Colourful Collages Creation

Overview

Unit: African Art Adventures (Lesson 3 of 7)
Duration: 45 minutes
Class size: 5 students
Subject: Art and Design
Age Group: Key Stage 1 (Year 2, ages 6-7)
Focus: Fine motor skills through collage inspired by African landscapes and wildlife

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Develop fine motor skills through cutting and arranging small pieces of paper and magazine images.
• Explore and identify colours, textures, and shapes found in African landscapes and wildlife.
• Experiment with composition and layering to create a vibrant, nature-inspired collage.
• Gain cultural appreciation and curiosity about African environments through art.

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Curriculum Links

National Curriculum (England) – Art and Design (Key Stage 1)

• Pupils should be taught to:
  • Use a range of materials creatively to design and make products.
  • Use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination.
  • Develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form, and space.
  • Learn about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) – Expressive Arts and Design

• Use what they have learnt about media and materials in original ways, thinking about uses and purposes.
• Represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through art.

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Resources Needed

• Old magazines and colourful flyers with images of nature, animals, patterns
• Pre-cut coloured paper in various textures and shades inspired by African landscapes (reds, oranges, yellows, greens, browns)
• Safety scissors suitable for 6-7 year olds
• Glue sticks
• Large A4 paper or card as base for collage
• Visual prompt cards with images of African landscapes and animals (savannah, baobab tree, giraffes, elephants, colourful birds)
• Aprons or protective covering for clothes
• Whiteboard or flip chart for discussion

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction and Engagement (10 minutes)

• Welcome and settle: Briefly remind students about previous lessons in the unit, highlighting African art themes explored so far.
• Visual stimulus: Show large images of African landscapes and iconic wildlife. Ask: "What colours do you see? What animals live here?"
• Discussion prompt: Focus on texture and pattern found in nature – rough tree bark, smooth feathers, cracked earth. Encourage children to share ideas about what makes these places special visually.
• Link objective: Today, you are artists creating colourful collages that show the amazing nature of Africa. You will cut, arrange and glue your pieces carefully to show texture and colour.

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2. Guided Exploration (10 minutes)

• Demonstrate collage technique:
  • Show how to carefully cut shapes from magazines and paper. Emphasise safety and precision to develop fine motor control.
  • Explain layering: placing some pieces on top of others to create depth, texture, and interesting patterns.
• Group activity:
  • Together, choose a landscape or animal to focus on for the collage. Discuss how to represent it using shapes and colours.
  • Model selecting and arranging pieces on base paper without gluing at first.
• Encourage vocabulary: Use words such as texture, pattern, shadow, overlap, layer, contrast.
• Check understanding: Ask children which animals or plants they want to include and how they might show natural textures or patterns.

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3. Collage Creation (20 minutes)

• Independent work:
  • Children create their own collages inspired by African nature. Circulate to support fine motor skills, offering help with cutting as needed.
  • Encourage experimenting with layering and combining textures. Ask open questions like "How does this leaf look like in real life?" or "What happens if you try a brighter colour here?"
• Encourage peer learning: Invite children to gently share their work and give positive feedback to each other.
• Incorporate sculpturesque aspects: Invite children to create edges or small folds in paper to give a tactile feel representing rough rock or tree bark.

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4. Sharing and Reflection (5 minutes)

• Show and tell: Each student presents their collage briefly, describing one part they are proud of and explaining the colours or textures used.
• Teacher reflection prompt: Highlight how children have developed fine motor control through careful cutting and gluing.
• Connect to culture: Briefly mention how African artists use natural elements and bright colours to tell stories about their environment.

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Differentiation and Support

• For students with fine motor difficulties: Provide pre-cut shapes to glue and support with scissors. Use larger shapes initially.
• For more confident cutters: Encourage detail cutting (animal patterns or small leaf shapes).
• EAL/SEN: Use picture cards alongside vocabulary explanations. Demonstrate key techniques visually.

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Assessment Opportunities

• Observational notes on children’s use of scissors, glue application, and ability to layer.
• Assessment of verbal contributions during discussion and sharing.
• Use of descriptive vocabulary during their presentations.

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Extension Ideas

• Create a collaborative class mural from individual collages.
• Introduce natural materials (leaves, twigs) in future lessons to enhance mixed media skills.
• Explore simple printmaking to make African-patterned paper to use next lesson.

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Teacher Reflection

• Did students demonstrate improved fine motor skills through cutting and arranging paper?
• How engaged were they in connecting art to African themes?
• Were instructions clear and supportive for all children to succeed?
• How can this lesson link smoothly into next session’s techniques?

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This structured, sensory-rich lesson plan draws on UK curriculum expectations, developing fine motor abilities through highly contextual African art inspired activities while broadening cultural awareness in young learners.