P4C Art as Protest

This 2 page downloadable one-lesson project uses a striking real-world example of protest art to help students explore the relationship between art, power, and the law.

Centred on a contemporary Banksy artwork created without permission on a symbolically powerful public building, the lesson is designed using the Philosophy for Children (P4C) approach. It begins with a strong visual and contextual stimulus, then guides students through carefully structured closed questions that encourage clear positions on law-breaking and artistic value. Open-ended discussion questions deepen the enquiry, prompting learners to consider civil disobedience, censorship, authority, and whether the removal of an artwork can become part of its meaning.

The resource requires minimal preparation and includes key concepts, debate prompts, and reflective questions to support thoughtful, balanced classroom dialogue. It develops critical thinking, ethical reasoning, speaking and listening skills, and personal judgement within a single, flexible session.

Ideal for upper primary or secondary classrooms, this ready-to-use lesson empowers students to form and articulate their own informed opinions about protest art, freedom of expression, and where — if anywhere — the limits of artistic action should lie.