ART WITH ELMER (Key Stage 1)

Teaching Pack

5 Lesson Presentation Slides
Knowledge Organiser
Medium Term Planning
Teaching resources
Additional Presentation: Elements of Art
Additional Presentation: 5 Minute Drawing

Unit Overview

Sequence of Learning for Teachers

This is an introductory unit of work that introduces children to using a range of media and techniques to create patterns, portraits and collage based around the common theme of the Elmer books written by the author David McKee. This unit provides opportunities to introduce and develop children’s knowledge of the colour wheel and colour mixing, creating patterns using different art mediums and collage technique, and introduces children to sculpture as a three-dimensional, solid art form.

This knowledge, skills and understanding is delivered through the following convergent task sessions:

Session 1: Patchwork Colours

Session 2: Elephant Berries

Session 3: Collage Elmer

Session 4: Abstract Elmer

Creative Outcome (Divergent task) – Elmer Portrait

The unit of work completes with the creative outcome (divergent task) activity that can be delivered over two or more sessions. These sessions can also be used for children to complete activities from sessions 1-4.

For the creative outcome children create an elephant portrait with a jungle background by combining images that they have created and by using collage techniques. The creative outcome activity provides an opportunity for children to apply their knowledge, skills and understanding from previous sessions in this unit of work. Through the creative outcome children will develop their creativity and understanding of the creative process by combining their imagination with the knowledge they have acquired.

Learning Sequence

Session 1

In this session children are taught about the colour wheel, primary colours and how they can be mixed to create secondary colours. This is also an opportunity for children to experience using other media such as oil pastels and watercolour paints to add colour to patchwork elephant templates. Children will also begin to develop vocabulary linked to colour and pattern.

Session 2

In this session children extend and consolidate their knowledge of mixing colours by learning how to create shades and tints of different colours. They learn how to create tints of colours by adding white and shade of colours by adding black. They apply this knowledge to create a patchwork painted elephant using just tints and shades of a primary colour.

Session 3

In this session children are introduced to the technique of collage to create art. They learn that collage involves gluing material such as paper to a flat surface to create an image. They use collage technique to create a tissue paper patchwork elephant. This provides opportunities to recall knowledge of primary and secondary colours.

Session 4

In this session children are introduced to abstract art and the art of the artist Wassily Kandinsky. This is an opportunity to introduce line, shape and colour as elements of art that are combined to create artwork. Children create a patchwork patterned elephant using the abstract art of Wassily Kandinsky as inspiration.

Creative Outcome

In this session children are introduced to more of the conventions of art and design. For the creative outcome, children create their own portrait of a patchwork elephant and then stick it on a landscape background to create a collage composition. Children are provided with a range of different paint and other art media to create their composition. Children apply their knowledge, skills and techniques developed in the previous sessions.

ART ACADEMY