New
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Lesson 3 of 6
  • Year 10

Natural forms in textiles

I can review the range of ways textile artists have been inspired by natural forms in art.

Lesson 3 of 6
New
New
  • Year 10

Natural forms in textiles

I can review the range of ways textile artists have been inspired by natural forms in art.

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 use nature’s beauty and patterns to create textile works that reflect its structure and complexity.
  2. Nature’s colours and patterns inspire textile designs that connect with viewers both visually and emotionally.
  3. Natural forms in textiles can express emotion or memory, deepening the viewer's connection to the work.

Keywords

  • Natural forms - shapes, patterns, and structures found in the natural world (e.g. shells, plants, bones)

  • Asymmetry - a lack of symmetry; when two sides of something are not identical but still balanced visually

  • Pattern - is a repeated design or sequence of shapes, colours, or lines

Common misconception

Natural forms are always perfectly symmetrical, like leaves or flowers.

While some natural forms show symmetry, most have irregular, flowing shapes. Even symmetrical forms often have variations, this is part of what makes nature interesting to artists.


To help you plan your year 10 art and design lesson on: Natural forms in textiles, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Greater contextual information on the artists' work can be found in the additional materials. You may wish to alter the imagery to better fit your project themes.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Access to the internet or a library of art books. Sketchbook or paper for recording ideas, pencils, pens.

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

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these is an example of a natural form?

A plastic bottle
Correct answer: A pinecone
A chair
A ruler

Q2.
An design is when the two sides are not the same but still balanced.

Correct Answer: asymmetrical, asymmetric

Q3.
Which word describes repeated decorative shapes in design?

Scale
Correct answer: Pattern
Tone
Surface

Q4.
Match each key word to its definition.

Correct Answer:Pattern,Repeated shapes or lines in design

Repeated shapes or lines in design

Correct Answer:Asymmetry,Uneven design that still looks balanced

Uneven design that still looks balanced

Correct Answer:Natural Form,Shape found in nature like leaves or shells

Shape found in nature like leaves or shells

Correct Answer:Symmetry,Both sides of a design match

Both sides of a design match

Q5.
Leaves, shells, and flowers are all examples of forms.

Correct Answer: natural

Q6.
Why might an artist choose asymmetry in a textile piece?

Correct answer: To create tension or movement
To create perfect balance
To follow a rigid grid layout
To make it look identical

Additional material

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