A set of images of extreme facial expression to use for drawing - images of sculptures featuring the work of Franz Xaver Messerschmidt, Bernini and Rodin. I've used these with year 9 and above - and find that getting students to draw from sculptures offers them a start in seeing where the essential forms are through tonal changes without being distracted by detail - the withdrawal away from the reality of a basic photograph of a face seems to help in achieving more expressive and stronger drawing. The powerpoint contains 22 images of facial expressions in sculptures and links to information. This can form the basis of a set of lessons that lead into their own explorations of facial expression through their own direct observations. The expressions can cause some smiles too.

A feedback sheet for internal assessment and feedback, including comment box and tick boxes for AFL.

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.

I use this as an introduction session to life drawing as it is a great confidence booster in figure drawing, but I've also found it really useful as part of any project to do with the figure. Using Rodin as a source it gives good crossover between AO1 and AO2, looking at the way he uses pose and body language to inform their drawings to get a really informed and meaningful personal response. The great thing about working from sculpture is that it frees the students up from worrying about the detail that often gets in the way. There is an extension activity using new approaches for them in media in a really expressive way. Great for GCSE and A Level students

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.

This always goes well - it gives students a systematic approach to making a seamless repeat pattern. The step by step guide on the power point comes with a starter pattern looking at repeating pattern across different cultures and then focuses on William Morris style repeating process, so a good coverage of AO1 2 and 4. Great for years 7 - 9 but can be done in a simpler version for KS2 also. Good to follow on from some observation drawing sessions on natural forms, but I've used the idea with allsorts of shapes from Cosmic to micro organisms

A fun starter to any lesson or tutor time to get students thinking and looking for clues to make connections.

This has always proved a really useful lesson, either done part way through a project or towards the end. It focuses the students into thinking what is their work about, what are they trying to do in their work, and how they can explain their ideas. I use this source by separating the images from the text, and the students have to match the statement to the work. This then leads into them highlighting areas that they find most informative and commenting on how they can understand the work more after reading what the artist has said about it. They then begin to formulate their own thoughts into writing their own artists statements to go at the start of the project, rather than an evaluation at the end. This is great for GCSE and A Level AO1 and 4, and also for creating a great impression with the moderator.

I developed this after a conversation with a student about a celebrity they said was now too old to be beautiful. It prompted the question at what age does someone cease to be attractive? Is it 29, 35, 40? etc. This is a fun starter with a homework task to explore this idea and will engage the students on entry having to identify 9 "beautiful" people from photographs when young with them as now, with some of them quite old! This leads into questioning on age and looking at ideals of beauty across time, which all neatly explores equality and diversity and multi cultural aspects. This is great for any age group and provides good opportunity for wider thinking and development of discussion skills.

A useful intervention or cover lesson - comes with a starter task to engage on entry and leads through examples of how fashion designers are using artists as influences in their work. The task has suggested artists to explore and has learning objectives to focus the students on outcomes

A starter activity to engage students and help them think outside the box. I've always found that odd collections of images are of much interest to all students and helps them to try to spot connections, which develops thinking skills and the nature of the activity in making guesses throws up really interesting and unexpected ideas which helps to generate interesting discussion. Working in small groups of mixed ability helps in bringing out ideas and seeing how ideas can be explored in different ways. Suitable for any secondary stage, good for GCSE and A level as a way of processing possible ideas. This is on a power point slide with notes accompanying, and if you search for the Fatboy Slim video it acts as a clue and thinking time.

A fun starter to engage boys in particular in discussion - the points in discussion can be directed towards design, comfort, clean etc to prompt the refinement of the definition of "best"

A starter activity to generate discussion, analysis and reasoning. Leave the decision on criteria for best to the students

A useful guide to writing a meaningful evaluation - prompts and examples for students to move them away from a descriptive list of what they did. Good for GCSE and A Level

6 thinking skills starters to engage and inspire as well as inform on different approaches and aspects of Art. Great for KS 3 4 & 5 - useful for starting lesson observations, or just as a way of giving them something different

A lesson with a starter activity which focuses students on how artists communicate ideas in different ways as well as understanding that when they look at an image it is usually communicating a story, a concept, a response to something. Students are then guided to explore a discussion question relating to how artists use text in their work with a list of suggested sources. The slides have notes accompanying to prompt discussion and there are opportunities to dwell on issues of equality and diversity. This lesson is aimed at GCSE and A Level to boost response to AO1 to show extended informed comments and discussion rather than the usual biographical information on one artist.

This might be useful starting the essay in lockdown - getting the students to think for themselves and construct a discussion around their theme, and exploring the work of artists

A fun starter - spot the connections, work out the link to find the difference - ideal for use as students arrive to get them engaged.

This is a starter activity that encourages curiosity in looking at photography and to stimulate ideas in possible approaches.

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