Doti's Colourful Journey

Lesson Overview

• Subject: Art and Design (Expressive Arts & Maths)
• Age Group: Reception (Foundation Phase, Wales Curriculum 2022)
• Lesson Duration: 60 minutes
• Class Size: 24 pupils
• Cross-Curricular Links: Expressive Arts, Mathematics & Numeracy

Curriculum Area & Level

Curriculum for Wales 2022

Expressive Arts (Creative Development – Foundation Phase)

• What Matters Statement: “Creativity and expression can inspire and engage.”
• Pupils will explore and create artwork inspired by places Doti has visited using different painting techniques and materials.

Mathematics & Numeracy (Foundation Phase)

• What Matters Statement: “Understanding the relationships between numbers helps us apply them in real life.”
• Pupils will engage in a numeracy-focused activity related to shapes, patterns, and counting in the context of Doti’s adventures.

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Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, pupils will:

1. Develop their creativity through painting scenes inspired by Doti’s adventures.
2. Recognise and use basic shapes and numbers in a fun and interactive maths task.
3. Work collaboratively and take turns in both activities.
4. Discuss and recall places Doti the Dragon has visited.

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Materials Needed

Expressive Arts Group:

• Paints (red, blue, yellow, green, white, and black)
• Large sheets of paper
• Paintbrushes & sponges
• Example images of Cardigan landmarks and international locations (France, Scotland, Australia)

Mathematics Group:

• Large cut-out dragon footprints with different numbers on them
• Set of number cards
• A map of Cardigan and a world map
• Small objects for counting (e.g., counters, toy dragons)

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Lesson Structure

Starter Activity (10 minutes) – Whole Class

1. Introduction to Doti's Journey: Show pictures of Doti’s travels, including landmarks in Cardigan, France, Scotland, and Australia. Ask:
   • "What do you think Doti saw in these places?"
   • "What colours do you see in these pictures?"
2. Quick Shape Recognition Game: Show different landmarks and discuss the shapes within them (e.g., a round castle tower in Cardigan, a triangular roof in Scotland).

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Main Activity (40 minutes – 2 Groups, Rotating after 30 minutes)

📌 Group 1: Expressive Arts (Painting with the Classroom Assistant)

• Pupils will choose to paint either a landmark from Cardigan or one of Doti’s travel destinations.
• Demonstrate how to mix colours to create different shades.
• Encourage different painting techniques (sponging for texture, fine brush strokes to add detail).
• Key Discussion Questions:
  • "What colours are we using for this landmark?"
  • "How can we show it's daytime or nighttime?"

📌 Group 2: Mathematics & Numeracy (With the Teacher – “Dragon Footprint Challenge”)

• Pupils will work with Doti’s dragon footprints, which have numbers or shapes on them.
• Activity 1: Number Sequence Footprints: Pupils arrange the footprints in order from 1-10.
• Activity 2: Counting Doti’s Travels: Pupils will count objects (like toy dragons) and place them correctly on the map (e.g., "How many dragons landed in Scotland?").
• Discussion Questions:
  • "How many steps does Doti take to get from France to Scotland?"
  • "Can we find the biggest footprint? What number is inside?"

🔄 After 30 minutes, the groups will swap over.

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Plenary (10 minutes) – Whole Class Discussion & Showcase

1. Art Exhibition Walkthrough: Pupils present their paintings to the class.
   • What place did they paint?
   • What colours and shapes did they use?
2. Maths Reflection: Briefly discuss what pupils learned about numbers and shapes.
3. Final Thought:
   • "Where should Doti visit next?"

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Assessment Opportunities

✔ Observational Assessment: Monitor pupils’ engagement and creativity during both activities.
✔ Oral Assessment: Questioning during both group activities to check understanding of numbers, sequences, and creative expression.
✔ Practical Assessment: Checking final artwork for their use of colour and shapes.

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Differentiation & Inclusion

✅ For Early Finishers:

• In the Maths Activity, they can create their own footprint numbers for Doti.
• In the Art Activity, they can add details using different textures or make a group mural.

✅ Support for Less Confident Learners:

• Provide shape stencils for additional guidance in drawing and painting.
• Offer number lines and counting objects for the numeracy task.

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Teacher’s Notes & Reflection

• What worked well?
• Were the children engaged in both activities?
• Did they understand the connections between numbers, places, and creativity?
• Would you adapt this lesson next time?

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Final Thought

This lesson is designed to spark creativity, integrate maths in a fun way, and help pupils explore the world through art. By painting scenes from Doti's adventures and using numbers to map his travels, this ensures a deep, cross-curricular learning experience.