Observe and record microorganisms
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can observe and respond to images of microorganisms
Key learning points
- Taking time to observe can help an artist to make their work more accurate.
- An artist might observe pattern, line tone and colour within an image.
- Responding to an image might mean using what you have observed and making it your own, not copying it exactly.
Keywords
Microorganism - a very small living thing, like bacteria or viruses, that you cannot see without a microscope
Observe - to look at something carefully and notice details about it
Respond - to react to a stimulus
Common misconception
Responding to an image means making an exact copy
Remind pupils that a response means taking an idea but changing it slightly to make it yours.
Teacher tip
Encourage children to make choices about their media by providing materials such as colouring pencils, drawing pens, pencils and watercolour to choose from.
Equipment
watercolour paints, drawing pens, colouring pencils, waterpots, paintbrushes
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What might an artist use to make a picture?
Q2.What can you see under a magnifying glass that might be too small to see with your eyes?
Q3.What could you put in a collage?
Q4.True or false? A collage is made by using only one material.
Q5.Which of the following is an example of a mixed media artwork?
Q6.Match the word with the correct description.
An artwork made by sticking different things together
Something used to see small things better
A tiny living thing, like bacteria
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.True or false? Microorganisms might be interesting to an artist because they look different to other living things.
Q2.Which artist has explored small, living creatures or microorganisms?
Q3.When drawing and image of a microorganism, what might an artist observe?
Q4.What is “tone” in art?
Q5.A response means ...
Q6.Why might an artist use a wet-on-wet technique?
To help you plan your 4 art and design lesson on: Observe and record microorganisms, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 art and design lesson on: Observe and record microorganisms, 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 Hidden worlds: collage and mixed media unit, dive into the full primary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.