Draw and observe insects in detail
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can observe and draw insects.
Key learning points
- Sketching from observation helps you capture the form of an insect by noticing its details and shapes.
- Planning your composition allows you to think about where to place your insect and what it might be next to.
- Using tone (light and dark areas) and colour helps make your drawing look more realistic.
Keywords
Observational drawing - carefully looking at something real and drawing what you see
Tone - how light or dark something is
Sketch/sketching - making quick and simple drawings to show ideas or the things we see
Form - to take or make something take a particular shape
Composition - is the combination of a selection of elements arranged and organised
Common misconception
Pupils may think the insect needs to be in the centre of the page for a balanced composition.
Remind children that composition can be balanced even if the insect is placed off-centre. Balance is about how all elements (insect, plants, background) work together, not just where the main subject is.
Teacher tip
For the drawing exercises, let children use whiteboards. This keeps the activity quick, low-pressure and helps challenge the idea that every drawing needs to be perfect or polished.
Equipment
paper, pencil or charcoal, other drawing tools such as coloured markers or pastels (optional) eraser
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which tool is best for sketching an insect?
Q2.What does observational drawing mean?
Q3.What do we call the marks we make when we draw with a pencil?
Q4.What can help you draw an insect more accurately?
Q5.What is the best way to show the texture of an insect’s body?
Q6.What is one important thing to look for when observing an insect before drawing it?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does it mean to do an observational drawing of an insect?
Q2.What word describes a light or dark area in a drawing that helps show how bright or shadowy something is?
Q3.What is a continuous line drawing?
Q4.What does it mean to use your non-dominant hand when drawing?
Q5.Put these steps in the correct order for creating an observational drawing:
Q6.Match the key word to its meaning:
A quick, light drawing to plan or practise
The shape and structure of an object
The way shapes and lines are arranged on the page
To help you plan your 3 art and design lesson on: Draw and observe insects in detail, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 3 art and design lesson on: Draw and observe insects in detail, 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 Insects: drawing and printmaking unit, dive into the full primary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.