Art and Design · Year 3

Active learning ideas

The Power of the Gaze in Portraits

Active learning works because Year 3 pupils grasp the impact of gaze by experiencing it. Moving, drawing, and discussing together helps them feel the difference between connection and mystery in portraits. This hands-on approach builds lasting understanding beyond abstract discussion.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• KS2: Art and Design - Drawing and Portraiture
• KS2: Art and Design - Composition

• 20–35 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Think-Pair-Share
• 25 min · Pairs

Pairs: Gaze Pose and Sketch

Pupils work in pairs: one poses with direct gaze toward partner for 2 minutes while the other sketches eyes and expression. Switch roles, then try averted gaze to a window. Pairs discuss how each gaze changes the portrait's mood.

Analyze how direct eye contact in a portrait affects the viewer's connection to the subject.

Facilitation Tip

For the self-portrait task, position mirrors at angles so pupils can see how head and eye direction change together.

What to look for

Show students two portraits, one with a direct gaze and one with an averted gaze. Ask: 'How does the way the person is looking make you feel? Which portrait feels more personal, and why? What do you think the person in the second portrait might be looking at?'

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 02

• Think-Pair-Share
• 35 min · Small Groups

Small Groups: Famous Portrait Analysis

Provide prints of portraits like Mona Lisa or Van Eyck's Arnolfini Portrait. Groups note gaze direction, predict emotions or stories, and sketch a quick copy focusing on eyes. Share findings with class.

Explain how an averted gaze can create a sense of mystery or introspection.

What to look for

Provide students with a simple outline of a face. Ask them to draw the eyes twice: first with a direct gaze, and second with an averted gaze. Then, have them write one word describing the feeling each gaze creates.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 03

• Think-Pair-Share
• 30 min · Individual

Individual: Gaze-Directed Self-Portrait

Pupils draw self-portraits where gaze points to a meaningful object like a book or pet in the composition. Add details to show why the gaze matters. Display for peer comments on attention guidance.

Design a portrait where the gaze is used to direct the viewer's attention to a specific detail.

What to look for

Students sketch a portrait of a classmate, focusing on the gaze. After sketching, they swap drawings. Each student writes one sentence on the back of their partner's drawing, stating what they think the subject's gaze communicates (e.g., 'This gaze looks curious').

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 04

• Think-Pair-Share
• 20 min · Whole Class

Whole Class: Gaze Effect Gallery Walk

Display all portraits around room. Pupils walk, note gaze directions, and jot reactions on sticky notes. Conclude with class vote on most engaging gazes and why.

Analyze how direct eye contact in a portrait affects the viewer's connection to the subject.

What to look for

Show students two portraits, one with a direct gaze and one with an averted gaze. Ask: 'How does the way the person is looking make you feel? Which portrait feels more personal, and why? What do you think the person in the second portrait might be looking at?'

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers should model how to shift gaze by demonstrating head turns and eye focus in front of the class. Avoid telling pupils what gaze means; instead, guide them to notice how their own feelings change when looking directly at peers versus looking away. Research shows that embodied learning—moving and posing—deepens comprehension of abstract concepts like gaze and emotion.

Successful learning looks like pupils confidently explaining how gaze choices affect emotion and viewer focus. They should use specific art vocabulary and adjust their own gaze in portraits to match their intended message. Sketches and discussions show clear awareness of how gaze shapes meaning.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Pairs: Gaze Pose and Sketch, watch for pupils assuming a direct gaze always means happiness or friendliness.

  During Pairs: Gaze Pose and Sketch, have pupils model serious, curious, or questioning expressions while maintaining direct gaze, then sketch and label each mood to show the range of feelings a direct gaze can convey.

• During Small Groups: Famous Portrait Analysis, watch for pupils stating that gaze direction does not guide the viewer’s eye in composition.

  During Small Groups: Famous Portrait Analysis, provide arrows on tracing paper for pupils to overlay and trace the gaze path, then redraw the portrait with a new gaze direction to test how the viewer’s eye moves differently.

• During Individual: Gaze-Directed Self-Portrait, watch for pupils focusing only on the eyes and keeping the head position fixed.

  During Individual: Gaze-Directed Self-Portrait, place mirrors around the room so pupils can physically turn their heads and observe how the gaze direction shifts the entire composition, encouraging them to sketch both eye and head alignment.

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Methods used in this brief

• Think-Pair-Share