- Year 2
Make a silhouette scene
I can trace outlines and layer materials to make a silhouette scene
- Year 2
Make a silhouette scene
I can trace outlines and layer materials to make a silhouette scene
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- An outline is the border, or outside edge of a shape.
- For more complex shapes, it can be helpful to trace an outline.
- Silhouettes are often made from black card or paper, but they can be any colour the artist wants.
Keywords
Trace - when an artist follows the lines of a picture or shape
Outline - the outside edge or border of the shape
Silhouette - a shape that shows the outline of something, but not the details inside
Common misconception
Silhouettes must be made of black card or paper.
Remind children that silhouettes are often made of black paper or card as this shows up well against a light background, but it is up to the artist which solid colour they will use to make their silhouette.
To help you plan your year 2 art and design lesson on: Make a silhouette scene, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 2 art and design lesson on: Make a silhouette scene, 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 Reclaimed materials: drawing and sculpture unit, dive into the full primary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Tracing paper, black and coloured card or paper, pencils, images of nocturnal animals
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following animals is nocturnal?
Q2.A nocturnal animal is one that is active at and sleeps during the day.
Q3.A badger is an example of a nocturnal animal because ...
Q4.Match the animals to their descriptions:.
known for flying and has large eyes
can navigate in the dark using echolocation
known for its bushy tail
has a spiky texture and is often found in gardens
Q5.What shape can you see in a hedgehog’s nose?

Q6.To create textures, artists can use their and other tools.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is an outline?
Q2.Silhouettes are often made from card or paper.
Q3.Match the term with its correct definition.
following the lines of a picture or shape
a shape that shows the outline of something
the outside edge or border of a shape
Q4.Which image shows a silhouette of a fox?



Q5.Which of these statements is not true about tracing carefully?
Q6.To create a silhouette scene, you first need to transfer your outlines onto paper or card.
