Exploring Creativity

Curriculum Area: Art and Design

UK National Curriculum Key Stage 5 – Year 1 SHS
Level: Beginners/Introductory (aligned with foundational creative skills development for 16-17 year olds).

---

Lesson Plan Overview

This detailed 11-week lesson plan is designed to introduce Year 1 SHS students to fundamental concepts in Art and Design. The focus is on basic drawing skills, drawing composition, and an exploration of prehistoric and ancient art. The sessions balance technical skill-building with critical appreciation to nurture a well-rounded creative process. Lessons also reinforce practical engagement and critical thinking about art, with room for self-expression.

All lessons fit within an 11-minute short workshop-style framework to enable focused creative exercises and quick individual feedback, perfect for challenging young, creative minds while maintaining their attention span.

---

Week-by-week Breakdown

Weeks 1-3: Introduction to Basic Drawing

Overall Objective: Develop foundational drawing skills (line, shape, form, texture). Build confidence in observing and recreating objects and forms from life.

Week 1

Topic: Lines and Shapes
Learning Objectives:

• Understand basic lines (straight, curved, zigzag, contour) and shapes (geometric vs. organic).
• Explore how line and shape are essential building blocks of art.

Activity:

• Warm-Up: Gesture Drawing (2 minutes): Provide simple objects (e.g., apple, cup). Students draw quick outlines focusing only on basic shapes.
• Main Task: "Connect the Lines" Exercise – Place a random, incomplete line or abstract shape (given by the teacher), and students must add on to it, turning it into a recognisable object.
• Plenary: Brief discussion – How did line and shape help you get started with drawing?

Week 2

Topic: Texture and Shading Basics
Learning Objectives:

• Understand the concept of texture (smooth, rough, soft).
• Demonstrate basic shading (hatching, cross-hatching, stippling, blending) to create the illusion of texture.

Activity:

• Warm-Up: Texture Hunt – Students observe objects in the room and describe their textures verbally.
• Main Task: Create a small “Texture Square” (5x5cm grid). Fill each box with a different texture or shading technique using pencils.
• Plenary: Share out – Ask students how texture makes their drawings feel realistic.

Week 3

Topic: Observational Sketching
Learning Objectives:

• Begin developing observational skills by drawing from life.
• Combine basic lines, shapes, and shading to represent objects accurately.

Activity:

• Main Task: Set up a mini still life (e.g., 3 objects). Students will focus on sketching outlines and experimenting with light and texture. Encourage overlapping compositions.
• Plenary: Peer review – Pair students to give each other one positive comment and one suggestion for improvement.

---

Weeks 4-7: Drawing and Composition

Overall Objective: Learn how to arrange objects/spaces in a balanced composition and explore concepts like depth, proportion, and perspective.

Week 4

Topic: Balance and Symmetry
Learning Objectives:

• Define the concepts of balanced and symmetrical compositions.
• Begin creating artwork with thoughtful arrangement.

Activity:

• Warm-Up: Sketching symmetrical objects (e.g., butterfly, vase).
• Main Task: Students draw a symmetrical composition of their choice (half the page drawn and mirrored on the other side).
• Plenary: Students display their work for a 3-minute “gallery walk.”

Week 5

Topic: Proportion and Scale
Learning Objectives:

• Recognise and apply proportions in drawing.
• Explore small vs. large scale relationships within a composition.

Activity:

• Warm-Up: Quick sketch of two objects of different sizes placed together (e.g., chair and mug side by side).
• Main Task: Introduce human proportions. Students create a simple sketch of a figure, focusing on the relative size of body parts.
• Plenary: Reflect – Where was it difficult to maintain proportions?

Week 6

Topic: Overlapping and Depth
Learning Objectives:

• Understand how overlapping elements create a sense of depth in 2D compositions.

Activity:

• Main Task: Students create a drawing of three or more overlapping objects (e.g., books stacked on a table). They focus on applying shading to emphasise depth.
• Plenary: Class discussion – How does depth help make flat drawings more interesting?

Week 7

Topic: Perspective Basics
Learning Objectives:

• Introduce one-point perspective (emphasis on horizon line and vanishing points).

Activity:

• Main Task: Students draw a simple city street or room in one-point perspective. Provide handouts with steps to break down the perspective perspective.
• Plenary: Mini quiz – Define the vanishing point and its purpose in perspective drawings.

---

Weeks 8-11: Prehistoric and Ancient Art

Overall Objective: Explore early art forms and apply techniques inspired by ancient practices.

Week 8

Topic: Cave Art and First Creative Expressions
Learning Objectives:

• Learn about prehistoric cave art and symbolism.
• Experiment with creating art using limited tools.

Activity:

• Warm-Up: Show students pictures of famous cave art (Lascaux Caves). Ask: “What do you notice about their tools and techniques?”
• Main Task: Students create their own cave-inspired artwork using textured paper and chalk. Option to use fingers instead of brushes.
• Plenary: What did creating “cave art” make you feel?

Week 9

Topic: Ancient Egyptian Art
Learning Objectives:

• Identify stylistic features of ancient Egyptian art (e.g., hierarchical proportion, murals).
• Try creating a piece inspired by Egyptian aesthetics.

Activity:

• Main Task: Students use bold black outlines and flat colours to create artwork in a side-profile style, mimicking ancient Egyptian portraits or hieroglyphics.
• Plenary: Pair and share. Discuss how ancient styles differ from modern techniques.

Week 10

Topic: Greek and Roman Art
Learning Objectives:

• Explore the realism of ancient Greek and Roman sculpture and its influence on Western art.
• Understand the importance of anatomical accuracy.

Activity:

• Main Task: Students sketch a simplified statue or bust, focusing on realistic proportions. Provide pre-selected images if live models are unavailable.
• Plenary: Reflect – What did Greek and Roman artists value in their work?

Week 11

Topic: Ancient Art Show
Learning Objectives:

• Synthesize learning from prehistoric to classical art periods.
• Showcase personal creative interpretations of ancient art styles.

Activity:

• Host a mini “Art Showcase” where students present their favourite piece of work created from Weeks 8-10.
• After each presentation, peers and teacher provide constructive feedback (focused on technique and effort).

---

Final Notes:

• Adapt activities and tools to ensure all students, regardless of prior ability, can successfully build their creative skills.
• Align each lesson with the overall goal of developing confidence, technical skill, and appreciation for historical and cultural art styles.
• Always allow 1-2 minutes for reflection and discussion at the end of each session, ensuring students consciously think about their learning journey.