Planning Sunset Colors

Overview

Unit: Sunset Splash: Watercolor Wonders
Lesson: 2 of 3
Duration: 60 minutes
Class: Year 3 (age 7-8) - 30 students
Subject: Art and Design
National Curriculum Links:

• Art and design key stage 2 (Years 3 & 4)
  • Pupils use a range of materials creatively to design and make products [NC PoS - 1a]
  • Pupils use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination [NC PoS - 1b]
  • Pupils learn about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work [NC PoS - 2a]

---

Learning Objectives (WALT)

• WALT: Plan a sunset painting using watercolour.
• WALT: Select a colour palette suitable for a sunset scene using primary and secondary colours.
• WALT: Sketch a simple layout for a sunset painting including sky, sun, and water reflections.
• WALT: Explore and plan blending techniques needed for smooth colour transitions in watercolour.

---

Success Criteria

• I can choose three or more colours that work well together for a sunset.
• I can create a simple sketch layout to plan my painting.
• I can explain how I will blend colours to show the sky, sun, and reflections.
• My colour palette and sketch show that I have thought carefully about my painting before starting.

---

Resources Needed

• Watercolour planning sheets (large print and with visual examples for dyslexia-friendly access)
• Colour palette charts featuring sunset-inspired colours (reds, oranges, purples, yellows, blues)
• Pencils and erasers
• Templates with basic sunset shapes/layouts for scaffolded learners
• Example photos of sunsets and watercolour sample blends
• Whiteboard and dry wipe markers
• Visual step-by-step poster of colour blending techniques
• Projector (optional) to display example artworks and blending videos

---

Lesson Structure & Activities

Starter (10 minutes)

• Engage: Show images of real sunsets and ask pupils to discuss colours they see and how the colours change across the sky and water.
• Model: Teacher briefly demonstrates simple colour blending in watercolour on the board/screen, focusing on transitioning from orange to purple and yellow to red.
• Introduce WALT and success criteria clearly in child-friendly language, linking back to previous lesson (Lesson 1: observing and discussing sunsets).

---

Main Activity (40 minutes)

Activity 1: Planning Sheet Completion (30 mins)

• Pupils receive their planning sheet with sections for:

  1. Selecting 3+ colours for their sunset palette from provided colour charts.
  2. Sketching the layout of the sunset painting (sky, sun, water/reflections).
  3. Writing or drawing how they plan to blend colours for smooth transitions.

• Differentiation:

  • Pupils needing extra support use a provided template showing a simple horizon, sun placement, and water area to sketch over or annotate.
  • Dyslexic-friendly sheets include larger headings, bullet points, and symbol-supported instructions.

• Extension:

  • Encourage advanced pupils to add extra elements in their sketch plan such as clouds, birds, silhouettes of trees or boats to intensify their composition and challenge their blending skills.

Activity 2: Sharing and Feedback (10 mins)

• Pupils pair up or share in small groups their colour choices and layout sketches.
• Teacher prompts discussion on the effect of chosen colours and blending plans – encouraging use of art vocabulary (e.g., gradient, transition, warm colours, cool colours).
• Teacher circulates and gives verbal feedback targeted on planning creativity, cohesion and blending ideas.

---

Plenary (10 minutes)

• Select 3-4 pupils to present their planning sheets to the class, explaining their colour choices and blending techniques.
• Recap the importance of planning in art to create a successful final painting.
• Preview the next lesson: applying the planned colours and sketches to create their actual watercolour sunset.

---

Assessment

• Formative assessment during paired discussions and teacher observation of planning sheets.
• Assessment against success criteria focused on colour palette cohesion, thoughtful sketch layout, and blending plans.
• Use of self-assessment checklists for pupils to reflect on their planning.

---

Differentiation Details

Learner Profile	Strategy
Struggling or SEN learners	Use templates for sketching; dyslexia-friendly planning sheets; additional verbal prompts and modelling of each section.
Dyslexic pupils	Planning sheet in larger font, colour-coded sections, symbol-supported instructions.
Advanced learners	Add clouds, silhouettes, or detailed water reflections; suggest experimenting with complementary colours.

---

Cross-Curricular Links

• English: Vocabulary development related to colours, blending and descriptive language for art through paired discussion.
• Science: Informal discussion about how sunsets occur and colour changes in nature (links to light refraction).

---

Teacher Reflection Notes (Post-Lesson Guidance)

• Track pupils who struggled to select a balanced colour palette and offer them specific colour mixing practice in next art session.
• Note which pupils extended their work and could benefit from early access to mixing different watercolour techniques.
• Consider creating a visual walking gallery with all student planning sheets displayed to consolidate learning and inspiration for final paintings.

---

WOW Factor Idea to Impress Teachers

Invite pupils to use a digital tablet or interactive whiteboard app to create a digital version of their planned sunset colours and blending before starting the actual painting. This integration of technology caters to digital literacy and offers instant colour experimentation, boosting engagement and understanding of blending in watercolours!