United Kingdom · National Curriculum Attainment Targets
Year 6 Art and Design
A comprehensive Year 6 curriculum focused on refining technical skills and developing critical thinking through diverse media. Students explore the intersection of historical movements and contemporary practice while building a sophisticated personal portfolio.
01The Power of the Portrait
Students explore how identity and emotion are captured through portraiture across different eras and styles. This unit focuses on anatomical accuracy and the use of symbolic elements to convey personality.
Mastering the mathematical relationships of the human face to create realistic representations.
Using non-traditional colors and bold brushwork to represent internal feelings rather than external reality.
Incorporating objects and backgrounds that tell a story about the subject's life and values.
Creating self-portraits using various media to explore personal identity and self-perception.
Practicing observational drawing skills by sketching live models or classmates, focusing on gesture and form.
Experimenting with warm, cool, and complementary colour schemes to evoke specific moods in portraiture.
Developing skills in using light and shadow to create depth and form in portrait drawings.
02Architecture and Built Environments
An investigation into the relationship between form and function through the study of local and global architecture. Students develop perspective drawing skills and 3D modeling techniques.
Learning the technical rules of one-point perspective to create the illusion of three-dimensional space.
Exploring how buildings look different when viewed from various positions and drawing them to show these changes.
Investigating how different materials like brick, wood, and glass give buildings unique textures and appearances.
Designing and building small-scale models of eco-friendly structures using recycled materials.
Sketching local buildings and landmarks, focusing on capturing their unique features and historical context.
Learning basic techniques for constructing simple 3D architectural models using card, paper, and glue.
Exploring how light and shadow define form, create mood, and highlight architectural details.
Applying two-point perspective to draw buildings from a corner view, adding more realism to exterior scenes.
03Digital Frontiers and Media
Students bridge the gap between traditional art and modern technology by exploring digital manipulation and animation. This unit focuses on the ethics and possibilities of the digital canvas.
Using digital tools to manipulate existing images and create new meanings through collage.
Creating short animated sequences that explore character movement and storytelling.
Combining typography and imagery to create a persuasive poster for a global issue.
Exploring basic digital painting tools and brushes to create original artworks on a tablet or computer.
Learning fundamental photography principles like rule of thirds, leading lines, and framing to create impactful images.
Using basic photo editing software to crop, adjust colour, and enhance digital photographs.
Planning animated sequences by creating storyboards, focusing on visual narrative and scene transitions.
04Global Patterns and Textiles
A journey through the history of fabric and pattern design, focusing on cultural significance and tactile exploration. Students learn printmaking and weaving techniques.
Exploring the mathematical beauty and spiritual significance of tessellation and symmetry.
Studying West African cloth traditions and creating personal stamps to communicate values.
Using fibers and soft materials to create 3D forms that challenge the traditional idea of sculpture.
Experimenting with resist dyeing methods to create vibrant patterns on fabric.
Learning basic weaving techniques on simple looms to understand warp and weft and create textile structures.
Observing natural patterns (e.g., spirals, fractals, tessellations) and applying them to textile designs.
Exploring how different cultures use textiles to tell stories, record history, or express identity.
05Art as Activism
Students analyze how artists use their work to comment on political and social issues. They develop their own voice by creating art that addresses a topic they care about.
Exploring how murals and sculptures are placed in public areas and how they can make a place special.
Creating artworks using natural materials like leaves, twigs, and stones to express ideas about the environment.
Creating art that expresses personal feelings or ideas about a topic students care about, using visual symbols.
Looking at artworks that address social themes and discussing how art can encourage people to think differently.
Exploring how murals and public art projects can foster community identity and address local issues.
An introduction to performance art, discussing how artists use their bodies and actions to convey messages.
Investigating the history and cultural impact of street art and graffiti as forms of public expression and activism.
06The Curated Exhibition
The final unit focuses on the professional side of art, including selection, mounting, and explaining work. Students prepare a retrospective of their Year 6 portfolio.
Learning how to choose pieces for an exhibition based on a common theme or technical growth.
Learning to describe our artworks using art vocabulary and explaining the choices we made during the creative process.
Planning how to arrange artworks in a space to create a visual story or highlight a theme for viewers.
Learning basic techniques for framing, mounting, and displaying artworks professionally.
Organizing and hosting a gallery event for the school community to view the year's achievements.
Crafting short written statements that explain the inspiration, process, and meaning behind their artworks.