Reception Art and Design

Autumn Term

  • In this term we will be exploring the artist Pablo Picasso. We will be exploring how Picasso moved facial features around to create 'funny faces'. Children will create their own traditional self-portrait looking at placement of facial features, colour and shape. We will then progress onto exploring moving our facial features around to create our own 'funny faces'.

Expressive arts and design: Exploring and using media and materials

30-50 months

  • Explores colour and how colours can be changed.

  • Understands that they can use lines to enclose a space, and then begin to use these shapes to represent objects.

  • Realises tools can be used for a purpose.

40-60 months

  • Explores what happens when they mix colours.

  • Understands that different media can be combined to create new effects.

  • Manipulates materials to achieve a planned effect.

  • Uses simple tools and techniques competently and appropriately.

  • Selects tools and techniques needed to join materials they are using.

Early Learning Goal They safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function.

Expressive arts and design: Being imaginative

30-50 months

  • Developing preferences for forms of expression.

  • Captures experiences and responses with a range of media, such as music, dance and paint and other materials or words.

40-60 months

  • Create simple representations of events, people and objects.

  • Chooses particular colours to use for a purpose.

Early Learning Goal Children use what they have learnt about media and materials in original ways, thinking about uses and purposes. They represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music, dance, role play and stories.

Spring Term

  • Throughout the Spring term Reception will be exploring how Jackson Pollock created his splat paintings. We will explore painting techniques that involve movement, colour and effect. The children will experiment with 'movement' paintings using paint,mud, water, foam.

Expressive arts and design: Exploring and using media and materials

30-50 months

  • Explores colour and how colours can be changed.

  • Beginning to be interested in and describe the texture of things.

  • Realises tools can be used for a purpose.

40-60 months

  • Explores what happens when they mix colours.

  • Experiments to create different textures.

  • Understands that different media can be combined to create new effects.

  • Manipulates materials to achieve a planned effect.

  • Uses simple tools and techniques competently and appropriately.

  • Selects appropriate resources .

Early Learning Goal They safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function.

Expressive arts and design: Being imaginative

30-50 months

  • Developing preferences for forms of expression.

  • Uses movement to express feelings.

  • Captures experiences and responses with a range of media, such as music, dance and paint and other materials or words.

40-60 months

  • Create simple representations of events, people and objects.

  • Initiates new combinations of movement and gesture in order to express and respond to feelings, ideas and experiences.

  • Chooses particular colours to use for a purpose.

Early Learning Goal Children use what they have learnt about media and materials in original ways, thinking about uses and purposes. They represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music, dance, role play and stories.

Summer Term

  • During the last term in Reception we focus on Vincent Van Gogh's sunflowers. We will look at the technique of finger painting to create our own sunflower paintings. Use of particular colour is focused on, as is shape. We will add glue to our paints allowing children to explore texture within paint.

  • Expressive arts and design: Exploring and using media and materials

30-50 months

  • Explores colour and how colours can be changed.

  • Understands that they can use lines to enclose a space, and then begin to use these shapes to represent objects.

  • Beginning to be interested in and describe the texture of things.

  • Realises tools can be used for a purpose.

40-60 months

  • Explores what happens when they mix colours.

  • Experiments to create different textures.

  • Understands that different media can be combined to create new effects.

  • Manipulates materials to achieve a planned effect.

  • Constructs with a purpose in mind, using a variety of resources.

  • Uses simple tools and techniques competently and appropriately.

  • Selects appropriate resources and adapts work where necessary.

Early Learning Goal They safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function.

Expressive arts and design: Being imaginative

30-50 months

  • Developing preferences for forms of expression.

  • Captures experiences and responses with a range of media, such as music, dance and paint and other materials or words

40-60 months

  • Create simple representations of events, people and objects.

  • Chooses particular colours to use for a purpose.

Early Learning Goal Children use what they have learnt about media and materials in original ways, thinking about uses and purposes. They represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music, dance, role play and stories.


Art & Design Day

  • Coming soon...