Art Showcase Celebration

Overview

Unit: African Art Adventures
Lesson: 7 of 7
Duration: 45 minutes
Class Size: 5 students
Age Group: KS2 (Years 3-4, ages 7-9)
Subject: Art and Design
Theme: Celebrating African Art through student presentations and reflections

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Curriculum Links

• National Curriculum for Art and Design (KS2)

  • Pupils should be taught to:
    • Develop techniques including control and use of materials.
    • Learn about great artists, craft makers, and designers.
    • Evaluate and analyse creative works using subject-specific language.
    • Compare ideas, methods and approaches in their own and others’ work and say what they think and feel about them.

• English - Spoken Language KS2

  • Articulate and justify answers, arguments and opinions.
  • Participate in discussions, presentations and performances, expressing ideas and feelings clearly.

• PSHE - Social Skills and Confidence

  • Encouraging communication, confidence, and respect for others’ work and culture.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

• Confidently present their African art projects to the class.
• Reflect on the cultural significance and artistic techniques they have learned.
• Use subject-specific vocabulary to describe their work and the broader African artistic traditions.
• Show appreciation for peers’ artwork, fostering a supportive learning environment.

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Resources Needed

• Student art projects from previous lessons (masks, paintings, textiles, sculptures, etc.)
• Display space (tables or wall area for showcasing artwork)
• Reflective prompt cards (questions to guide presentations and discussions)
• Timer or stopwatch
• Sticky notes and pens for feedback
• Optional: Digital camera or tablet to record presentations or photograph artwork

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction and Warm-Up (5 minutes)

• Welcome the students and recap the journey through “African Art Adventures.”
• Remind students of key themes from the unit: symbolism, cultural stories, colours, patterns, and materials used in African art.
• Explain the purpose of today’s lesson: to showcase and celebrate their hard work.

Teaching Tip: Use a brief "call and response" chant based on African rhythms to energise the group and set a celebratory tone.

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2. Setting Up the Art Showcase (5 minutes)

• Students arrange their artwork in the designated display area.
• Encourage them to think as curators: what order will their pieces be shown in? How should they be presented to engage viewers?
• Discuss simple display skills: spacing, labels (with their name and title), and visual flow.

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3. Student Presentations (25 minutes total; 5 minutes per student)

• Each student presents their artwork to the class, using the reflective prompt cards if needed.
• Prompts include:
  • What inspired you to create this piece?
  • Which African culture or art tradition influenced your work?
  • What techniques or materials did you use?
  • What message or story does your art tell?
  • How did you feel creating this artwork?
• Encourage the audience to listen carefully and ask one or two questions after each presentation.

Teaching Tip: Model active listening and question-asking before presentations begin to set expectations.

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4. Peer Feedback and Reflection (7 minutes)

• Provide each student with sticky notes. Ask them to write a positive comment or question about one piece they found interesting or inspiring.
• Collect and read some feedback aloud, emphasising kindness and constructive language.
• Prompt a brief group discussion about how African art reflects cultural values and stories and what surprised them most during the presentations.

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5. Plenary and Celebration (3 minutes)

• Recap key learning points from the unit and from today’s presentations.
• Praise students for their courage, creativity, and cultural understanding.
• Optional: Award simple certificates of “African Art Explorer” or “Creative Storyteller” to acknowledge their achievements.
• Invite students to take photos of the showcase or share their favourite memory from the unit.

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Differentiation and Inclusion

• Allow students to present in pairs if they feel shy presenting alone.
• Provide sentence starters or vocabulary mats to support less confident speakers.
• Use visual prompts and drawings for students who express themselves better non-verbally.
• Encourage respectful listening and ensure each student has equal time and attention.

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Assessment Opportunities

• Formative assessment through observation of presentations and reflective discussions.
• Use of speaking and listening skills aligned with English KS2 speaking standards.
• Evaluate students’ ability to use appropriate art terminology and cultural references.
• Assess confidence and creativity in both the preparation and delivery of oral presentations.

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WOW Factor Ideas for Teachers

• Invite a local African artist or storyteller (live or virtually) to attend the showcase or provide a short final comment/video message celebrating the students’ effort.
• Create a digital slideshow or virtual gallery of student artwork to share with families, enhancing pride beyond the classroom.
• Integrate a short “soundscape” of African drums or music during the showcase to immerse students and visitors culturally.
• Use the lesson as an opportunity to build a classroom gallery corner dedicated to African art for ongoing inspiration.

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End of plan.
Enjoy celebrating your students’ creativity and cultural discoveries!