This activity was used with children in key stage 1, year 2.

Aim

• To investigate different kinds of art, craft and design from different times and cultures.

Activity objectives

• To experience, first-hand, differences and similarities in work from African culture (requirement 4c of the programme of study).
• To learn new skills such as freehand drawing, and investigate the possibilities of wax resist, painting on large surfaces with large brushes and using different media on painted surfaces to create textures (requirements 2a and 2b of the programme of study).
• To make a creative response to the artefacts, representing their own observations, ideas and feelings (requirement 2c of the programme of study) by developing their own designs, based on what they had observed.
• To use artefacts such as carvings, baskets, textiles and musical instruments.

This activity relates to the scheme of work unit 2b 'Mother Nature, designer'. The key stage 2 units 3b 'Investigating pattern' and 5a 'Objects and meanings' can be adapted for this activity.

Activity description

The teacher arranged for the children to visit a local museum with a display of African artefacts. The education officer at the museum was able to allow the children to touch, smell and handle the artefacts and then to participate in a workshop where they could respond to what they had seen.

On returning to school, the children worked in groups and chose an artefact that they had liked to be the focus for their work. They made a large-scale drawing of the artefact and then developed background patterns to complement and enhance the central image. The teacher supported the children's work by talking to them about contrasting colours and changes in tone. He encouraged them to respond to the warmth and richness of the colours in the African textiles.

The children then further developed their work by creating a textured surface on top of the paint. The teacher showed them how to make marks with pastels and chalks, using line and repeating patterns (see examples, right). For example, if they had drawn a bird or an animal, they used marks to create the effect of feathers or fur.

The teacher photographed and transferred the children's work onto CD-ROM to add to their library of children's artwork for other children to use as a visual reference.

The work was displayed in the local museum alongside the artefacts.

Commentary

The children's knowledge of different materials, skills and techniques used in African culture was enhanced as a result of this project. They learnt new skills for their own work. They also had a strong sense of achievement through producing vibrant designs of their own and through having their work displayed in the community and on CD-ROM for reference by others.