New
New
Year 9

Personal to universal: art as connection

I understand how art can share ideas and emotions that connect people, even if they are from different places or times.

New
New
Year 9

Personal to universal: art as connection

I understand how art can share ideas and emotions that connect people, even if they are from different places or times.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Art can transcend language, geography and time to communicate ideas or emotions.
  2. Universal themes can be understood globally, even when expressed in different ways.
  3. Artists create spaces or artworks to promote shared feelings or experiences creating connection among their audiences.
  4. Discussing an artwork helps us to make connections and deepen our understanding.

Keywords

  • Feelings - an emotional reaction

  • Connection - when people, places, or things feel linked together through feelings, experiences, memories, or relationships.

  • Story - a way of sharing something that happened whether real or imagined.

Common misconception

Art only connects people if everyone understands it the same way.

Art connects people because it sparks emotions and ideas, even if everyone sees it differently. It’s the shared experience, not exact understanding, that brings people together.


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

This lesson has options for either using a camera or drawing a design. If there is computer access, students could print their own imagery to place the figure over.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Paper, pencil, camera, figure template, paints, pencil crayons, oil pastels, marker pens

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • 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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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these is not an example of self-expression?

Creating art that shows your own feelings or ideas
Making art that tells your personal story
Correct answer: Copying someone else’s artwork exactly without adding your own touch

Q2.
What does intention mean?

Doing something by accident or randomly
Copying someone else's style and use of materials
Correct answer: Making choices on purpose to express an idea or feeling

Q3.
What does pure self-expression mean?

Making art just to please others or to fulfil a project brief
Correct answer: Creating work that honestly shows your own feelings or thoughts
Following all the art rules perfectly

Q4.
Artists use self-expression in their art to share their inner and ideas with others.

Correct Answer: feelings, emotions

Q5.
Which of the following is art intended for an audience?

work made in a private sketchbook
Correct answer: work made to be exhibited in an exhibition
doodles in the back of a notebook

Q6.
Match the keywords with their definitions:

Correct Answer:connection,when people, places, or things feel linked together

when people, places, or things feel linked together

Correct Answer:feelings,an emotional reaction

an emotional reaction

Correct Answer:story,a way of sharing something that happened whether real or imagined

a way of sharing something that happened whether real or imagined

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

5 Questions

Q1.
Can art connect people?

Correct answer: Yes, by sharing emotions and stories that others can relate to
Only if everyone makes the same art
No, art is just decoration with no meaning

Q2.
What are feelings?

External physical reactions of the body only
A favourite book, magazine or text
Correct answer: Emotions like happy, sad, angry, or excited

Q3.
Art can people by sharing feelings and stories that others can relate to.

Correct Answer: connect

Q4.
Is it true that art only connects people if everyone understands it the same way?

Yes, everyone must see art the same way to connect
No, art doesn’t actually connect people at all
Correct answer: No, art can connect people even if they understand it differently

Q5.
Is it beneficial to talk about artwork?

Correct answer: Yes, it helps us understand different ideas and feelings
No, it only matters if the artist is famous
No, art should be looked at and not discussed

Additional material

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