This scheme of work takes students through stages in making a successful composition Key areas covered are observation drawing skills, key terminology, rules of composition, critical referencing – contextual studies, development of ideas in range of media and approach and realisation of outcomes. I've used this with classes from year 8 to post 16, the idea of the secret formula for how to make a composition goes down really well and gives the students a tangible set of rues that they can continue to apply in painting in as they tackle other projects. The set of lessons can be delivered to fill a half term, and this version always worked best in the Autumn through using natural forms and colours in Autumn.

A starter activity for students to explore possible connections between the paintings and question what is going on in them. These starters really engage students and when done regularly they begin to catch on that they have to think outside the box and look for clues in the subject matter. Its always useful to make them think!

In 1565 Pieter Bruegel painted a series of paintings dedicated to the months of the year. He broke the cycle of the year into six stages in six paintings, two months per painting. This starter asks students to make connections between the images to spot that they about the seasons and months and this gets them looking more closely at the activity going on in the painting. Suitable for any year group as its really about looking and asking questions.

This lesson has been really useful for students to consider how to show the processes of their work so that it is clear they have made decisions with their media in the development of their work. There is a starter activity which focusses them into the notion that an unfinished piece of work can be really useful in how we understand how an artist works, and how this is useful to them - show the journey of a piece of work and the moderators will understand how they think, use their media and refine their work. Really good for AO1 2 and 3, and useful for KS3 4 and 5.

A lesson to focus on best ways to develop responses for AO4. Ideal for KS3 GCSE and A Level in taking students from initial basic responses to how they can use sources and information to develop their thinking and extend their written responses. The power point contains reference to 2 artists, prompts for thinking, an extended task with suggestions to get going with ways of sentence starters, along with aims and objectives. I have always found this lesson really useful in developing the skills needed for AO1 in a way that is based on Blooms, but less overwhelming in terms of it being so much to look at for students.

A starter to engage on entry and stimulate curiosity and questioning on the part of the students. I find these starters great for getting students going as soon as they arrive and good for them to consider looking at images in a different way to the way expect to in art work and so challenge their ideas on wider culture

A starter activity to engage on entry and help get students looking for connections between images. Stimulates curiosity and thinking especially if working in pairs and creates a climate where they are happy to suggest possible answers - working on 2 levels - if they can identify the correct image, they can then puzzle further on what the answer might be. Great for learning about how to question what they are looking at.

Engages students on entry and gets them looking and asking questions - good for getting them to think outside of the box

A nicely constructed essay on "Structures and Abstraction" to show students beginning the written element of their personal Investigation with a good mix of research and gallery visits to inform the personal response. The student uses quotation well to set up opportunities to comment and develop ideas further, supported by examples of their own work. Also includes the student's own photos of work seen in galleries such as the Mondrian on this cover image.

A fun starter activity testing knowledge developing thinking skills - will broaden students' understanding of art as well as encouraging them to think that all artists started as students.

A fun starter activity to encourage students to think outside the box in making links between works and learning. A 5 -10 minute starter good for GCSE and A level students which develops thinking for AO1.

This is a lesson to stimulate thinking skills whilst developing skills in drawing from observation. It requires students to consider what the different elements are in painting and drawing, useful in developing responses for AO1 and 2 at GCSE and A Level

A starter activity which develops thinking skills by asking students to consider categorization different to normally expected connections. It will also tick an Equality and Diversity box and allow students to consider issues relevant to them. This can be used with any age group but is particularly good for GCSE and A level and is a great activity to stimulate discussion

This is a starter activity which encourages students to consider that they should not always believe what they see, particularly in a photograph. The activity gives opportunities for students to discuss the ethics of manipulating a photograph to mislead the viewer. This can be used as an intervention starter for any art or photography class, but maybe of particular use to GCSE and A level photography students - covering AO1 discussing and developing ideas.

A fun starter activity which encourages students to think outside the box in exploring connections between images as well as widening their appreciation of where names come from, and the enduring qualities involved in the nature of our culture. This is suitable for GCSE and A Level Art and Design groups, but could equally be used in an English lesson, or other subjects as a thinking skills exercise which could lead into independent research.

A collection of Matisse quotes to start the week with - will last a term. Great for a start of a discussion or just to have up on the board. There's also a set of quotes by Lucien Freud to do a Friday Freud

A useful little form for students to use to focus themselves on what they need to do while they complete their prep work for unit 2 A Level Art and Design

A useful little form to help year 1 A Level students focus their ideas as they begin to think about their Personal Investigation

A lesson starter and activity to explore Matisse's cut outs in a new approach. The starter will enable students to challenge their thinking on how an artist can work when faced with physical challenges. This is a great lesson for the promotion of equality and diversity and gives good coverage to AO1 AO2 and AO4 with them commenting on the ways of working and then taking new approaches with the cut outs of Matisse. Great for all age ranges in raising their awareness of equality and diversity. The power point slides give additional information on the artists condition and ways of working.

A fun starter activity where students can look for clues as to common themes in 3 of the images. This encourages guess work and thinking about what they are looking at, developing skills in responding to artworks in their project work. suitable for GCSE and A level groups where you want to engage students at the beginning of a session.