Gender and sexuality in art
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can design a repeat pattern which symbolises inclusion.
Key learning points
- In Western art history, the roles of men and women are often depicted in traditional ways.
- There have always been artists who have subverted traditional ideas of gender and sexuality.
- Artists often challenge stereotypes around gender and sexuality in their work.
Keywords
Gender - a group of people in society who share particular qualities which that society associates with being male, female or another identity
Stereotype - a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a person or thing
Pattern - a repeated decorative design
Nuanced - noticing or showing the small differences between things, instead of thinking everything is the same
Common misconception
That gender and sexuality are the same thing.
Gender is about your personal identity, how you see yourself, while sexuality is about who you are attracted to.
Teacher tip
Encourage the students to make a symbol that isn't too detailed.
Equipment
Paper, pencil, ruler, eraser, tracing paper, pencil crayons, paint, digital software (optional)
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What visual element might an artist use to show loss?
Q2.What does connection often mean in an artwork?
Q3.How can collaborative art projects show connection?
Q4.How can a personal story in art become a shared experience for others?
Q5.Which of the following images is often used to symbolise hope in art?
Q6.Which of the following images is most likely to symbolise loss in art?
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Which of the following best describes the difference between gender and sexuality?
Q2.What does gender primarily refer to?
Q3.How can art explore gender and sexuality?
Q4.What is a common misconception about gender and sexuality?
Q5.What is one reason artists use patterns in their work?
To help you plan your 9 art and design lesson on: Gender and sexuality in 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: Gender and sexuality in 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 Personal identity unit, dive into the full secondary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.