SELFIES (Lower Key Stage 2)

Teaching Pack

5 Lesson Presentation Slides
Knowledge Organiser
Medium Term Planning
Teaching resources
Additional Presentation: Elements of Art
Additional Presentation: Using Sketchbooks
Additional Presentation: 5 Minute Drawing
Additional Presentation: Art Museums
Additional Presentation: Portrait Museum

Unit Overview

Sequence of Learning for Teachers

In this unit of work children extend and consolidate their knowledge of portraiture through focusing on self-portraits. Children create self-portraits using a range of different art media and techniques. Children draw faces by learning how to draw facial features and about the proportions of the face. For the creative outcome, children draw a self-portrait by choosing a range of materials and techniques to create a mixed-media composition.

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

Session 1: Selfie Portrait
Session 2: Pencil Portraits
Session 3: Fruity Faces
Session 4: Emotional Self-Portraits

Creative Outcome (Divergent task) – Mixed Media Self 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 use mixed media techniques to create a self-portrait. Children choose from a range of media to create their self-portrait providing an opportunity to consolidate skills and techniques using familiar media and to experiment with using new media or creating art using a mixture of different media.

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 introduced to the genre of portrait painting and learn about self-portraits. Children begin to consider the shape of the their head, facial proportions, facial features and skin and hair colour. They apply their knowledge and understanding to create a selfie ‘self-portrait’ using the mobile phone template provided.

Session 2

In this session children use a portrait photograph of themselves to develop their drawing skills when creating a self-portrait. They apply their understanding of the different facial features and facial proportions to develop a pencil sketch of themselves by drawing and finishing the photograph of themselves. To complete their arty, they add a patterned border frame.

Session 3

This session provides an opportunity to consolidate children’s knowledge and skills drawing self-portraits and facial features whilst learning about the style of the artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo. The creative activity deepens children’s understanding of collage technique. Children use paint and felt-tips to add a patterned background to create a mixed-media composition.

Session 4

This session introduces the idea that artists show their emotions when creating self-portraits through the use of facial expressions and colour. Children are introduced to self-portraits crated by the artist Frida Kahlo. Children create a monochrome self-portrait by creating tints and shades of a colour.

Creative Outcome

In sessions 1-4 children have developed a range of techniques and used a range of different art media to create self-portraits. This session extends children's knowledge of the art of Frida Kahlo and introduces the idea of symbolism in art. The creative outcome is an opportunity to bring together this learning to create a mixed media composition and consolidate and deepen children’s understanding of using a range of media to create a self-portrait composition.

ART ACADEMY