This powerpoint presentation is designed to be printed and then photocopied into a booklet (A5 sized) which can be stuck into the back of year 10 students sketchbooks towards the start of the GCSE course. I have found that students take the idea of managing their own learning more seriously with the handbook and that they are able to refer to pages on evaluation and artist research when needed. They seem to enjoy having this resource. The booklet has been updated to the wording of the new specification (from 2016, AQA exam board - though this is easily adapted to other boards) and includes a page outlining the projects students will cover over the year that you would probably want to adapt to suit your own course. The idea of producing this as a powerpoint is that you can also incorporate pages into your own lesson presentations where relevant throughout the year (for instance when asking students to add new vocabulary).

A four page resource (can be photocopied back to back and laminated for repeated use) on the artist and designer William Morris. The first two sheets are based on Morris’ work and the last two are botanical watercolours to be used as source material for students own designs. Can be used as a cover lesson during a relevant project (natural forms, flora, textile or wallpaper designs, repeat pattern…), an extension activity, or as a whole class task. Students are asked to read the information about the artist then answer questions, then show their visual understanding through a Morris-inspired design of their own. A fantastic resource to have on hand and relevant to so many projects!

This A3 PDF page is an interactive mind-map designed to be a starting point for students’ exploration of the theme. I have used some of the key words from the ESA paper as a starting point. Click on the artist names to link to examples of relevant work on the internet. This is a fun way to get students exploring a wide range of artists and designers from different time periods, working in different media…

This lesson is designed to give structure to a standard GCSE art project lesson where students are working on individual projects. The format asks students to identify priorities initially and then specify what they should achieve in the lesson. The plenary reviews this, and then sets home learning that arises. The aim is to encourage students to take personal responsibility for their projects and to avoid procrastination during the lesson! There are 4 slides in the powerpoint which should be printed off (possibly laminated for repeated use) and used by students to help identify their personal priorities. Each slide looks at an assessment objective and explains what it is asking for as well as some ‘top tips’ for achieving good marks. The lesson would work well after an interim assessment, or when you feel the class needs more urgency/momentum. I have also used this in an observed lesson to ensure it is clear how students are making progress. A copy of slide number 11 should be printed off for each student.

Originally designed to accompany a workshop to introduce Primary teachers to some quick and easy printmaking techniques, this sheet summarises the ‘how to’ and gives instructions for materials and well as variations on approaches to both monoprinting and polyblock printing. A good starting point for teachers new to these techniques, or used as a handout to accompany a printing workshop for students, this 2 page resources covers the basics as well as giving some useful weblinks for further investigation. I have uploaded both Word and PDF versions of the same sheet as sometimes the formatting on Word can go a bit wonky!

A really useful introductory lesson to Art (for year 7s or other KS3 classes). With key information about equipment, expectations and then a simple drawing task to assess skills and set a tone for focus in Art lessons. During the 45 minute drawing task you are able to move around the classroom as students are working in silence (more or less!) and get to know the strengths and weaknesses of students. Although it creates a bit of work, I always like to write a comment for each student after this lesson, so they see that you take their efforts seriously. There is a little plenary where students annotate their own work. A simple, but very useful and enjoyable lesson!

This mind-map on the theme of LOCK provides links to over 40 artists from varied times and places. Organised with sub-themes, this resource is a great way of supporting student’s individual investigations and introducing them to diverse approaches to the theme. You can print as an A3 poster or an A4 handout, or use the pdf document on screen so that the artists names hyperlink to relevant websites to develop research further. You may also be interested in this ‘week by week’ art exam handout. And this Art GCSE Project Checklist for student self-assessment.

All of the woks in this self-portrait introduction lesson come from an exhibition held at Kettles Yard in Cambridge called Face Off - and none of the artworks feature the artists faces. This makes for really interesting class discussions about the nature of portraiture and also what can be used to make an artwork. The lesson has been used successfully with KS3 and KS4 students and always generated interesting ideas from the the students. To get the class thinking about their own identity, I print off the slide handout sheet from powerpoint and photocopy this for the students, then I give them 2 or 3 minutes on each slide to complete their own mini-self-portrait in response to each image (e.g. draw your own favourite shoes or sign your name...). An enjoyable lesson which sets a class up well for a self-portraiture project. There is a homework task at the end if you choose to use it.

This fun Christmas themed activity lesson covers repeat printing (cross-curricular link to Maths) and gives step by step instructions on how to create a sheet of wrapping paper by potato printing. The lesson is designed to keep things as simple as possible - mess is kept to a minimum by using one printing colour only. You can use newsprint or brown craft paper as a cheap wrapping paper base, or even tissue paper if you want but this can tear more easily. You could simplify things further for younger students by preparing the potato stamps in advance (if students work in pairs, you could cut 15 potato stamps before the lesson). Tip: a pack of cheap wet-wipes is always handy in these lessons to clear away quickly.

Ten A4 artist quotes for display. An unusual range of artists and quotes: Mondrian and Renoir to Ai Weiwei and Sonya Boyce. These are aimed and getting students motivated to work hard and understand the artistic process a bit better...

