Year 7 Art & Design

Unit Content

Unit 1

It's a small world: insects

Students are introduced to a range of visual stimuli and explore drawing and colour theory using wet and dry media. They learn manipulation skills which enable them to develop 2D outcomes independently. The unit emphasises the visual connections students make between their own work and that of others, while teaching them to develop skills in media experimentation.

Key knowledge developed:

  • Knowing how tonal value, mark-making and direct observation inform drawing
  • Understanding the work of others using tools of visual analysis
  • Knowing how colour theory can be applied to range of wet and dry media

Key skills developed:

  • How to draw with line, weight, pressure and tonal complexity
  • How to write descriptive visual analysis
  • How to mix secondary, tertiary, complementary and analogous colours

Assessment: Learning is assessed formatively at Weeks 5 and 10 of the 12-week unit against an established checklist of criteria. Summative assessment and feedback are based on progress made towards the expected standard, which is articulated through a series of 'I can' statements.

Unit 2 

It's a small world: birds

In this unit, students collaborate to explore a variety of geographical and historical perspectives on birds in art. From these starting points, they develop ideas independently using 3D paper-construction techniques and colour theory to realise sculptural designs. The unit enables students to synthesise new and prior learning as a means of realising independent creative intentions. 

Key knowledge developed:

  • Understanding a variety of geographical and historical perspectives on birds in art
  • Understanding how artists can be influenced by cultural context
  • Understanding how 2D design ideas can be realised using 3D paper- and card- construction techniques

Key skills developed:

  • How to investigate collaboratively
  • How to synthesise independent research and prior learning to develop creative  ideas
  • How to realise 2D ideas by joining, building and constructing using paper- and card-construction techniques

Assessment: Learning is assessed formatively at Weeks 5 and 10 of the 12-week unit against an established checklist of criteria. Summative assessment and feedback are based on progress made towards the expected standard, which is articulated through a series of 'I can' statements.