Develop a story: creating a scenic composition
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can plan and create a scenic composition that shows the setting of my story artwork clearly.
Key learning points
- Scenic compositions create a clear setting for a story.
- Foreground, middle ground, and background help show depth.
- Artists choose scenery details to add meaning and mood.
- Planning a strong focal point helps to make the meaning clear.
Keywords
Scenic composition - the arrangement of visual elements in a landscape or scene
Foreground - the part of the scene closest to the viewer
Background - the part of the scene that appears furthest away
Focal point - the main area that draws the viewer’s eye
Common misconception
The environment can be anywhere; the most important clues for a story are from the characters and objects.
The setting is an important device for communicating a story. It shows where the story happens and adds clues about mood, time, or place.
Teacher tip
Encourage pupils to think of their setting as part of the story: where does it happen? What details show mood or time? Model how to sketch the scene in layers: foreground, middle ground, background.
Equipment
Pencils, erasers. Coloured pencils, pens, felt tips, pastels, marker pens. Rulers. Reference images of landscapes or settings.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does symbolism in art mean?
Q2.Why is it important to plan your artwork before you start drawing?
Q3.Match the objects to what they might symbolise in a story artwork.
secrets or unlocking something
freedom or hope
trouble or sadness
Q4.Match these parts of artwork planning to their descriptions.
Pick objects or colours that show ideas.
Create your main figure for the story .
Decide where objects and figures go in your artwork.
Q5.Put these drawing techniques in order from first to last.
Q6.What word means a picture plan showing where characters and objects go?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is one way Faith Ringgold tells stories in her art?
Q2.What is a scenic composition in art?
Q3.Why is the background important in a scenic composition?
Q4.Match the composition choice to what it helps show.
mood or emotion
closeness and importance
space and distance
Q5.Put these steps in order when planning a scenic composition.
Q6.What is the area called that is closest to the viewer in a picture?
To help you plan your 6 art and design lesson on: Develop a story: creating a scenic composition, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 art and design lesson on: Develop a story: creating a scenic composition, 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 Meaning and symbolism in art: drawing and painting unit, dive into the full primary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.