Designing with Imagination

Lesson Overview

Subject: Art and Design
Year Group: Year 1 & Year 2
Lesson Duration: 50 minutes
Class Size: 21 students
Curriculum Area: National Curriculum for Art and Design – KS1
Focus: Developing designing skills by observing, planning, and including characteristics in artwork to meet criteria

---

National Curriculum Links

• To use drawing to develop and share their ideas, experiences, and imagination
• To develop a wide range of art and design techniques using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form, and space
• To observe closely and record simple shapes in artwork

---

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

1. Know how to create a design by planning a simple artwork before making it.
2. Know how to make a plan by sketching ideas before starting the final piece.
3. Recognise ways of including characteristics in their designs to fit a given theme or criteria.
4. Observe carefully and draw simple shapes by looking closely at objects and incorporating them into their work.

---

Resources Needed

• A3 sketching paper
• Pencils, erasers, and sharpeners
• Coloured pencils and crayons
• Templates of simple shapes (circles, squares, triangles)
• Example images of themed objects (e.g., castles, rockets, animals)
• A printed checklist for students to guide their design process

---

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction & Warm-Up (10 minutes)

1. Engagement (3 minutes):

   • Show students a selection of artworks featuring different characteristics (e.g., an illustration of a rocket designed with strong shapes and details).
   • Ask: What do you notice about the designs? What shapes do you see?

2. Observation Activity (7 minutes):

   • Hold up a simple object (e.g., a toy house or a stuffed animal).
   • Ask students to describe its shape and patterns.
   • Draw simple shapes on the board to demonstrate breaking down objects into key parts (e.g., a house = square + triangle roof).

---

2. Main Activity – Designing (25 minutes)

1. Step 1: Brainstorm & Plan (10 minutes)

   • Introduce today's design challenge: Create a fantasy house (e.g., a treehouse, castle, spaceship house, or chocolate house).
   • Display a step-by-step checklist for planning:
     • What kind of house will you make?
     • What shapes will you use?
     • What details can you add to make it special?
   • Students use their sketchbooks to draw basic shapes and outline their ideas.

2. Step 2: Adding Characteristics (8 minutes)

   • Encourage students to personalise their designs by adding features:
     • Windows in the shape of stars or hearts for a fantasy effect.
     • A winding staircase or a bubbly roof for uniqueness.
   • Pair students to discuss their design choices with a partner.

3. Step 3: Colour & Finalise (7 minutes)

   • Students add colours and patterns to emphasise their designs.
   • Focus on careful colouring to bring ideas to life.

---

3. Plenary & Reflection (15 minutes)

1. Mini Gallery Walk (5 minutes)

   • Lay designs out on tables and let students walk around to appreciate everyone’s work.

2. Group Discussion (7 minutes)

   • Ask:
     • How did planning help you create your design?
     • What characteristics did you add to your house?
     • What shapes did you use the most?

3. Exit Challenge (3 minutes)

   • Each student shares one thing they would add to their house if they had more time.

---

Differentiation & Support

• For students needing extra support:

  • Provide templates of different house shapes to trace.
  • Offer verbal prompts and one-to-one assistance during the design phase.

• For more confident students:

  • Challenge them to add extra elements such as a garden, bridge, or floating structure.
  • Encourage them to think about textures (e.g., how a brick wall would look different from a wooden one).

---

Assessment Opportunities

• Observing students as they plan and create their designs.
• Checking their ability to describe the shapes and features they used.
• Looking at how well they included characteristics to fit the design criteria.

---

Teacher’s Reflection After the Lesson

• Were students able to follow the design process?
• Did they successfully include recognisable characteristics in their work?
• What worked well, and what could be improved for next time?

---

This lesson inspires creativity while reinforcing key design skills using simple, engaging methods suitable for KS1 learners.