An A3 pdf poster for artroom display to support students' understanding of the Assessment Objectives. This version uses the 'old specification' wording for this years' GCSE (year 11) students - a 'new spec' version is also available for year 10s. The poster aims to keep it simple and provides short 'student speak' explanations of what each assessment objective is looking for. The idea of the poster is to present the process of the project from the perspective of an explorer: developing ideas (using a compass to set a course for the investigation), refining skills with appropriate tools (penknife illustration), recording ideas by observing carefully (binoculars) and documenting, and finally shining a light on the culmination of the adventure! A timely piece of classroom display to remind students what they need for both coursework and exam projects. The pdf can be printed at A3 size or reduced down to A4.

Christmas season one-off lesson where students create their own repeat pattern wallpaper using potato printing. This version has instructions using water-based paints (acrylic gives a good opaque colour, but you can use poster paint too) and paint brushes, rather than printing ink and rollers (there is another version of this resource in my shop with instructions for this kind of printing). A fun lesson with good cross-curricular links to design and technology and maths (repeat patterns, rotation). The lesson requires some largish paper to print the wrapping paper - you can use what you have for this... brown craft paper works well; newsprint is cheap and good; sugar paper tends to be a bit thick but has the added benefit of colour and can look good in a display; tissue paper also works but can tear more easily. Although this is a practical lesson, mess is kept to a minimum by using paper plates as palettes which can be thrown away after use. A good tip is to have some cheap wet wipes to help speed up the clean up at the end. If you want to simplify things (perhaps for younger students) you can prepare potato stamps in advance to avoid having students cutting them in the lesson.

A four page printable worksheet resource on Paul Klee. Can be used as a cover lesson during a relevant project (Abstraction, Expressionism, colour, landscape…), an extension activity, or as a whole class task. Students are asked to read the information about the artist then answer questions then create their own abstracted landscape from the source images. Also included are source images of Klee’s work, black and white landscape photographs to work from and a Paul Klee word search. Designed to be easy to deploy and requires no specialist materials or knowledge. A fantastic resource to have on hand and relevant to many projects!

A two page PDF resource (can be photocopied back to back and laminated for repeated use) on the artist Gustav Klimt. Can be used as a sub lesson during a relevant project (colour, pattern, abstraction, portraiture, Modern Art …), an extension activity, independent study, or as a whole class task. Students are asked to read the information about the artist then answer questions, then show their visual understanding through the identification of motifs in the work. They then create their own practical response to Klimt’s art. The lesson requires minimal materials and can be carried out in a non-specialist classroom. A great introduction to an important 20th century artist whose work is inspiring and engaging for young people.

A fun art ‘formal elements’ word search PDF file with 17 key terms to find including colour line shape tone form texture space design balance contrast harmony pattern size repetition These print well at A5 (two to an A4 sheet) so are an economical, fun way to embed student learning on literacy, extending vocabulary on any scheme of work. Also a quote from Charles Eames on design. Great for a lesson starter, plenary, cover, literacy, homework, extension or use a word search to maintain focus during tidy up time!

A fun art ‘colour theory’ word search PDF file with 13 key terms to find including complimentary harmonious pigment secondary primary tertiary These print well at A5 (two to an A4 sheet) so are an economical, fun way to embed student learning on literacy, extending vocabulary on any scheme of work. Also a quote from John Ruskin on colour. Great for a lesson starter, plenary, cover, literacy, homework, extension or use a word search to maintain focus during tidy up time!

A fun Impressionism word search PDF file with 12 key terms to find including Landscape Colour Light France En plein air Paint Nature Everyday Sketchy Atmosphere Vibrant These print well at A5 (two to an A4 sheet) so are an economical, fun way to embed student learning on literacy, extending vocabulary on any scheme of work. Also a quote from Impressionist Berthe Morisot. Great for a lesson starter, plenary, cover, literacy, homework, extension or use a word search to maintain focus during tidy up time!

A fun art ‘colour’ word search PDF with more unusual names of colours to find - azure, chartreuse, coral, crimson etc.). These print well at A5 (two to an A4 sheet) so are an economical, fun way to embed student learning on literacy, extending vocabulary on any colour-related scheme of work. Quotes from Joseph Albers, Sonia Delaunay and Georges Braque also encourage critical thinking on colour.

A great printable handout giving background on the photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand (author of the Earth from the Air photo book raising environmental awareness). The A4 sheet has two pages and includes a comprehension task, instructions for a practical mapping activity, a word search and ideas for further development. Perfect for a whole class activity linking to projects on photography, pattern, environmental art, landscape or mapping. Also great for a cover lesson, independent study or extension task. Thousands of Arthus-Bertrand’s photographs are available online - his website is a good place to start: http://www.yannarthusbertrand2.org Students are really inspired by these fascinating photographs which are also great for making cross-curricular links.

Develop literacy in the Art room with a one-page handout to support students’ vocabulary. 80+ descriptive words for writing about their own work or the work of other artists on one engaging worksheet/poster. Easy to follow, the sheet gives hints and tips to advise students on writing about art. Designed with GCSE and A level students in mind, but could also be used with more independent-minded KS3 students. Printable at either A3 as a poster, or A4 as a handout.