A set of 10 images across different cultures and a lesson plan to work as an intervention lesson or lessons in the development of coursework projects. It requires the careful selection of a set of media into party bags with one of the images - and works on the premise that the more constricting the rules you place on students the more creative they get and the harder they look. This is ideal for GCSE and A Level and allows for creative links with other culture's approaches and stylisations. It also hits AO2 in requiring students to explore the boundaries of working with limited random media. The lesson plan includes references to differentiation and equality and diversity as well as highlighting the opportunities through the lesson to hit the learning objectives

A nice little starter that will get students making some links with different approaches across cultures and hook up with their Geography. There is a trick one also to get them guessing. They will enjoy spotting the countries as some are easier to identify than others. Useful for links between Art and Geography, so can be used as a starter in either or in form tutor time

A starter activity for students to think outside the box. The nature of the starter means that they may not guess the right answer, it is more important that they ask questions and think of possible answers - a really important life skill. Handy to focus students on as they arrive to any lesson or tutor time. Useful to lead into discussions on trees as symbols, how we mark events such as 9/11

A starter activity to promote thinking skills for AO2 and AO3 for GCSE and A level - how artists use media, and how they review, modify and refine. This one works really well to break down barriers of not wanting to go beyond the comfort zone when developing work and shows students how artists work in ways where they change their minds when working. Ideal for a lesson involving drawing and reworking a drawing

A starter activity the promotes looking harder. This gives some extra understanding to how painters hide things, or make them less obvious and challenges them to question why which is great for AO1 and AO4, making informed responses and commenting on the work of artists in ways which help them develop ideas and understanding. It works for most age ranges as it really relies on them looking and making connections with what they can see. Great for small group work and useful for building skills in responding to works of art through comparing and contrasting approaches.

A starter to engage students in thinking about design, hygiene, and different cultures and conditions around the world. Particularly useful if your students are not particularly well travelled as it provides them with basic ideas of how different life can be

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 fun starter to engage them as soon as they arrive and a good one to tick the equality and diversity box with opportunities to discuss gender and the way men and women tackle subject matter, challenging stereotypical view points. Really good for generating discussion with A Level and GCSE classes, and I've also used it in PSHE lessons to good effect.

A fun quiz to test knowledge and engage students in some research in finding the answers. I've used it as longer starter to a lesson and as a homework. Multiple choice format to encourage an educated guess from the students it works well with KS4 and post 16 classes.

A starter or a form time activity - get the students talking and discussing what the connecting word is, and what the relevant images are. Great for wider thinking skills and getting the students to question what they are looking at.

A starter activity to engage students in looking at a set of paintings on the same subject to get them to analyse how painters treat the subject in different ways and to make judgements as to their personal preferences, justified to show informed personal responses for AO4 to back up the nature of the task focussing on AO1, exploring what artists do.

A starter activity that can bring discussion on the nature of British tastes and preferences - with opportunity to challenge ideas on stereotype. You could use it as part of a display also. Has been useful in addressing some of the requirements of Fundamental British Values and can lead into further exploration of martin Parr's photography

A fun starter to get students guessing as to reasons why one of these is the most popular. engages students immediately and generates thinking.

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 nice starter for students to think outside the box. Great for getting a positive working atmosphere going and developing thinking skills. great for any subject as something different to start with including tutor time.

A fun little starter to engage students on entry - gets them looking at how artists work in different ways - some neat and tidy, some chaotic. It gives them a reference point of the work the artists produce with the answers. Good for a bit of background knowledge of working practices in painting.

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

A starter to encourage discussion, analysis and reasoning - students can decide on their criteria for "best" - most comfortable, fashionable, fun - and can look across both men's and women's.

A starter activity which always engages students in looking for how artists create illusions in different ways and trick us in how we look. The slide has six images with explanations on slide 2. This starter can be used for any age group you are working with to look a bit harder.