Storytelling Through Art

Overview

Unit: African Art Adventures
Lesson: 6 of 7
Age group: KS2 (ages 7–9)
Duration: 45 minutes
Class size: 5 students
National Curriculum Links:

• Art and Design: Use a range of materials creatively to design and make products; Use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share ideas, experiences and imagination (National Curriculum for England, Key Stage 2).
• English (Speaking and Listening): Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, improvisations and debates.
• Cross-curricular: Develop narrative skills through visual storytelling.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Develop and sequence a simple narrative visually through storyboarding.
• Identify and illustrate key scenes from "The Lion King" to convey a story visually.
• Use drawing and basic design techniques to express mood, character, and setting.
• Demonstrate understanding of African storytelling traditions and their influence on The Lion King.
• Communicate ideas clearly to peers through art and oral explanation.

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Resources Needed

• Printed or digital copies of a simplified "The Lion King" story summary or key scenes description.
• A4 storyboard templates with 4-6 frames per student.
• Pencil, coloured pencils, fine black markers.
• Sample African art patterns/images for inspiration.
• Projector or screen to show key scenes from "The Lion King" (optional for visual stimulus).
• Whiteboard and pens for brainstorming key scenes.

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Lesson Structure

1. Starter (5 minutes)

Activity: Quick discussion— What is storytelling?

• Ask students: “What makes a story exciting? How do pictures help tell a story?”
• Introduce the idea that stories can be told without words, using pictures to show what is happening.
• Briefly recap how African storytelling often uses vivid imagery and symbolism.

2. Introduction (10 minutes)

Activity: Engage with "The Lion King" story

• Show 2-3 key scenes via images or short clips referencing the plot’s climax and major moments (e.g. Simba’s birth, Mufasa’s guidance, Scar’s takeover, Simba’s return).
• As a group, identify 4–6 critical moments you’d want to show if you told this story with pictures only.
• On the whiteboard, list these scenes together.

3. Main Activity (25 minutes)

Activity: Create a Lion King storyboard

• Distribute storyboard templates and drawing materials.
• Instruct: Each frame should illustrate one key scene you’ve identified as important.
• Encourage students to:
  • Show characters’ emotions (using facial expressions and body language).
  • Use simple symbols or motifs inspired by African art (e.g. sun, animals, patterns) to enhance storytelling.
  • Think about setting and colours: warm tones for joyful moments, darker for tension or sadness.
• Circulate to support with drawing/ideas and encourage narrative description.
• Invite students to write a brief phrase or sentence under each frame if they wish, integrating technical writing skills.

4. Sharing & Reflection (5 minutes)

Activity: Peer presentation and feedback

• Students take turns sharing their storyboards with the group, explaining the scenes and why they chose them.
• Encourage constructive peer feedback focused on storytelling clarity and artistic choices.
• Reflect as a class: How does visual storytelling help us understand the story differently than words alone?

5. Plenary (Optional homework or next lesson prep)

• Suggest students consider how storyboards could be animated or turned into a comic strip.
• Set a question for next lesson’s discussion: “What other African stories could we tell using art?”

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Differentiation & Inclusion

• Provide extra support and prompts for students who may struggle with narrative sequencing by co-creating a storyboard outline before independent drawing.
• Challenge more confident students to include African patterns or symbolism linked to the story to deepen cultural understanding.
• Allow alternative modes of expression for students with fine motor difficulties (e.g., collage using pre-cut images).

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Assessment Opportunities

• Formative observations during drawing — focus on storytelling choices (scene selection, character emotion).
• Informal assessment through presentations: clarity of narrative and use of art techniques.
• Check understanding of African themes and narrative structure through questioning.

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Teacher’s Notes & Extension Ideas

• Highlight how "The Lion King" draws heavily on African landscapes, animals, and storytelling traditions, making the art a bridge between cultures.
• Use this as a springboard into animation or theatrical performance in the final lesson of the unit.
• Consider integrating simple ICT by having students photograph their storyboards to create simple digital slideshows or short narrated videos.

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This lesson combines visual arts with narrative literacy and cultural appreciation, aligning with UK curricula and promoting creative cross-disciplinary skills. It encourages students to become storytellers through their art — a powerful way to engage with both history and imagination.