Art and environmental activism
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can create art that inspires strong feelings about an important issue.
Key learning points
- Environmental art raises awareness of the harm we are causing to the planet and calls us to action.
- Artists use the power of imagery to communicate difficult realities about the planet.
- Artists use both shock tactics as well as joyful encounters to raise awareness.
Keywords
Imagery - a group of visual elements, like images, to create a specific mood, evoke emotions, or convey deeper meanings
Microplastics - tiny particles of plastic, made from big plastic things breaking down
Awareness - knowing about and understanding something
Common misconception
Artists only make work that looks good and is uplifting.
Artists use the power of imagery to communicate difficult realities about the planet.
Teacher tip
The Additonal materials contains further support and information.
Equipment
Paper, scissors, drawing materials, plastic bags, glue.
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following is an essential method in the first stage of recording from nature?
Q2.Which of the following is an example of an architectural structure?
Q3.Which of these is not considered a structural element in a built environments?
Q4.Match the natural features with its architectural-like structure.
Q5.Match the building with the natural inspiration it is based on.
Q6.Match the natural inspiration to the building.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Why do artists use powerful imagery when communicating the realities around climate change?
Q2.How does imagery help in storytelling through art?
Q3.Match the environmental art concept to how it raises awareness about climate change.
Q4.Match the varied ways artists use sketchbooks.
Q5.What are microplastics?
Q6.What does "awareness" mean?
To help you plan your 7 art and design lesson on: Art and environmental activism, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 art and design lesson on: Art and environmental activism, 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 3 art and design lessons from the The importance of nature in art unit, dive into the full secondary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.