Cut, colour, speak: Pop Art placards for protest
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can cut bold shapes and print powerful words to create a protest placard.
Key learning points
- Art can communicate powerfully without sound.
- Protest placards combine shape, words, and symbols to share big ideas.
- Colour, simplicity, and repetition make messages bold and memorable.
Keywords
Placard - a large sign, often held in a protest, used to share a clear message through words, shapes, and colours
Protest - a protest is when people come together to show they support or oppose something, often using signs, chants, or art to express their views
Symbol - an object, shape, or image that stands for or represents an idea or meaning
Common misconception
All protests are loud and dangerous.
Protest can be peaceful and placards can be a safe way to share ideas.
Teacher tip
Encourage pupils to see protest placards as a tool for any community voice, not one particular leaning. Instead of suggesting particular causes, frame questions like “What matters to you?” or “What would you stand up for?”. Review the key characteristics of Pop Art by using selected examples.
Equipment
A5 scrap paper, scissors, masking tape, newspaper, sponge, paint, small tray, large piece of cardboard, coloured paper, glue stick, paper strips, screen printing frame, printing ink and a squeegee.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Artists can use materials like fabric and wire to share ideas and feelings, not just to make shapes.
Q2.When an artist wraps or unweaves materials, they can show __________ and change.
Q3.Which word means to take materials apart to make something new?
Q4.Sculptures are only about how they look, not what they mean.
Q5.Sheila Hicks is an artist whose ideas around art are linked to ...
Q6.Put these making steps in order for building a sculpture.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A placard is a large sign used to share a clear message, often in a protest.
Q2.A symbol is a picture or shape that stands for a bigger ...
Q3.Pop Art used ...
Q4.Match the keyword to its meaning.
people joining together for change
a bold sign with words or pictures
a shape that stands for an idea
Q5.Corita Kent made Pop Art to show messages about peace and kindness.
Q6.Put the printing steps in order.
To help you plan your 5 art and design lesson on: Cut, colour, speak: Pop Art placards for protest, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 art and design lesson on: Cut, colour, speak: Pop Art placards for protest, 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 2 art and design lessons from the Art for change: visual voices unit, dive into the full primary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.