Raised portraits: representation through dots and relief
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can create raised and dot portraits that explore how subjects are represented in art.
Key learning points
- There are many ways that artists have used dots to create images.
- The Benin bronzes were made to honour the Oba and record the kingdom’s history and culture.
- Light and shadow can express status.
- Representation matters – images tell stories about inclusion and erasure.
Keywords
Oba - in the Kingdom of Benin, the Oba was the spiritual, political, and cultural leader
Representation - how people or groups are shown or left out in art/media
Relief art - a type of artwork where shapes or images are raised above (or carved into) a flat surface
Common misconception
Western portraits are the artworks where artists represent stauts effectively.
Many artefacts and artworks around the world and throughout history do this.
Teacher tip
Include a range of examples of art and artefacts that represent different people and their actual or perceived status for discussion.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What do geometric patterns in medieval art often represent?
Q2.What does the word pattern mean in art?
Q3.What is a geometric shape?
Q4.True or False? If shapes in an artwork look abstract, they don’t mean anything.
Q5.What can material surfaces and patterns carry in an artwork?
Q6.What does texture mean in art?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What can material and scale do in a portrait?
Q2.What does chiaroscuro mean?
Q3.Light and shadow can help express __________ and focus attention in a portrait.
Q4.Why does representation matter in art?
To help you plan your 6 art and design lesson on: Raised portraits: representation through dots and relief, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 art and design lesson on: Raised portraits: representation through dots and relief, 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 Charting self: exploring portrait and identity unit, dive into the full primary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.