Exploring Friendships Creatively

Overview

This 60-minute lesson invites A-Level Art and Design students (age 16-18) to explore the theme of friendships through imaginative, multi-disciplinary work. Students will analyse and create artworks that represent friendship, encouraging personal responses and community awareness.

National Curriculum Alignment

This lesson aligns with the A-Level Art and Design programme of study and supports the following objectives from the Art and Design National Curriculum for England:

• AO1: Develop ideas through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources
• AO2: Refine work by exploring ideas, selecting and experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques and processes
• AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses
• AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language

It also promotes key KS5 values: creativity, critical thinking, visual literacy, and self-expression in social contexts.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Analyse and discuss how the theme of friendships has been represented in various art forms.
• Experiment with mixed media to express the complexities of friendship through personal visual responses.
• Reflect critically on their own and peers’ work, articulating creative intentions related to friendship.

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Resources

• Examples of contemporary and historical artworks depicting friendship (printed or digital)
• Sketchbooks or visual journals
• Mixed media materials (charcoal, coloured pencils, collage papers, watercolours)
• A3 drawing paper
• Mirrors or personal photographs (optional for self-portrait elements)
• Projector or whiteboard for group discussion

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Starter Activity: Visual Thinking (10 minutes)

• Display a curated selection of artworks that explore friendship (e.g., paintings, sculptures, photography).
• Students jot down initial thoughts and emotions evoked by each piece—focus on symbolism, colour use, composition, and mood.
• Facilitate a brief discussion:
  • What aspects of friendship does the artwork emphasise?
  • How do artists visually communicate connections, emotions, and tensions between people?

2. Main Activity Part 1: Conceptual Mapping (10 minutes)

• In sketchbooks, students create a mind map or visual brainstorm centred on “Friendships”. Prompts: types of friendships (e.g., childhood, new, complicated), emotions (e.g., trust, jealousy, support), memories, and imagery associated with these.
• Encourage them to think beyond typical symbols—challenge them to reflect on ambiguity within friendships.

3. Main Activity Part 2: Experimental Response (25 minutes)

• Students use their sketches to produce an A3 mixed media piece expressing their personal interpretation of friendship.
• They can combine media and techniques—e.g., a collage of photographs with watercolor overlays, charcoal sketches enhanced with colour pencil, or abstract marks representing emotions.
• Emphasise process over finished product; encourage risk-taking and innovation.

4. Peer Review and Reflection (10 minutes)

• Students pair up and share their artworks and intentions.
• Each student provides constructive feedback focusing on how effectively the piece communicates the theme of friendship and emotional depth.
• Students jot down key points of feedback and their own reflective notes.

5. Plenary Discussion (5 minutes)

• Whole class discussion on the experience:
  • What did you discover about friendship through your creative process?
  • Which techniques or ideas surprised you?
  • How might this work develop further?

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Assessment and Feedback

• Use AO1 and AO2: Assess students’ ability to analyse friendship artwork and their experimentation with media.
• AO3 and AO4: Evaluate the recording of ideas and personal engagement in the final mixed media piece plus reflective responses.
• Provide verbal and written feedback highlighting creativity, visual communication skills, and conceptual depth.

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Extension Ideas

• Homework: Create an artist’s statement linking their work to social or cultural contexts of friendship.
• Future lesson: Develop a collaborative installation or digital project expressing friendship narratives within the school community.

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This innovative, theme-driven lesson ensures alignment with the National Curriculum, fostering critical investigation and personal expression in a contemporary social context — engaging students deeply with both artistic practice and the human experience.