Skip to content
Teachers
Go to pupils
Choose exam board for KS4 Biology
Choose exam board for KS4 Chemistry
Choose exam board for KS4 Combined science
Choose exam board for KS4 Computer Science (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 English
Choose exam board for KS4 French
Choose exam board for KS4 Geography
Choose exam board for KS4 German
Choose exam board for KS4 History
Choose tier for KS4 Maths
Choose exam board for KS4 Music
Choose exam board for KS4 Physical education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Physics
Choose exam board for KS4 Religious education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Spanish

Guidance

About us

      New
      New

      Exploring memory through the world of assemblage

      I can create an assemblage artwork that explores memory by selecting and arranging found materials.

      View unit
      Lesson 2 of 6
      New
      New
      • Year 8

      Exploring memory through the world of assemblage

      I can create an assemblage artwork that explores memory by selecting and arranging found materials.

      Lesson details

      Key learning points

      1. Assemblage involves creating a composition by using found materials. It can be seen as a 3D collage.
      2. Assembling objects together creates a story which can explore our history.
      3. By using materials that represent different facets of your life experiences is a form of documentation.

      Keywords

      • Assemblage - everyday objects brought together to create meaning

      • Found objects - items that are not designed for the purpose of making art, but have been collected from more random sources

      • Association - a connection we make in our minds between ideas or things, based on something they have in common

      Common misconception

      Assemblage has to look like a recognisable scene to share meaning with the audience.

      Meaning can be represented through objects, textures, and symbols. The way objects are arranged, and their relationships to each other can all convey emotions, experiences, and personality traits. Assemblage is about meaning, not just likeness.

      This lesson is designed about memories of the first day school. You could plan a differernt theme using a wider range of objects if you have access to this. It might be valuable to adapt this lesson to your local context. Task B could be supported using hangers or chairs on table to hang work from.
      Teacher tip

      Equipment

      Joining materials: string, wire, pipe cleaners, clips or rubber bands. Objects to use for the assemblage. Paper and drawing materials.

      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

      Skip lesson video

      Loading...

      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      Download quiz pdf

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      How do artists use collage in portraiture to explore themes such as identity, emotions, or social histories?

      Correct answer: by selecting imagery and symbols that represent these themes
      by painting realistic facial features
      by using only black and white photographs
      by avoiding any symbolic references

      Q2.
      Collage in portraiture - match the term with the description.

      Correct Answer:collage,a technique using layered images and symbols to create meaning in art
      Correct Answer:portraiture,artwork that represents a person, often exploring identity and emotion
      Correct Answer:symbolism,the use of images or objects to represent deeper meanings
      Correct Answer:realism and abstraction,two different styles blended in collage to create rich narratives

      Q3.
      What is a found object in art?

      a painting created using natural materials
      a tool specifically designed for artistic purposes
      Correct answer: an object collected from everyday sources and used in art
      a sculpture made from clay

      Q4.
      What does assemblage refer to in art?

      the arrangement of geometric shapes to form a design
      a form of painting with multiple layers of colour
      Correct answer: a technique where everyday objects are assembled to create new meaning
      the use of only natural materials like wood and stone

      Q5.
      Match the method of shaping collage elements with its description.

      Correct Answer:free-hand cutting with scissors,cutting shapes without a template, allowing for personal expression
      Correct Answer:following the shapes of the objects,cutting around an object’s exact outline for precision
      Correct Answer:using a template or drawn element,creating uniform shapes or patterns using outlines or stencils
      Correct Answer:controlled tearing,tearing paper in a controlled, deliberate manner
      Correct Answer:uncontrolled ripping,ripping paper freely, without concern for shape, creating jagged edges

      Q6.
      Different visual elements create different visual , even if they are the same size. Artists can use this to help them compose their work to create balance.

      Correct Answer: weight, impact, presence, importance

      Assessment exit quiz

      Download quiz pdf

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is an assemblage in art?

      a type of painting made with bold brushstrokes
      Correct answer: art created with everyday objects to form meaning, similar to a 3D collage
      a collection of photographs arranged in a grid
      a form of abstract sculpture using only metal

      Q2.
      Assemblage in art - match each term to its correct description.

      Correct Answer:assemblage,a 3D artwork made by combining everyday objects or materials
      Correct Answer:collage,a 2D artwork made by arranging cut-out images or materials
      Correct Answer:found objects,everyday items repurposed as art materials in assemblage
      Correct Answer:sculpture,a 3D art form that often involves carving or modeling materials
      Correct Answer:symbolism,the use of objects or images to represent deeper meanings

      Q3.
      How does composition affect the meaning of an assemblage?

      It has no effect on the meaning.
      Correct answer: It arranges objects in a way that enhances the message or symbolism.
      It makes the artwork more colourful.
      It makes the artwork less abstract.

      Q4.
      Why might an artist choose to place certain found objects in specific locations within an assemblage?

      Correct answer: to create a visual focal point or guide the viewer’s eye
      to fill space without any particular reason
      to make the artwork symmetrical
      to make the artwork simpler

      Q5.
      An assemblage must form a recognisable image to have meaning, and meaning cannot emerge through the arrangement, colours, textures, or relationships between found objects.

      True
      Correct answer: False

      Q6.
      Composition design - match each term with its correct description.

      Correct Answer:the golden spiral,a spiral based on the Fibonacci sequence, guiding the eye
      Correct Answer:the rule of thirds,divides the frame into 9 parts, placing focal points on intersections
      Correct Answer:random compositions,elements are placed freely, without symmetry or planning
      Correct Answer:2D compositions,compositions with flat, two-dimensional elements like paintings
      Correct Answer:3D compositions,compositions using three-dimensional elements like sculptures

      Lesson appears in

      UnitArt and design / Collage and Assemblage: sustainable materials

      Art and design

      Show unit