New
New
Lesson 1 of 6
  • Year 4

Investigate an architect

I can explore and describe the style and work of an architect and use it to inspire my own design ideas.

Lesson 1 of 6
New
New
  • Year 4

Investigate an architect

I can explore and describe the style and work of an architect and use it to inspire my own design ideas.

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

  1. Architects influence how buildings look and function.
  2. Architectural styles vary across time, place, and purpose.
  3. Architects use blueprints to help communicate their ideas.
  4. Observing details (materials, shapes, and forms) improves visual literacy.

Keywords

  • Architect - a person who designs buildings and oversees their construction

  • Building - a structure with a roof and walls, such as a house or factory

  • Structure - how something is built or put together

  • Blueprint - a detailed drawing or plan used in building design

Common misconception

All buildings look the same because they follow similar rules.

While buildings need to be safe and follow certain rules, architects use creativity to make them unique.


To help you plan your year 4 art and design lesson on: Investigate an architect, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Help pupils focus on specific features in buildings (like shapes, lines, and materials). Model how to talk about what they notice using key vocabulary before they draw or design.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Pencils, rubbers, sharpeners, rulers, colouring pencils, fine liners.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these tools are most likely used for drawing?

spoon
Correct answer: pencil
paintbrush
scissors

Q2.
What does it mean to collaborate in a group?

Work quietly by yourself.
Copy someone else's work.
Correct answer: Work together and share ideas.
Watch others and not help.

Q3.
What is a sculpture?

a flat drawing on paper
a song sung by a group
a photo taken with a camera
Correct answer: a 3D piece of art made by shaping materials.

Q4.
Match the item to what it's used for.

Correct Answer:charcoal,can add strong, dark lines.

can add strong, dark lines.

Correct Answer:pencil,lightly sketching

lightly sketching

Correct Answer:eraser,removes mistakes

removes mistakes

Q5.
Put these steps in the correct order when creating a sculpture.

1 - Plan your idea.
2 - Sketch the design.
3 - Shape the material.
4 - Finish details.

Q6.
What is the word for a quick drawing that shows an idea or plan?

Correct Answer: Sketch

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What does an architect do?

paint pictures
build cars
Correct answer: design buildings
plant trees

Q2.
What is a 'blueprint' used for?

a painting of a house
Correct answer: a plan for a building
a map of a city
a list of materials

Q3.
Features found in the architect Zaha Hadid’s designs include ...

brick walls and tunnels.
pointed rooftops only.
angular, straight lines.
Correct answer: curved, flowing shapes.

Q4.
Put the steps in order that an architect might follow when designing a building.

1 - Think about the purpose of the building.
2 - Draw a blueprint.
3 - Share the design with builders.
4 - Build the structure.

Q5.
A word that describes something an architect might design for people to use is a ...

Correct Answer: building

Q6.
What do we call a detailed plan or drawing made by an architect?

Correct Answer: Blueprint