VIVA MEXICO! (Upper 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 Museum
Additional Presentation: Frida Kahlo Museum

Unit Overview

Sequence of Learning for Teachers

This unit of work provides an opportunity for children to learn about some of the art, crafts and culture of Mexico. Children learn about the life and work of the artist Frida Kahlo, and particularly her use of symbolism in her self-portraiture. Children learn about Mexican tin art and some of the art and customs associated with the Day of the Dead festival celebrations. The unit completes with children creating sugar skulls using different sculpture techniques when working with malleable materials.

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

Session 1: Frida Kahlo Portrait

Session 2: Hojalata (Mexican Tin Art)

Session 3: Symbolism Portrait

Session 4: The Day of the Dead

Creative Outcome: Sugar Skull Sculptures

The unit of work completes with the creative outcome (divergent task) activity that can be delivered over two or more sessions. For the creative outcome children create sugar skulls sculptures using two different techniques using malleable materials. For the first technique they create a cardboard former of skull which they then cover with layers of paper and glue to create the skull sculpture. For the second technique they use clay to create a simple skull sculpture using the pinch pot method before shape and modelling the clay to create further detail. Both sculptures are decorated using traditional Mexican sugar skull designs.

Learning Sequence

Session 1

Frida Kahlo Portrait

Overview: In this session children are introduced to the artist Frida Kahlo and some of her iconic self-portraits. Children learn how to create a self-portrait and how facial features are depicted dependent upon the profile of the subject. When adding colour to their self-portrait, children can experiment with creating skin colours using paint.

Session 2

Hojalata (Mexican Tin Art)

Overview: In this session children learn about Mexican tin art (Hojalata). They are introduced to images of some traditional Mexican symbols and learn how to create Hojalata by embossing a Mexican symbol and pattern designs into tin plate.

Session 3

Symbolism Portrait

Overview: In this session children are introduced to symbolism as an art movement that allows thoughts, emotions and ideas to be expressed through art. They learn how Frida Kahlo used symbolism in her self-portraits. Children mimic her style to create their own symbolism self-portrait using collage techniques.

Session 4

The Day of the Dead

Overview: In this session children learn about the Mexican festival the ‘Day of the Dead’ and how symbolism plays an important part of the festival. Children learn how Calaveras (sugar skulls) are decorated with symbols and apply this knowledge to create their own design for a sugar skull.

Creative Outcome

Sugar Skull Sculptures

For the creative outcome children create sugar skulls sculptures using two different techniques using malleable materials. For the first technique they create a cardboard former of a skull which they then cover with layers of paper and glue to create the skull sculpture. For the second technique they use clay to create a simple skull sculpture using the pinch pot method before shaping and modelling the clay to create further detail. Both sculptures are decorated using traditional Mexican sugar skull designs.

ART ACADEMY