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 Religious education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Spanish

      People that are important to me

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can create drawings to represent people important to me.

      Key learning points

      1. Symbols in art can represent broader themes.
      2. When we use symbols in art it can bring more meaning to the work.
      3. Drawings can express ideas or tell a story.
      4. Observing a subject closely helps us to draw things more realistically.

      Keywords

      • Observe - to look carefully at something to see all the details

      • Symbols - pictures or shapes that stand for something else, like a heart for love.

      • Tone - how light or dark something is

      • Realistic - showing people and things as they really are

      Common misconception

      Children may rush through the drawing without observing carefully, believing that drawing quickly means drawing well.

      Children could be reminded to take their time and look closely at the subject.

      Teacher tip

      You may wish to have a range of symbols for the children to look at and explore.

      Equipment

      Paper or sketchbooks, pencils and rubbers

      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

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      What can photographs show us?

      Only toys and buildings
      Just one person standing still
      Correct answer: How people feel and how they are connected

      Q2.
      Which of the following are different camera angles used in photography?

      Correct answer: eye level
      Correct answer: bird's eye
      smile eye
      Correct answer: low angle
      Correct answer: high angle

      Q3.
      Body language, facial expressions and props can help to show __________ between two people in a photograph.

      the exact ages
      Correct answer: a connection
      a song

      Q4.
      Connection shows .

      Correct answer: how people or things relate to each other
      how animals relate to each other only
      how objects relate to each other only

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      Which emotion could the symbol of a heart be used to show?

      Correct Answer: love, friendship, favourite things

      Q2.
      Why do many artists use symbols in their artwork?

      To make their art confusing
      To copy other people’s ideas
      Correct answer: To tell a story, share ideas, or show their own experiences
      To fill up space on the page

      Q3.
      __________ and __________ are artists who use symbols in their artwork.

      Correct answer: Frida Kahlo
      John Major
      Correct answer: Yayoi Kusama

      Q4.
      A bird could symbolise the following things ...

      Correct answer: hope
      Correct answer: peace
      Correct answer: freedom
      time
      hate

      To help you plan your 2 art and design lesson on: People that are important to me, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...