Year 4 Art and Design

Drawing- Exploring tone, texture and proportion

In this topic pupils will explore tone, texture and proportion to create realistic and expressive drawings, children take inspiration from artists Sarah Graham, Nicola McBride and Beatriz Milhazes. Using sweets, wrappers and bold patterns as stimuli, they develop skills in shading, mark-making and composition to produce detailed drawings with a strong sense of form and proportion. 

1. How can light and dark shading make an object look 3D?  To draw using tone to create a 3D effect.

2. How can marks and patterns show different textures (e.g. rough, smooth, bumpy)?   To explore how combining lines and mark making can show texture and tone in drawings.

3. What does proportion mean in art?   To understand proportion by observing how it is used in artwork.

4. How can I arrange objects on my page in an interesting way?  To understand what is an effective composition in art.

5. How can I use tone to make my drawing look 3D?  To apply an understanding of texture, tone and proportion in a drawing.

Drawing- Exploring tone, texture and proportion

National Curriculum Objectives

• To create sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas.

• 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].

• To learn about great artists, architects and designers in history.

Sculpture & 3D- Mega materials

In this topic pupils will explore the way different materials can be shaped and joined, learning about techniques used by artists as diverse as Barbara Hepworth and Sokari Douglas-Camp and creating their own sculptures.

1. How can I turn a drawing into a 3D sculpture idea?  To develop ideas for 3D work through drawing and visualisation in 2D.

2. What tools can I use to shape soap safely and carefully?  To use more complex techniques to shape materials. 

3. How can I bend wire to create different shapes?  To explore how shapes can be formed and joined in wire.

4. How does light change the way a sculpture looks?  To consider the effect of how sculpture is displayed.*

5. What materials can I reuse to create my sculpture?  To choose and join a variety of materials to make sculpture.

Sculpture & 3D- Mega materials

National Curriculum Objectives

• To develop their techniques, including their control and their use of materials, with creativity, experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design.

• To learn about great artists, architects and designers in history.

• To create sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas.

• To improve their mastery of art and design techniques.

Craft & Design- Ancient Egyptian Scrolls

This unit focuses on exploring and creating Ancient Egyptian art, guiding pupils in understanding and applying the styles, patterns, and techniques of Ancient Egyptian art through lessons that include designing scrolls, making paper, and creating contemporary responses using zines. 

1. What colours and patterns did Ancient Egyptian artists use?  To investigate the style, pattern and characteristics of Ancient Egyptian art.

2. How can I use Egyptian patterns and symbols in my design?  To apply design skills inspired by the style of an ancient civilisation. 

3. How did people in Ancient Egypt make paper (papyrus)? To apply understanding of ancient techniques to construct a new material.

4. How can I draw figures in the style of Egyptian art?  To apply drawing and painting skills in the style of an ancient civilisation.

5. How can I make my zine creative and original?  To apply an understanding of Egyptian art to develop a contemporary response.

Craft & Design- Ancient Egyptian Scrolls

National Curriculum Objectives

• To create sketchbooks to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas.   

• To improve their mastery of art and design techniques,  including drawing,  painting and sculpture with a range of  materials.  

• To know about great artists, architects and designers in history.

Painting & mixed media- Light & Dark

In this topic pupils will develop skills in colour mixing, focussing on using tints and shades to create a 3D effect. Experimenting with composition and applying painting techniques to a personal still life piece. 

1. What do I add to a colour to make it lighter or darker? To understand how to darken or lighten a colour when mixing paint.

2. How can light and dark areas make an object look 3D? To use tints and shades to give a three-dimensional effect when painting.

3. How can different brush strokes change the look of my painting?  To explore how paint can create very different effects.

4. How can I make sure objects are the right size compared to each other?  To consider proportion and composition when planning a still-life painting.

5. How can I use tints and shades to improve my painting?  To apply knowledge of colour mixing and painting techniques to create a finished piece.

Painting & mixed media- Light & Dark

National Curriculum Objectives

• To evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design.

• To become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques.

• To create sketch books  to record  their  observations  and  use them  to review  and revisit ideas. 

• 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].

• To know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.