Designing Royal Trousers

Lesson Overview

Year Group: Year 1
Subject: Art and Design
Unit: Designing Royal Trousers (Lesson 3 of 4)
Duration: 60 minutes
Class Size: 30 students

National Curriculum Links

• Art and Design – Key Stage 1
  • Use drawing to develop and share ideas, experiences, and imagination.
  • Develop a wide range of art techniques in using colour, pattern, and shape.
  • Learn about the work of artists, craft makers, and designers, making links to their own work.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will:

1. Design a pair of trousers fit for a king using coloured pencils and prior learning.
2. Use colours, patterns, and forms creatively to express their ideas.
3. Discuss and evaluate their designs, linking them to the fabric they created in the previous lesson.
4. Develop confidence in explaining their creative choices.

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Lesson Structure

Starter Activity (10 minutes) – Royal Trousers Recap

1. Engage: "The King's Wardrobe" Game

   • Display images of different types of royal clothing from different cultures. Ask:
     • "What makes these trousers special?"
     • "What patterns or colours do we see?"
   • Encourage students to describe the fabric from the previous lesson.

2. Mini Discussion:

   • "Last lesson, we created fabric for the king. Today, we will use our fabric ideas to design the trousers!"

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Main Activity (35 minutes) – Designing the Trousers

Step 1: Sketching the Shape (10 minutes)

• Each pupil receives a template outline of trousers.
• Model how to sketch different styles (e.g., wide legs, frilly edges, special trims).
• Discuss why designers think about the shape as well as pattern.

Step 2: Adding Colour & Pattern (15 minutes)

• Pupils use coloured pencils to design their trousers, keeping in mind the fabric from last lesson.
• Encourage them to mix patterns (e.g., stripes with swirls, zigzags with dots).
• Support pupils by asking:
  • “What does a king’s trousers need to look grand?”
  • “Can you add a pattern that matches the fabric you made?”
  • “What colours feel royal to you?”

Step 3: Annotation & Reflection (10 minutes)

• Each child labels one element of their design (e.g., "gold stripes for royalty").
• Pair-share: Pupils explain their designs to a partner.
• Ask volunteers to present their work to the class.

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Plenary (15 minutes) – The Royal Fashion Show!

1. Gallery Walk:

   • Pupils place their work on the tables and walk around to look at each other's designs.
   • Teacher calls out exciting design elements: "Who used bold patterns?" "Who chose bright colours?"

2. Peer Appreciation:

   • Each pupil writes or says one nice thing about another’s design.
   • Reinforce that all designs are unique and valuable.

3. Looking Ahead:

   • "Next lesson, we will bring our designs to life!" (Give a sneak peek into the final making process).

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Resources & Preparation

Materials Needed:

✅ Trousers template outlines
✅ Coloured pencils
✅ Images of historical royal clothing
✅ Large sheets for display

Teacher Preparation:

• Print enough trousers templates for all pupils.
• Prepare a slideshow or images of royal fashion.
• Set up an engaging workspace for creative drawing.

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Differentiation & Support

🔹 For Struggling Students:

• Pre-drawn outlines they can colour in before adding their own patterns.
• Visual guides with examples of patterns.

🔹 For Advanced Students:

• Encourage them to create a second design with an entirely different style.
• Let them explain their design choices in a short sentence.

🔹 For EAL (English as an Additional Language) Learners:

• Use picture-word cards for key terms (e.g., "Pattern," "Royal," "Colour").
• Pair them with a buddy who can model explanations.

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Assessment Opportunities

✔ Observation: Are pupils applying colours and patterns creatively?
✔ Discussion: Can they explain their design choices confidently?
✔ Work Review: Have they linked their design to their fabric from the previous lesson?

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Extension Activity

🎨 Pupils can design a second outfit piece (such as a royal jacket or cape) to match their trousers.

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Final Notes for the Teacher

✨ This lesson emphasises creativity and confidence in design. The key is to let pupils take ownership of their ideas while guiding them with thoughtful questions.

👑 Have fun! The king is waiting for his new trousers!