Art and Design · Year 5

Active learning ideas

Proportion and Anatomy of the Face

Active learning turns abstract facial proportions into concrete, measurable skills. When students measure real faces and test rules on their own peers, they move from guessing to seeing facial structure as a repeatable system. This hands-on approach builds confidence and accuracy that static diagrams cannot.

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

• 25–40 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Peer Teaching
• 30 min · Pairs

Pairs: Eye-Width Mapping

Partners take turns as models. Use a pencil to measure one eye width, then mark nose, mouth, and ears relative to it on paper. Compare sketches to a proportion grid and adjust. Switch roles after 10 minutes.

Explain how we can use the eyes as a measurement tool for the rest of the face's features.

Facilitation Tip

During Eye-Width Mapping, have students measure their partner’s face with rulers, then trade roles so both practice measuring and drawing.

What to look for

Provide students with a blank head outline. Ask them to draw guidelines for placing the eyes, nose, and mouth based on the 'eye width' measurement. Check for correct placement of the eye line and the halfway point between the nose and chin.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Activity 02

• Peer Teaching
• 40 min · Small Groups

Small Groups: Angle Rotation Sketches

Set up mirrors at front, three-quarter, and profile views. Groups draw 5-minute sketches at each station, noting shape changes. Rotate stations and discuss differences as a group.

Predict what happens to a portrait when we intentionally break the rules of proportion.

Facilitation Tip

For Angle Rotation Sketches, set up four stations around the room with labeled angles (front, three-quarter, profile, tilted) and rotate groups every five minutes to keep energy high.

What to look for

Show students two portraits: one with accurate proportions and one with deliberately distorted features. Ask: 'How does changing the proportions affect the mood or character of the person in the portrait? Which portrait tells a different story, and why?'

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Activity 03

• Peer Teaching
• 25 min · Whole Class

Whole Class: Proportion Distortion Demo

Project a face outline. Teacher draws accurate version, then class votes on distortion effects like oversized eyes. Students copy one version and predict emotional impact in pairs.

Analyze how the angle of the head changes the perceived shape and placement of facial features.

Facilitation Tip

In Proportion Distortion Demo, deliberately draw one portrait with exaggerated proportions and another realistically, then ask students to point out which rules were broken and why.

What to look for

Students sketch a portrait of a partner, focusing on proportional accuracy. Partners then swap sketches and use a checklist: 'Are the eyes roughly one eye-width apart? Is the nose base aligned with the gap between the eyes? Is the mouth halfway between the nose and chin?' Partners provide one specific suggestion for improvement.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Activity 04

• Peer Teaching
• 35 min · Individual

Individual: Tilted Self-Portrait

Students use handheld mirrors tilted at angles. Apply eye-measure rules to sketch self-portrait. Label changes in feature placement and compare to front-view baseline.

Explain how we can use the eyes as a measurement tool for the rest of the face's features.

What to look for

Provide students with a blank head outline. Ask them to draw guidelines for placing the eyes, nose, and mouth based on the 'eye width' measurement. Check for correct placement of the eye line and the halfway point between the nose and chin.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teach proportions as a flexible guide, not a rigid formula. Start with the eye-width rule as a scaffold, then encourage students to notice individual variations. Use peer measurement to normalize differences, building observational skills and reducing reliance on stereotypes. Avoid showing only idealized faces; include diverse examples to broaden students’ visual vocabulary.

By the end of these activities, students will place facial features using the eye-width unit and head thirds without prompts. They will explain why proportions shift with angle or perspective and adjust their drawings accordingly. Sketches will show consistent spacing and alignment across multiple views.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Eye-Width Mapping, watch for students who assume eyes sit exactly halfway down the head from crown to chin.

  Have pairs measure the actual distance from hairline to chin, then from hairline to eyes and eyes to chin. Ask them to compare their measurements to the rule that the forehead takes up the top third, so eyes sit just above the midpoint.

• During Angle Rotation Sketches, watch for students who assume all facial features keep their shape and size from any angle.

  Ask students to sketch a partner’s profile and front view side by side, then measure the width of the nose and mouth in both views. They will notice narrowing and shifting proportions that require adjustment.

• During Proportion Distortion Demo, watch for students who assume all faces share identical proportions regardless of age or ethnicity.

  Display student-collected measurements from small groups, highlighting variations in eye spacing, nose width, or forehead height. Discuss how these differences inform realistic portraits.

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Methods used in this brief

• Peer Teaching