Curriculum context: QCA Art: Unit 3B, Man-made materials

Year 3 pupils used a digital camera to take pictures of man-made objects, uploading the pictures into MS Paint. Children printed the images and cut them into strips. They wove them into a pattern, together with other man-made materials.

Lesson 1

Resources

A variety of everyday objects made from different materials, both natural and man-made. Sketch pads, pencils, square view finders.

Introduction/Revision

Look at the objects and discuss what they are made from. Is this man-made , or natural? Make sure the class understand the difference between the two types of material.

Key Vocabulary

Natural, man made, artificial, texture, weave, materials

Main Activities

Look closely at the texture and weave of the materials. Sort the objects into those made from natural fibres, and those from man-made. Focus on the man-made objects: select ones to sketch using pencil. Use a square view finder to help focus on one area.

Plenary

Review sketches. What we have learned about different types of materials?

Lesson 2

Resources

A variety of everyday objects made from various man-made materials. Sketch pads, pencils, square view finders, pens, inks, coloured oil pastels.

Introduction / recap

Recap what we learned in the last lesson about materials and textures. Look at the objects again, and select one to sketch using a different medium.

Key vocabulary

Natural, man made, artificial, texture, weave, materials

Main activities

Develop techniques and skills by extending our work on observing different textures and by working with different media. Work on achieving different textural effects using pen and ink and coloured oil pastels.

Plenary

Review sketches and discuss how successful we have been at showing the texture of the chosen object.

Lesson 3

Resources

Sketch pads, pencils, square view finders, digital camera

Introduction

Explain how to use a digital camera and what we will be trying to photograph. Discuss need to make sketches of objects and to record what the photographs are of, and where they were taken.

Key vocabulary

Digital camera

Main activities

Work in groups in the school grounds. Each group to find a suitable man-made object, sketch the texture of the object and take close up pictures with the digital camera. Record the name, material and purpose of the object.

Plenary

Review sketches and look at how different textures relate to different materials. Consider their suitability for use for the next task.

Here are some photographs of textured surfaces, taken in the school grounds.

Lesson 4

Resources

Digital camera, computers, paint program, printer, scissors. Strips of man-made materials such as plastic bags, ribbons, synthetic fabrics.

Introduction / revision

Explain how to download pictures from a digital camera and load into the Paint program. Show class how to edit the pictures and how to print. Revise weaving techniques.

Key vocabulary

Download, save, print

Main activities

Cut printed photographs into strips. Begin weaving, using these and other strips of fabrics and plastics.

Plenary

Discuss weaving and choice of colours and materials

Evaluation
The project worked well for the following reasons:

	The progression was clear, enabling children to see their work developing quickly and with purpose.
	The focus on texture when sketching gave children a reason to look closely at the materials
	Previous work on materials and their properties in Science meant that the children had a good understanding of how to classify the objects. This improved the level of discussion.
	Everyone enjoyed using the digital camera. Pupils discovered how to take close-up pictures, to manipulate digital images, to manipulate the pictures and to save and print the pictures.
	The sketching was simple to do, so that even the less skilled children could achieve good results while learning about the importance of observation.
	The project was effective as a whole class effort, resulting in a good display of which the children were justly proud.

Pupils were asked to evaluate the project and suggest ways of improving the work. All agreed that this was fun, interesting and very enjoyable. They suggested using more colours, and adding other materials such as sequins. They also suggested varying the technique, for example weaving back to front using the reverse side.

The activity could be extended to allow the children to develop their artistic skills further. The photographs could be changed and developed in a program such as Fresco or Paintshop Pro. The new images could be used to create a collage on screen, introducing skills such as cropping, changing the colours, rotating and layering.

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