Fine Arts · Class 2

Active learning ideas

Tactile Textures and Collage

Active learning works here because young children build understanding of texture through touch, not just sight. Moving around the school, handling real materials and layering them, makes abstract concepts concrete and memorable for Class 2 learners.

• CBSE Learning Outcomes
• NCERT: Visual Arts - Principles of Design - Texture - Class 7

• 30–45 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Experiential Learning
• 35 min · Individual

Scavenger Hunt: Texture Hunt Around School

Begin with a whole class list of texture types like rough or smooth. Students hunt for five matching items from nature and classroom, sketch them with notes on feel. Return to glue selections into personal collages, sharing one choice with the group.

Analyze how combining diverse materials in a collage impacts the overall sensory experience of the artwork.

Facilitation Tip

When creating the Textured Village mural, have a ‘texture rule’ poster reminding students to place rough materials on the bottom and smooth on top for balance.

What to look for

As students work, ask them to hold up two different materials they have collected. Ask: 'How does this feel? How does this feel different?' Record their descriptive words (e.g., 'scratchy,' 'fluffy').

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness

Activity 02

• Stations Rotation
• 40 min · Small Groups

Stations Rotation: Feel and Layer Stations

Set up four stations with materials: Station 1 blindfold touch and guess; Station 2 match texture to pictures; Station 3 layer scraps on base paper; Station 4 describe group collage. Groups rotate every 7 minutes, recording sensations.

Justify the selection of specific materials to evoke a particular tactile sensation in a mixed-media piece.

What to look for

Provide students with a small card. Ask them to draw one texture they used in their collage and write one word describing how it feels. Then, ask them to name one material they chose and why.

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

Activity 03

• Experiential Learning
• 30 min · Pairs

Pair Creation: Texture Story Collage

Pairs brainstorm a simple story like a bumpy monster adventure. They select and glue textures to illustrate, such as wool for fur. Pairs present, explaining how textures match the story feel.

Evaluate how the arrangement of different textures can create visual interest and balance in a composition.

What to look for

Gather students to look at a few completed collages. Ask: 'Which artwork makes you want to reach out and touch it the most? Why? What textures did the artist use to make it interesting?'

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness

Activity 04

• Experiential Learning
• 45 min · Whole Class

Whole Class Mural: Textured Village

Discuss village elements needing textures. Each student adds one textured section to a large chart paper, like gravel paths or silky rivers. End with a gallery walk to note contrasts.

Analyze how combining diverse materials in a collage impacts the overall sensory experience of the artwork.

What to look for

As students work, ask them to hold up two different materials they have collected. Ask: 'How does this feel? How does this feel different?' Record their descriptive words (e.g., 'scratchy,' 'fluffy').

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers begin by modelling how to describe texture using precise words like ‘grainy,’ ‘spongy,’ or ‘prickly.’ Avoid correcting too soon; let students experiment and discover texture balance through peer talk. Research shows blindfolded touch builds deeper sensory vocabulary than visual-only activities.

Successful learning looks like students confidently describing textures using sensory words, arranging materials thoughtfully to create balanced compositions, and sharing reflections on how touch changes their artwork’s impact.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Scavenger Hunt, watch for children who collect materials based only on appearance.

  Ask each child to close their eyes and feel one material before deciding if it belongs in their basket, using words like ‘rough,’ ‘smooth,’ or ‘bumpy’ to justify their choice.

• During Feel and Layer Stations, watch for children arranging materials randomly without considering balance.

  Encourage students to take turns feeling their partner’s work and suggest one place to add or remove texture for better balance.

• During Texture Story Collage, watch for children selecting materials because they like the colour rather than the texture.

  Guide pairs to describe the texture of each material aloud before gluing, using a shared sentence starter like ‘This fabric feels _____ because _____.’

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Methods used in this brief

• Experiential Learning
• Stations Rotation