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Oak National Academy
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Year 9

Art as self-discovery

I can reflect on my identity and choose imagery to create an assemblage.

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New
New
Year 9

Art as self-discovery

I can reflect on my identity and choose imagery to create an assemblage.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Art can be used as a tool for expressing inner emotions and identity.
  2. Assemblage is art that is made by assembling separate elements, often everyday objects, together.
  3. Identity can be explored through art forms such as assemblage.

Keywords

  • Identity - the characteristics that determine who someone is

  • Culture - the ideas, customs and social behaviour of a particular people or society

  • Assemblage - a three-dimensional artistic technique where objects are combined to create a unique artwork.

Common misconception

Memories cannot be used to express a person's identity

Memories play a key role in shaping who we are as they help us understand our past, influence how we view ourselves and guide how we express our identity over time.


To help you plan your year 9 art and design lesson on: Art as self-discovery, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Greater contextual information on the artists' work can be found in the additional materials. Encourage pupils to explore art as a way to understand and share their identity. Creating a safe, supportive space will help pupils to feel confident to express who they are.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Boxes, jar lids, glue, paint, paintbrushes, collage materials, magazines, newspapers, tape.

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is symbolism in art?
Drawing with black and white only
Correct answer: Using images, objects or colours to represent ideas or emotions
Using colours to match an object
Q2.
Which of these is an example of symbolism in art?
Drawing a tree with detailed leaves
Sketching a face with perfect proportions
Correct answer: Painting a clock to represent the passage of time
Q3.
What does it mean to say that art is a visual language?
It uses spoken words to tell a story
It teaches people how to write about art
Correct answer: It communicates through images, colours and shapes
Q4.
How can doodling help with expressing emotions?
It relieves boredom
It’s only for decoration
Correct answer: It helps reflect feelings without using words
Q5.
How might your body react to emotion?
Your eyes change colour
Correct answer: Butterfly sensation in your stomach
Correct answer: Your heart rate increases
Q6.
Can doodles be developed into 3D structures?
Correct answer: Yes, they could be developed into 3D models using clay or textiles
No, doodles can only be drawings on a 2D surface such as paper
No, doodles are just fun scribbles on paper or in a sketchbook

Exit quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following can be part of our identity?
Correct answer: music taste
Correct answer: self-image
Correct answer: culture
weather
Q2.
What does identity mean?
Correct answer: The characteristics that determine who someone is
What your neighbours look like
What job is financially rewarding
Q3.
How does art serve as a tool to express inner emotions and identity?
Art is mainly used for decoration and does not convey personal meaning.
Art can only express happiness and not emotions like anger.
Correct answer: Art is a form of communication that helps convey emotions and experiences.
Q4.
Can memories be used to express your identity?
Correct answer: Yes, memories shape how we view ourselves and influence identity.
No, memories are irrelevant to identity.
Yes, but only to express our past, not our current identity.
Q5.
What is three-dimensional artwork?
Artwork that is only drawn or painted on a flat surface.
Art that only uses digital tools and screens.
Correct answer: Artwork that can be viewed from multiple angles.

Additional material

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