Expressing emotion through art
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explore emotions through line, symbols and doodles.
Key learning points
- Art can be more powerful than words because it transcends language barriers
- Sketching can help process feelings and thoughts, serving as a visual diary
- Freeform painting or drawing can provide space to express feelings without judgment or expectation
Keywords
Emotion - feelings experienced
Symbolism - the use of objects, characters or ideas to represent something else.
Doodle - a casual, aimless drawing or pattern made while thinking about something else
Common misconception
Doodling is not a valid artform.
Doodling can express emotion, personality and imagination through simple lines and shapes. Many professional artists, illustrators, and designers start their ideas through doodling.
Teacher tip
Try to let go of perfection and respond to thoughts, emotions, or prompts with quick lines and shapes.
Equipment
fineliner or biro, pencil, 3D materials e.g. clay, felt, wire. Needle and thread, paint, paintbrushes, scissors.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Can line represent emotion? Select all statements that apply.
Q2.What does the word "express" mean in the following sentence? "Artists often express their feelings through their work."
Q3.How can art support a person’s wellbeing?
Q4.How can reflecting on artistic practice contribute to wellbeing?
Q5.In Western cultures, which colour is usually associated with anger?
Q6.Which shape could represent calmness?
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Which statements correctly respond to the question: "Is thinking an emotion?"
Q2.Which of the following emotions can be expressed through art?
Q3.What does it mean to view art as a visual language?
Q4.Is doodling a valid art form?
Q5.What can doodling help improve?
To help you plan your 9 art and design lesson on: Expressing emotion through art, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 art and design lesson on: Expressing emotion through art, 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 Art for life: expression and belonging unit, dive into the full secondary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.