Shape and form
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can manipulate shapes and forms to develop my visual language.
Key learning points
- Shape and form are fundamental elements of design that help artists communicate ideas and emotions visually.
- Different shapes can evoke specific associations or emotions.
- Form gives depth and volume to a piece, making it more dynamic and realistic, especially in sculpture and painting.
Keywords
Shape - an area enclosed and defined
Form - the three-dimensional shape and structure of an object or artwork, often showing depth, volume and mass
Association - a connection or link between two or more things
Common misconception
Shapes are only found in the positive space made by an actual object.
Shapes are inadvertently created all the time in the gaps between objects in your composition. We call this the negative space.
Teacher tip
Review the slide deck and tailor the outcome to your own specialism and themes. Supporting information on artists can be found in the additional materials.
Equipment
Use materials suitable for your own specialism. Consider 2D and 3D elements such as paper, card and wire.
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following best describes a geometric shape?
Q2.True or false? "Shapes and forms are elements of design that help artists communicate ideas and emotions visually."
Q3.In what ways could an artist experiment with shape and form?
Q4.Shapes with sharp angles are most likely to be associated with:
Q5.Match the terms to their correct descriptions:
the main objects in an artwork
the empty spaces around and between objects
mathematically defined shapes with precise edges and angles
Q6.Which of the following best describes a 3D form?
To help you plan your 10 art and design lesson on: Shape and form, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 art and design lesson on: Shape and form, 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 4 art and design lessons from the Foundation workshops: revisiting elements of art and principles of art unit, dive into the full secondary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.