Three art sessions suitable for KS1 or KS2: People and portraits, Nature and the environment, or Deciphering art
This is available as a museum-educator led onsite session.
Choose from one of our themes:
- People and portraits
- Nature and the environment
- Deciphering art
Onsite session
- suitable for KS1 or KS2
- scheduled for up to 2 hours
- available for up to two classes
- one hour is taught, one hour is self-led, if there are two classes, the groups then swap
- self-led guidance will be available
- access to our lunch room to store bags and eat lunch
‘I really liked looking at the paintings, and I now look at art in a different way. The Museum teacher made it very easy to understand and it was so fun!’ – KS2 pupil
- To develop children’s ability to look closely at objects
- To encourage children to make deductions based on what they observe
- To introduce children to the language used when talking about art
- People and portraits
- To encourage children to communicate with clarity and consideration about many different types of people
2. Nature and the environment
- To understand how people have recorded our world around us, and the increasing importance of engaging with nature creatively in the climate crisis
3. Deciphering art
- To build confidence in looking closely at art and understanding what messages art might convey
- Look closely at a “traditional” European portrait together and learn about its key features
- Learn how to read key symbols in a portrait or artwork of a person
- Use this schematic to look at an abstract contemporary portrait together and understand expression and interpretation
- Look at a sculpture of a person that is not a portrait. What makes a portrait?
- Children respond creatively with drawing, movement or modelling throughout the session
- Look closely at paintings of nature and learning together and learn about their key features
- Think about how people have made art using many natural materials and how we have impacted our environment and the habitats around us
- Think about how artists have recorded nature and landscapes through time and create responses imagining how these places have changed over time
- Children respond creatively with drawing, movement or modelling throughout the session
- Understand what art is and can be, as well as why it is made
- Look closely at and understand symbols in artworks
- Consider what art can mean in different settings and contexts
- Children respond creatively with drawing, movement or modelling throughout the session
KS1
Art:
- use drawing and/or sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination.
- learn about a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making
links to their own work.
This session also complements the citizenship curriculum, including:
- that people belong to various groups and communities, such as family and school
- identifying and respecting the differences and similarities between people
KS2
- to improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials [for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay]
- learn about great artists, architects and designers in history.
This session also complements the citizenship curriculum, including:
- reflecting on spiritual, moral, social, and cultural issues, using imagination to understand other people’s experiences
- appreciating the range of national, regional, religious and ethnic identities in the United Kingdom
- thinking about the lives of people living in other places and times, and people with different values and customs
- understanding stereotypes
- observing that differences and similarities between people arise from a number of factors, including cultural, ethnic, racial and religious diversity, gender and disability.
This session supports the teaching of the art, geography, and science curriculum.
KS1:
Art:
- use drawing and/or sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination.
- learn about a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making
links to their own work.
Geography:
- use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to:
– key physical features, including: beach, cliff, coast, forest, hill, mountain, sea, ocean, river, soil, valley, vegetation, season and weather
– key human features, including: city, town, village, factory, farm, house, office, port, harbour and shop
Science:
- Seasonal changes: observe weather and changes across the four seasons
- Everyday materials: identifying a variety of materials and their properties
- Plants and animals: identification and habitats
KS2
Art:
- to improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials [for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay]
- learn about great artists, architects and designers in history.
Geography:
- human geography, including: types of settlement and land use, economic activity including trade links, and the distribution of natural resources including energy, food, minerals and water
Science:
- Living things and their habitats: recognise that environments can change and that this can sometimes pose dangers to living things
Art
Ks1:
Pupils should be taught:
- about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the
differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making
links to their own work. - to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences
and imagination
KS2:
Pupils should be taught:
- about great artists, architects and designers in history.
Look Think Do – Starter activities to try with your class
Candy Lady pair by Shawanda Corbett
Look Think Do – Starter activities to try with your class
Look Think Do – Starter activities to try with your class
We are fully booked for Museum Educator Led visits for Spring 2025.
If you would like to visit self-led (Wednesdays and Thursdays) please complete this FORM and we will come back to you to discuss what is possible.
Summer bookings will open around February half term, to keep up to date with news about schools and hear about future terms bookings please sign up to our teacher enews.
If you have any questions email education@fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk
Access and special educational needs
We are happy to discuss the content of the session and any other details that may be useful in helping your students make the most of their visit.
We have a bag of sensory and fidget toys available to borrow for sessions.
We can also print raised line drawings related to a session with a week or more’s notice, and may be able to arrange for a second museum teacher to attend the session who is trained in audio description.
We find it helpful to receive all feedback, but are especially keen to improve access to our sessions and offer. Please let us know if we can improve yours, or others’ sessions.