New
New
Year 7

Art in response to events

I can use shape, line and motifs to create an emotional response to a political or social event.

New
New
Year 7

Art in response to events

I can use shape, line and motifs to create an emotional response to a political or social event.

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

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

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Artists often make work in response to events.
  2. Art is a way for people to express their ideas and opinions about both current and historical events.
  3. Artists sometimes use symbols to give their work deeper meaning and to help tell a story or share an idea.

Keywords

  • Political events - are events that often involve countries, governments, or world leaders

  • Social events - are events that affect people’s lives, cultures, or communities around the world

  • Motif - a repeated image or symbol which creates a pattern

Common misconception

When artists respond to events, they always do so to document that point in history.

There are many ways and reasons why artists respond to events. One of these can be to document that point in history but they can also do so to express their opinions, be a powerful voice for marginalised groups and to help fight for justice.


To help you plan your year 7 art and design lesson on: Art in response to events, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

It will be helpful to understand how much knowledge your pupils have of the Windrush Generation, and if needed include further teaching on it during the lesson.
Teacher tip

Equipment

paint, oil pastels, coloured card and paper, magazines and newspapers and a range of old material.

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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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Artistic allow artists to express their creativity in different ways.
Correct Answer: disciplines, Disciplines
Q2.
What do art movements share in common?
the same discipline
Correct answer: common themes
identical techniques
different themes
Q3.
What did Roy Lichtenstein paint across the disciplines he used?
Ben-day spots
Ben-day specks
Correct answer: Ben-day dots
Ben-day flecks
Q4.
Complete the sentence: The Pop Art movement often used images from to blur the line between fine art and everyday life.
Correct Answer: popular culture, pop culture
Q5.
What term is given to artists who combine different disciplines into one artwork or work across multiple different disciplines?
transdisciplinary
Correct answer: multidisciplinary
crossdisciplinary
interdisciplinary
Q6.
Who was the multidisciplinary artist who used polka dots and called them 'Infinity Nets'?
Takashi Murakami
Anthea Hamilton
Correct answer: Yayoi Kusama

Assessment exit quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
Which is an accurate definition of a political event?
Correct answer: An event that often involves countries, governments, or world leaders.
An event that affect people’s lives, cultures, or communities.
An event that impacts the natural world and different habitats.
An event that influences communication, work, and everyday life.
Q2.
Complete the sentence: A event is one that can affect people’s lives, cultures, or communities around the world.
Correct Answer: social, Social
Q3.
What is a repeated image or symbol used to create a pattern called?
Correct Answer: motif, Motif, motifs, Motifs
Q4.
Which art movement responded to the chaos and trauma of war?
Arts and Craft
Cambridge Art Movement
Futurism
Correct answer: Abstract Expressionism
Q5.
Complete the sentence: The Artist Movement (CAM) responded to the discrimination and racism that many of the Windrush Generation experienced.
Correct Answer: Caribbean, caribbean

Additional material

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