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Lesson 2 of 4
  • Year 3

Balance and print: telling stories with everyday things

I can create sculpture and prints using everyday objects.

Lesson 2 of 4
New
New
  • Year 3

Balance and print: telling stories with everyday things

I can create sculpture and prints using everyday objects.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Sculptures can be made from everyday materials and objects.
  2. Some artworks are temporary but still powerful.
  3. Artists often tell stories with what they find, collect or reuse.
  4. Press prints can repeat and carry meaning from objects we know.

Keywords

  • Temporary - something is only meant to last for a short period of time

  • Sculpture - a three dimensional piece of art

  • Press print - a type of printing where an inked block or plate is pressed onto paper

Common misconception

Sculpture has to be glued or stuck together to be finished.

Remind pupils that some sculptures are temporary – artists sometimes build things that can fall, change or disappear.


To help you plan your year 3 art and design lesson on: Balance and print: telling stories with everyday things, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

If teaching this lesson in a classroom context, pupils could gather materials and objects from around the school.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Access to everyday objects, paper, printing ink, printing trays, polystyrene printing blocks, rollers, pencils, felt-tip pens.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), 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.
What does smudging do to your drawing?

Makes it neater and more organised
Correct answer: Makes soft shadows and fuzzy forms
Makes it brighter and more colourful
Makes small shapes and more detailed lines

Q2.
How did Käthe Kollwitz make her pictures feel strong and serious?

She used glitter and bright colours
She drew flowers, large trees and small animals
Correct answer: She used dark tones, strong lines and deep shadows
She painted with light watercolours to create shadows

Q3.
Match the word to what it means in art:

Correct Answer:Charcoal,A black drawing material

A black drawing material

Correct Answer:Smudge,To rub and soften marks

To rub and soften marks

Correct Answer:Atmosphere,The mood or feeling in art

The mood or feeling in art

Q4.
Put these steps in order to start a charcoal drawing:

1 - Make light sketching lines

2 - Use harder pressure for darker lines
3 - Smudge to add shadows
and soften shapes

Q5.
What black drawing material did we use in our lesson?

Correct Answer: Charcoal

Q6.
What word means the mood or feeling in your picture?

Correct Answer: Atmosphere

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What materials did Arte Povera artists use?

Only expensive things like gold and jewels
Correct answer: Everyday things like wood, rocks, and plants
Only art equipment like paint and brushes
Plastic and recycled metal only

Q2.
What does temporary mean?

Stays forever for a long time
Very small and detailed
Correct answer: Lasts only for a short time
Made of gold or silver

Q3.
Match the word to what it means:

Correct Answer:Temporary,Doesn’t last forever

Doesn’t last forever

Correct Answer:Sculpture,Art you can walk around

Art you can walk around

Correct Answer:Press print,Pushed into paint to make a picture

Pushed into paint to make a picture

Q4.
Match each action with what you do when creating a temporary sculpture:

Correct Answer:Stack,Put objects one on top of another

Put objects one on top of another

Correct Answer:Lean,Rest objects against something

Rest objects against something

Correct Answer:Balance,Carefully place objects so they don’t fall

Carefully place objects so they don’t fall

Correct Answer:Hide or nest,Cover or tuck objects inside others

Cover or tuck objects inside others

Q5.
What is the word for art made from everyday objects?

Correct Answer: Sculpture

Q6.
Put these steps in the correct order to make a press print:

1 - Choose an object to print with
2 - Dip the object in paint
3 - Press the object onto paper