Plasticine Introduction

Year Level

Year 6

Duration

60 minutes

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Lesson Title

Introduction to Barbara Reid

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Learning Area

The Arts - Visual Arts (Year 5 and 6)

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Australian Curriculum Links

Content Descriptions

• AC9AVA6E01: Explore ways that visual conventions, visual arts processes and materials are combined to communicate ideas, perspectives and/or meaning in visual arts across cultures, times, places and/or other contexts.
• AC9AVA6C01: Use visual conventions, visual arts processes and materials to plan and create artworks that communicate ideas, perspectives and/or meaning.

Achievement Standards

• Students describe ways the arts communicate ideas and meanings to an audience.
• Students use visual arts practices and materials to create artworks that communicate ideas.

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WALT (We Are Learning To)

• Understand who Barbara Reid is and her significance in children’s literature.
• Identify and discuss Barbara Reid’s artistic style, particularly her work with plasticine.

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Success Criteria

Students will be able to:

• Explain who Barbara Reid is.
• Identify Barbara Reid’s unique plasticine art style.
• Describe Barbara Reid’s contributions to children’s literature and illustration.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Provide a printed, brief biography handout of Barbara Reid with dyslexia-friendly font (e.g., Arial or OpenDyslexic) and clear, concise language.
• Use visual aids such as images and a video to support comprehension.
• Offer one-on-one support or pair students for peer assistance during discussion.
• Use a quiz with multiple-choice or true/false questions to support students who process better through structured formats.

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Extension Activity

• Students research another children’s book illustrator using plasticine or another medium.
• Prepare a short oral presentation or poster sharing key facts about the illustrator’s background, style, and notable works.

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Lesson Outline

Time	Activity	Description
0-10 mins	Introduction & Teacher Talk	- Begin with a bright, engaging PowerPoint slide featuring Barbara Reid and examples of her plasticine art. - Briefly explain who Barbara Reid is, highlighting her role in children’s literature and unique art style. - Show key images from Barbara Reid’s work to visualise the discussion.
10-25 mins	Video Viewing & Guided Discussion	- Show the video of Barbara Reid reading from Perfect Snow. Pause occasionally to engage the students with questions about the images and art style. - Facilitate a short class discussion on what makes Barbara’s work unique and why her art appeals to children.
25-35 mins	Reading Activity	- Distribute the dyslexia-friendly biography handout. - Read aloud together or in small groups, ensuring comprehension. - Use guided questions to monitor understanding.
35-45 mins	Interactive Quiz	- Conduct a quick quiz (using oral or paper format) based on the video and biography to check student understanding and maintain engagement. - Use visual prompts to aid recall and engagement.
45-55 mins	Hands-On Plasticine Exploration	- Provide plasticine to each student. - Ask students to experiment with creating simple shapes or textures inspired by Barbara Reid’s style. - Teacher circulates to support and encourage creativity.
55-60 mins	Plenary & Reflection	- Invite a few students to share their plasticine creations and explain how Barbara Reid inspired them. - Recap learning and relate back to the WALT and success criteria.

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Resources Needed

• PowerPoint presentation with bright, engaging images of Barbara Reid’s work
• Video of Barbara Reid reading Perfect Snow
• Printed dyslexia-friendly biography handouts
• Plasticine for each student
• Quiz questions prepared on slides or printed sheets

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Notes on Teaching Style

• Use visual and auditory teaching methods to accommodate diverse learning styles.
• Keep instructions concise and clear; use positive, engaging language.
• Use questioning and quizzes throughout to gauge understanding and maintain focus.
• Ensure hands-on activity is scaffolded with teacher guidance to connect practice with theory.

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This lesson plan is designed to foster curiosity and appreciation for plasticine art and children’s literature, with a strong link to Australian Curriculum Visual Arts learning objectives for Year 6 students. It blends multimedia, hands-on art-making, guided reading, and formative assessment to provide a rich, inclusive learning experience.【5:AC9AVA6C01.md】【13:AC9AVA6E01.md】