New
New
Balance and print: telling stories with everyday things
I can create sculpture and prints using everyday objects.
Lesson 2 of 4
New
New
- Year 3
Balance and print: telling stories with everyday things
I can create sculpture and prints using everyday objects.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Sculptures can be made from everyday materials and objects.
- Some artworks are temporary but still powerful.
- Artists often tell stories with what they find, collect or reuse.
- Press prints can repeat and carry meaning from objects we know.
Keywords
Temporary - something is only meant to last for a short period of time
Sculpture - a three dimensional piece of art
Press print - a type of printing where an inked block or plate is pressed onto paper
Common misconception
Sculpture has to be glued or stuck together to be finished.
Remind pupils that some sculptures are temporary – artists sometimes build things that can fall, change or disappear.
If teaching this lesson in a classroom context, pupils could gather materials and objects from around the school.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Access to everyday objects, paper, printing ink, printing trays, polystyrene printing blocks, rollers, pencils, felt-tip pens.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does smudging do to your drawing?
What does smudging do to your drawing?
Makes it neater and more organised
Makes it brighter and more colourful
Makes small shapes and more detailed lines
Q2.How did Käthe Kollwitz make her pictures feel strong and serious?
How did Käthe Kollwitz make her pictures feel strong and serious?
She used glitter and bright colours
She drew flowers, large trees and small animals
She painted with light watercolours to create shadows
Q3.Match the word to what it means in art:
Match the word to what it means in art:
Q4.Put these steps in order to start a charcoal drawing:
Put these steps in order to start a charcoal drawing:
Q5.What black drawing material did we use in our lesson?
What black drawing material did we use in our lesson?
Q6.What word means the mood or feeling in your picture?
What word means the mood or feeling in your picture?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What materials did Arte Povera artists use?
What materials did Arte Povera artists use?
Only expensive things like gold and jewels
Only art equipment like paint and brushes
Plastic and recycled metal only
Q2.What does temporary mean?
What does temporary mean?
Stays forever for a long time
Very small and detailed
Made of gold or silver
Q3.Match the word to what it means:
Match the word to what it means:
Q4.Match each action with what you do when creating a temporary sculpture:
Match each action with what you do when creating a temporary sculpture:
Q5.What is the word for art made from everyday objects?
What is the word for art made from everyday objects?
Q6.Put these steps in the correct order to make a press print:
Put these steps in the correct order to make a press print:
