.
• AC9AVA2D01_E5: Explore visual conventions using a wide range of materials, and experiment with combinations (e.g. colour, texture, line).
• AC9AVA2C01_E3: Use visual brainstorming and experimentation to build ideas and push creativity.

These curriculum codes correspond to Western Australian Visual Arts Year 2 standards focusing on experimenting with art materials and representing ideas through artworks in engaging ways that reflect historical and cultural learning contexts.

Student Prior Knowledge

• Basic understanding of colours, lines, shapes, and simple textures.
• Experience using paint and drawing materials.
• Familiarity with telling time to the hour on analog clocks.
• Awareness of different types of clocks and how time is shown visually (hour, half-hour).

Key Vocabulary/Concepts/Terminology

• Surrealism
• Melting
• Clock face
• Abstract
• Time
• Texture
• Shape
• Colour
• Creativity
• Imagination

Learning Objectives

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

1. Recognise and describe the visual characteristics of Salvador Dali’s “Melting Clock” artwork.
2. Experiment with paint and drawing to create a melting clock inspired artwork using their imagination.
3. Use a range of colours, shapes, and textures to express ideas and feelings about time.
4. Reflect on the process of making surreal art and share their ideas with the class.

Preparation

• Print or display a large image of Salvador Dali’s “The Persistence of Memory” focusing on the melting clocks.
• Prepare art materials: tempera paints, brushes, water containers, palettes, paper or canvas sheets, pencils, crayons, and coloured markers.
• Prepare a simple analogue clock face template (large size for each student).
• Have a quiet space for a brief introduction and discussion.

Teaching Strategies and Times

0-10 minutes: Introduction and Engagement

• Show the image of Salvador Dali’s melting clock.
• Explain who Salvador Dali was and what surrealism means — “art that mixes imagination with things that don’t always look like real life.”
• Ask guiding questions: “What do you notice about the clocks?”, “How do you think these clocks feel?”, “What’s unusual about them?”
• Explain that today students will create their own melting clock artwork to explore time and imagination.

10-20 minutes: Exploring Materials and Visual Brainstorming

• Give students time to explore the paint and drawing materials.
• Prompt them to experiment with swirling lines, blobs, and blending colours to create ‘melting’ or dripping effects on scrap paper.
• Encourage mixing colours to show shadows and highlights.
• Use quick share back — some students may explain their creative ideas or discoveries.

20-50 minutes: Creative Art-making Activity

• Hand out the analogue clock face template to each student.
• Instruct students to paint or draw a melting clock on their template, encouraging creativity in deforming the shape — for example, extended or dripping clock hands, melting edges.
• Suggest adding surreal backgrounds using colours and textures from earlier exploration.
• Teacher circulates to support, encourage risk-taking, and scaffold ideas.
• Provide gentle reminders about classroom expectations and cleaning up.

50-60 minutes: Reflection and Sharing

• Invite students to place their artworks in a shared space.
• Facilitate a group reflection where some students describe their work: “What did you imagine when you made your melting clock?”, “How does your clock feel different from a normal clock?”
• Connect back to the idea of time and imagination, reinforcing key vocabulary.
• Praise creativity, effort, and use of art materials.

Student Activities/Responses

• Active participation in discussing surrealism and Dali’s artwork.
• Visual brainstorming through mark-making and experimentation.
• Creating an individual melting clock artwork using paint and drawing tools.
• Sharing ideas and reflecting on their own and peers’ artwork.

Strategies for Diverse Learners

• Provide visual step-by-step cues for painting and drawing.
• Allow choice of materials (e.g. crayons or paint) to suit fine motor skills.
• Use simple language and concrete examples to explain ‘surrealism’ and ‘melting’.
• Pair students for peer support and modelling.
• Ensure a quiet corner for students needing sensory breaks.
• Provide extra time or support for students requiring it.
• Use prompts and positive reinforcement to encourage hesitant students.

Evaluation/Monitoring Student Learning

• Teacher observation of student participation in discussion and art-making.
• Assessment of artworks for evidence of experimentation with shape, colour, and texture.
• Questions during reflection to check for understanding of surrealism and creative intent.
• Anecdotal notes on students’ ability to express ideas about time and imagination verbally and visually.
• Informal feedback encouraging growth in confidence using art materials and experimenting with ideas.

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This lesson plan blends curriculum-aligned skills in visual arts for Year 2 students with imaginative, hands-on learning focused on a famous artwork from art history adapted to young learners’ understanding. It integrates foundational concepts about time, creativity, and visual expression while honouring Western Australian Curriculum expectations for engaging and inclusive arts education.