Year 3 - Art and design
Draw and observe insects in detail
Insects: drawing and printmaking
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
Pupils will explore the world of insects up close, recording their observations using line drawing techniqes. They will develop these drawings through a number of print processes, before creating and realising a design for surface print.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to observe and draw insects.
Key Notes
- Sketching from observation helps you capture the form of an insect by noticing its details and shapes.
- Planning your composition allows you to think about where to place your insect and what it might be next to.
- Using tone (light and dark areas) and colour helps make your drawing look more realistic.
Vocabulary To Learn
- observational drawing: carefully looking at something real and drawing what you see
- tone: how light or dark something is
- sketch/sketching: making quick and simple drawings to show ideas or the things we see
- form: to take or make something take a particular shape
- composition: is the combination of a selection of elements arranged and organised
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may think the insect needs to be in the centre of the page for a balanced composition.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Sketching from observation helps you capture the form of an insect by noticing its details and shapes. Planning your composition allows you to think about where to place your insect and what it might be next to.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'observational drawing'
carefully looking at something real and drawing what you see.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Pupils may think the insect needs to be in the centre of the page for a balanced composition. Correction: Remind children that composition can be balanced even if the insect is placed off-centre. Balance is about how all elements (insect, plants, background) work together, not just where the main subject is.
More Lessons In This Unit
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