Profile portraits in art
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify the features of portraits and profile portraits.
Key learning points
- A portrait is a picture of a person and it focuses on their face and expression.
- Common features of a portrait include eyes, nose, mouth, ears and hair, chin, eyebrows, neck, shoulders.
- A profile portrait is a recording of a person's face or head from a side view.
Keywords
Portraits - artistic recordings of people, usually their head and shoulders
Profile portraits - a side view representation or view of a human head or face
Side profile - the side view of a human head
Common misconception
Pupils might think that, in a profile portrait, both eyes and ears are visible.
In a true profile portrait, only one eye and one ear are typically visible, as the subject is viewed from the side.
Teacher tip
It would be useful for students to have access to a mirror for this lesson. Alternatively, a digital device could be used for photography.
Equipment
Pipe cleaners or wire
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What tools can we use to draw straight lines?
Q2.We use a to erase mistakes when drawing with pencil.
Q3.Which shapes would be most useful when drawing a house?
Q4.Put these steps in the correct order for drawing and colouring a picture.
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.A portrait is a picture of a person that focuses on their ...
Q2.Which of these is not a common feature of a portrait?
Q3.A side profile is ...
Q4.A side profile shows all of a person's features.
To help you plan your 2 art and design lesson on: Profile portraits in art, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 2 art and design lesson on: Profile portraits in art, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 1 art and design lessons from the I am beautiful: drawing and mixed media unit, dive into the full primary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.