Reception Art and Design

Drawing- Marvellous marks

In this unit children will be exploring mark making through different drawing materials and beginning to draw from observation using faces and self-portraits as a stimulus.

1. What happens when I use wax crayons to make different marks and rub over textures? To investigate the marks and patterns made by different textures.

2. What patterns can I make with my felt tip?  To use a felt tip to make patterns.

3. What different marks can I make with chalk?  To make controlled large and small movements. To compare different ways of making marks and drawing.

4. What can I see, and how can I draw it with my pencil?  To explore mark making using pencils. To create a simple observational drawing.

5. What do I need to draw to make a face? To explore mark making using pencils. To create a simple observational drawing.

6. How can I use colours to make a picture of me? To use a variety of colours and materials to create a self-portrait. To express their own self-image through art.

Seasonal Crafts- Autumnal wreaths 

• What can I find to make my autumn wreath? To create an autumnal wreath using natural found objects.

• How can I join different materials together in different ways? To experiment with different ways to join materials.

Seasonal Crafts- Salt dough decorations 

• What happens when I use different tools to shape and decorate my salt dough? To use a range of tools to create and decorate salt dough decorations.

 Painting & mixed media- Paint my world

In this unit children will explore paint and painting techniques through nature, music and collaborative work. Develop creativity through child-led exploration of mixed-media, making collages and transient art. 

1. What does the paint feel like when I use my fingers? To explore paint through finger painting. To describe the texture and colours as they paint. To talk about their work and decide whether it is abstract or figurative.

2. What can I find outside to use as a paintbrush? To create natural paintbrushes using found objects. To use natural paint brushes and mud paint to create artwork. To talk about their work and decide whether it is abstract or figurative.

3. How does the music make me want to move my paintbrush? To respond to music through the medium of paint. To use paint to express ideas and feelings.

4. What can I use to make my own collage? To make child-led collages using mixed media. To use loose parts to create a piece of transient art.

5. What shapes and colours can I use to create my scene? To create landscape collages inspired by the work of Megan Coyle.

6. How can we work together to make a big fireworks picture? To create a large piece of group artwork based around fireworks. To experiment with colour, design and painting techniques.

Seasonal Crafts- Threaded snowflakes

• How can I use beads and threading to make a snowflake decoration? To use bead threading to make a snowflake decoration.

• How are snowflakes made? To discover how snowflakes are made.

Seasonal Crafts- Egg threading   

• How can I carefully thread to make my own Easter egg decoration? To independently use fine motor skills to create threaded Easter egg decorations.

 Sculpture & 3D- Creation station 

In this unit children will explore the sculptural qualities of malleable materials and natural objects; developing the use of tools and joining techniques; designing and making clay animal sculptures.  

1. What happens when I squash, roll or pinch clay? To explore clay and its properties.

2. What can I make with playdough?  To explore playdough and its properties. To use tools safely and with confidence.

3. How can I use natural objects to make a 3D landscape picture? To create natural 3D landscape pictures using found objects.

4. What ideas do I have for my animal sculpture? To generate inspiration and conversation about sculpture art and artists. To create a design for a 3D animal sculpture.

5. What shapes do I need to make my animal? To begin making a 3D clay sculpture using the designs created last lesson.

6. Painting animal sculptures. To make a 3D clay sculpture using the designs created last lesson. To share their creation, explaining the processes they have used.

Seasonal Crafts- Suncatchers

• What shapes and patterns can I create with nature? To express artistic ideas and feelings through the creation of a nature mandala.

Seasonal Crafts- Salt painting

• What happens when I add colour to salt? To experiment with painting using salt and colour mixing.

Craft and design- Let's get crafty 

In this unit children will be developing cutting, threading, joining and folding skills through fun, creative craft projects.

1. How can I use scissors carefully to cut different shapes and lines? To develop scissor skills.

2. How can I thread carefully to make a pattern or picture? To develop threading skills.

3. How can I join materials together in different ways?  To learn about the different ways in which we can join materials together and to practise these techniques.

4.  How can I fold, curl and cut paper to make a snake shape? To learn how to fold, curl and cut paper to achieve a desired effect.

5. What will my tissue paper flower look like?  To create a design for a tissue paper flower.

6. How can I use drawing and cutting carefully to make my flower?  To create a tissue paper flower based upon last lesson’s design. To refine small motor skills through the use of drawing, cutting and manipulating paper.