Imagining a better future
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can use creativity and design to imagine hopeful futures for people and the planet.
Key learning points
- Art can encourage viewers to consider how their actions today might shape tomorrow.
- A mix of plastic and natural materials could be discovered by future geologists, similar to fossils.
Keywords
Harmony - when different parts work peacefully together
Sustainability - something that cares for and protects the planet
Imagine - to picture or design something in your mind
Common misconception
Nature and cities can’t go together.
Remind pupils that many cities already mix nature into their design - with green roofs, gardens, trees, and wildlife spaces. Cities can be sustainable and nature-friendly.
Teacher tip
Give pupils time to observe small natural changes closely. Examples: leaves curling, moss growing, or shadows moving. These simple observations help them understand resilience in nature. Encourage pupils to make connections between what they see and the idea that nature can repair and grow back.
Equipment
Sketchbook and drawing media.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.True or false? Ephemeral art is artwork that is designed to last forever.
Q2.Which of these is a sculpture?
Q3.Which of these is an example of ephemeral art?
Q4.True or false? You can walk around a sculpture and see it from different angles.
Q5.Put these steps in the correct order for making a simple sculpture:
Q6.Ephemeral art can be made from …
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does harmony mean?
Q2.What is sustainability?
Q3.To imagine means to something in your mind before making it.
Q4.Mary Mattingly’s floating gardens help us imagine ...
Q5.True or false? Harmony means humans and nature support and share with each other.
Q6.Which natural textures might artists use to make their designs richer?
To help you plan your 4 art and design lesson on: Imagining a better future, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 art and design lesson on: Imagining a better future, 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 Recording, noticing, and caring: responding to nature and the planet unit, dive into the full primary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.