Design a space to play
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can plan and design an imaginative play space that suits an urban environment.
Key learning points
- Understand how public spaces are designed to serve specific functions.
- Develop imaginative and practical ideas for urban play spaces.
- Use drawing techniques to express spatial design and annotate ideas clearly.
Keywords
Design - a creative plan or drawing that shows how something will function or look
Function - the purpose or use of a design feature or structure
Structure - a built or natural object made from different parts arranged in a specific way
Perspective - a drawing technique used to represent three-dimensional space on a flat surface
Common misconception
Urban design is only about buildings and roads.
Urban design includes public spaces, such as parks, playgrounds, and recreational areas. Urban design is about how people use and experience space, not just what gets built.
Teacher tip
Encourage creativity while guiding pupils to think practically: ask them how someone would use their space. Use real world examples where possible, such as asking "how could our school playground be improved?" Use visuals to inspire imagination, and model annotation to support design thinking.
Equipment
Pencils, erasers, rulers. Coloured pencils or markers. Images of urban play spaces (printed or digital).
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In design thinking, what should you begin the process with?
Q2.Why is making a prototype an important step in design thinking?
Q3.What is the main reason drawing is useful in design thinking?
Q4.What is the first step in design thinking?
Q5.Match each keyword to its correct definition.
a process used to solve problems creatively and effectively
to understand and share the feelings or needs of others
to generate and explore lots of different ideas or solutions
a simple model or sketch that shows how a design might work
related to a city or town environment
Q6.Put these design storyboard steps in the correct order to show how a design idea works in real life.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these is true about urban design?
Q2.The main function of a play space is to provide ...
Q3.Which of these would most likely be found in a well designed play area?
Q4.Why is it important to annotate a drawing of a design?
Q5.Careful design is important for urban play spaces as they need to be fun and for children.
Q6.Match each keyword to its correct definition.
relating to a city or town, often densely populated with buildings
a plan or drawing that shows how something will function or look
the purpose or use of a design feature or structure
built or natural objects made from different parts placed specifically
a drawing technique used to represent 3-D space on a flat surface
To help you plan your 6 art and design lesson on: Design a space to play, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 art and design lesson on: Design a space to play, 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 Urban Life: Drawing and design unit, dive into the full primary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.