Surrealism Shooting Plan

Overview

This 60-minute lesson is designed for Year 13 Art students in New Zealand to support them in planning their first surrealist photography shoot. Students will focus on three single objects, exploring different viewpoints and lighting techniques. The lesson aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh learning area of The Arts, specifically supporting students to create and communicate imaginative ideas by connecting thinking, senses, and feelings.

Curriculum Alignment

Learning Area: The Arts – Visual Art (Photography focus)

• Vision (NZC p.8): Empower students as confident, creative, and critical thinkers.
• Principles (NZC p.9): Inclusion, future focus, and high expectations.
• Values (NZC p.10): Innovation, excellence, and diversity.
• Key Competencies (NZC pp.12-13):
  • Thinking: to generate ideas and plan a creative process.
  • Using Language, Symbols, and Texts: to communicate artistic concepts.
  • Managing Self: to plan and organise the photoshoot effectively.
• Learning Area Statement (The Arts): Students explore, refine, and communicate ideas by connecting imagination, senses, and feelings through visual arts.

Achievement Objectives (selected and adapted)

• Communicating and Interpreting: Explore and describe ideas using visual language (planning viewpoints and lighting).
• Developing Practical Skills: Plan and manage artworks considering elements like viewpoint, light, and composition.
• Context: Focus on Surrealism in Photography; develop imagination and creative expression.

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Lesson Details

Lesson 9 of 15: Single Object Study - Planning

Time	Activity	Description
0 - 10 mins	Initiation & Context Set-Up	Brief refresher on surrealism and its qualities in photography. Discussion on how single objects can be transformed through different viewpoints and lighting to create surreal effects. Introduce the assignment: plan the shoot focusing on three single objects.
10 - 25 mins	Group Brainstorm & Visual Stimulus	In small groups (3-4 students), students brainstorm surreal ideas for their objects. Provide a selection of surrealist photographs for inspiration. Students sketch or note viewpoints and lighting ideas, considering how light and perspective change perception.
25 - 40 mins	Individual Planning	Students start creating detailed planning sheets including: choice of objects, intended viewpoints (angles, close-ups, distance), lighting plans (natural, artificial, chiaroscuro, shadows), and possible locations/settings. They reflect on how these choices will create surreal effects.
40 - 50 mins	Peer Feedback	In pairs, students share their plans and provide constructive feedback based on clarity, creativity, and practical considerations, encouraging refinement of ideas. Use guiding questions to scaffold feedback (e.g., “How will your lighting create mood?” “Is your viewpoint unusual and thought-provoking?”).
50 - 60 mins	Class Discussion & Teacher Summary	Summarise key points about the importance of planning in photography. Reinforce learning objectives and outline expectations for the next lesson (photography shoot). Address any questions or concerns about materials and process.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

• Understand how viewpoint and lighting contribute to the surreal qualities of a photographic image.
• Develop a feasible and creative plan for photographing three single objects.
• Demonstrate ability to articulate their photographic ideas visually and verbally.
• Collaborate and critique constructively with peers to refine their plans.

Aligned with NZ Curriculum focus on developing artistic communication, managing self, and critical thinking for Year 13 students preparing a complex art task,.

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Assessment

• Formative Assessment:

  • Observation during group brainstorm and individual planning.
  • Quality and detail in planning sheets.
  • Peer feedback effectiveness.

• Success Criteria:

  • Clear identification of three objects with justified selection.
  • Well-articulated viewpoint and lighting plans showing understanding of surrealistic principles.
  • Evidence of reflective thinking and improvements based on peer feedback.

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Resources

• Examples of surrealist photography.
• Sketching materials or digital tools for plan visualization.
• Planning sheets outlining object, viewpoint, and lighting sections.
• Guidelines/checklist for peer feedback.

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Teacher Notes & Tips

• Encourage students to think beyond literal representation; focus on imaginative possibilities.
• Use questioning to scaffold student thinking on how light and viewpoint affects mood and meaning.
• Highlight Māori perspectives if relevant, e.g., considering taonga (treasured objects) as photographic subjects to connect with mātauranga Māori (knowledge) and tikanga Māori (customs).
• Ensure differentiated support for students who need assistance organising their ideas or understanding technical terms.
• Link planning skills to the broader goal of developing agency and pathways in creative practice as outlined in NZC phase 5 learning focus.

This lesson plan nurtures key competencies and values in creative arts, preparing students for their practical surrealist photography shoots within a structured, engaging, and culturally responsive framework.