New
New
Imagining a better future
I can use creativity and design to imagine hopeful futures for people and the planet.
Lesson 5 of 5
New
New
- Year 4
Imagining a better future
I can use creativity and design to imagine hopeful futures for people and the planet.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Art can encourage viewers to consider how their actions today might shape tomorrow.
- A mix of plastic and natural materials could be discovered by future geologists, similar to fossils.
Keywords
Harmony - when different parts work peacefully together
Sustainability - something that cares for and protects the planet
Imagine - to picture or design something in your mind
Common misconception
Nature and cities can’t go together.
Remind pupils that many cities already mix nature into their design - with green roofs, gardens, trees, and wildlife spaces. Cities can be sustainable and nature-friendly.
Give pupils time to observe small natural changes closely. Examples: leaves curling, moss growing, or shadows moving. These simple observations help them understand resilience in nature. Encourage pupils to make connections between what they see and the idea that nature can repair and grow back.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Sketchbook and drawing media.
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
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.True or false? Ephemeral art is artwork that is designed to last forever.
True or false? Ephemeral art is artwork that is designed to last forever.
Q2.Which of these is a sculpture?
Which of these is a sculpture?
a poem
a song
a photograph
Q3.Which of these is an example of ephemeral art?
Which of these is an example of ephemeral art?
a bronze statue in a museum
a wooden carving
a stone monument
Q4.True or false? You can walk around a sculpture and see it from different angles.
True or false? You can walk around a sculpture and see it from different angles.
Q5.Put these steps in the correct order for making a simple sculpture:
Put these steps in the correct order for making a simple sculpture:
Q6.Ephemeral art can be made from …
Ephemeral art can be made from …
bronze
marble
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does harmony mean?
What does harmony mean?
people fighting over space
everything being the same
Q2.What is sustainability?
What is sustainability?
throwing away all natural resources
using plastic without thinking
Q3.To imagine means to something in your mind before making it.
To imagine means to something in your mind before making it.
Q4.Mary Mattingly’s floating gardens help us imagine ...
Mary Mattingly’s floating gardens help us imagine ...
how to build tall buildings with glass
how to make machines faster
Q5.True or false? Harmony means humans and nature support and share with each other.
True or false? Harmony means humans and nature support and share with each other.
Q6.Which natural textures might artists use to make their designs richer?
Which natural textures might artists use to make their designs richer?
plastic and metal
paper and fabric
