Art and Design · Year 1 · Artists Through Time · Spring Term

Modern Art: What is Art Today?

Looking at contemporary artists who use unusual materials like plastic or digital screens.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• KS1: Art and Design - Knowledge of Artists and Designers

About This Topic

The topic 'Modern Art: What is Art Today?' expands Year 1 pupils' understanding of art by exploring contemporary artists who use everyday or unusual materials, such as plastic bottles, recycled rubbish, or digital screens. Pupils study creators like those behind '垃圾艺术' (rubbish art) installations or simple digital projections, questioning if any object becomes art when an artist selects it. This meets KS1 Art and Design standards for knowledge of artists and designers, building on prior units about historical art.

Pupils compare modern works to older art forms, like Renaissance paintings, noting differences in materials, scale, and purpose: modern art often emphasises ideas, environment, or technology over realism. They justify personal preferences for studied pieces, using simple sentences to explain choices, which develops evaluative language and critical thinking from an early age.

Active learning benefits this topic greatly because tactile exploration of materials and structured debates turn subjective concepts into shared experiences. When pupils handle plastics to mimic artists or vote on objects as 'art' in circles, they gain ownership of ideas, boosting confidence and retention through play-based, collaborative discovery.

Key Questions

1. Evaluate whether any object can be considered art if an artist chooses it.
2. Compare modern art to art created a long time ago, highlighting key differences.
3. Justify your personal preference for a piece of modern art we have studied.

Learning Objectives

• Classify objects as art or non-art based on an artist's intention.
• Compare and contrast materials and purposes of historical art versus contemporary art.
• Explain personal preferences for specific modern artworks using descriptive language.
• Identify artists who utilize non-traditional materials in their work.

Before You Start

Introduction to Famous Artists and Artworks

Why: Students need a basic understanding of what art is and that different people create it before exploring contemporary artists and their unique approaches.

Exploring Different Art Materials

Why: Familiarity with common art materials like paint, clay, and paper will help students better appreciate the novelty of unusual materials used in modern art.

Key Vocabulary

Contemporary Art	Art made in the present day, often exploring new ideas, materials, and technologies.
Installation Art	Art that is created for a specific space or environment, often using a variety of materials and objects.
Found Object Art	Art made from objects that are not traditionally considered art materials, such as everyday items or discarded items.
Digital Art	Art created using digital technologies, such as computers, screens, or projections.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Art must look realistic or pretty.

What to Teach Instead

Modern art values ideas and everyday materials over lifelike images. Pair discussions of artist intentions help pupils reframe beauty as creativity, as they defend their own 'unpretty' junk sculptures and see peer validation.

Common Misconception

Only paintings and drawings count as art.

What to Teach Instead

Art includes sculptures, installations, and digital works when chosen by artists. Hands-on stations with plastics and screens let pupils experiment, shifting views through creating and exhibiting non-traditional pieces in class critiques.

Common Misconception

Modern art is just messy and meaningless.

What to Teach Instead

Contemporary artists convey messages about environment or technology. Group justifications during shares reveal purposes, as pupils connect recycled materials to real-world issues, fostering empathy via collaborative storytelling.

Active Learning Ideas

Gallery Walk: Modern Materials Tour

Display printed images of contemporary art using plastic and digital elements around the classroom. Pupils walk in pairs, noting materials and deciding if each piece is art, then record one observation per station. Regroup for whole-class sharing of favourites.

30 min·Pairs

Hands-On: Recycled Sculpture Challenge

Provide plastic bottles, wrappers, and tape for small groups to build sculptures inspired by modern artists. Each group names their work and explains why it qualifies as art. Display and vote on class favourites.

40 min·Small Groups

Debate Circle: Object or Art?

Pass around everyday objects like bottle caps or foil. Pupils in a circle take turns stating if it could be art and why, building on peers' ideas. Teacher facilitates with prompts from key questions.

25 min·Whole Class

Preference Sketch: My Modern Art Pick

Pupils select a studied modern artwork image, sketch a detail, and label two reasons they like it. Pairs share sketches before whole-class gallery pinning.

35 min·Individual

Real-World Connections

• Museum curators, like those at the Tate Modern, select and display contemporary artworks that use unusual materials, influencing public perception of what art can be.
• Street artists create temporary installations using recycled materials or digital projections in public spaces, transforming urban environments and sparking conversations about waste and technology.
• Designers for advertising agencies create visually striking advertisements using digital screens and unconventional materials to capture consumer attention.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

Provide students with a picture of a contemporary artwork and a picture of a historical artwork. Ask them to write one sentence comparing the materials used in each and one sentence explaining which they prefer and why.

Discussion Prompt

Show students a collection of everyday objects (e.g., a plastic bottle, a shoe, a leaf). Ask: 'If an artist decided this was art, would you agree? Why or why not?' Facilitate a class discussion where students share their reasoning.

Quick Check

Hold up images of different artworks. Ask students to give a thumbs up if they think it is 'contemporary art' and a thumbs down if they think it is 'historical art'. Follow up by asking a few students to explain their choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to introduce contemporary artists to Year 1 pupils?

Start with vivid images and short videos of artists like those using recycled plastics, linking to familiar objects. Use key questions to guide talks: display a plastic bottle and ask if it could be art. Follow with hands-on making to embed examples, ensuring pupils name one artist and material by lesson end. This scaffolds from concrete to abstract evaluation.

What activities compare modern art to historical art?

Set up side-by-side displays of modern plastic works and older paintings. Pairs list three differences, such as materials or size, then share in plenary. Extend with sorting cards of art types into 'then' and 'now' timelines. This visual, talk-based approach highlights evolution, aligning with curriculum progression.

How does active learning benefit modern art lessons in Year 1?

Active methods like material handling and debates make abstract ideas tangible for young pupils. Manipulating plastics to recreate artist techniques builds sensory memory, while peer justifications in circles develop speaking skills and ownership. Collaborative galleries reinforce that art is choice-driven, increasing engagement and confidence over passive viewing, with lasting impact on personal expression.

How to help Year 1 pupils justify art preferences?

Model sentence starters: 'I like it because...' during shares. Pupils sketch favourites and label two reasons, practising in pairs before class presentation. Use thumbs-up voting on shared reasons to validate views. This structures evaluation, turning opinions into reasoned statements aligned with key questions and boosting oracy.