What am I going to learn in Art?
Autumn 2025
Reception
In the Autumn term, the children will learn the primary colours and recognise these throughout their lessons and provision. The children will investigate shades of colour and share their preferences.
Year 1
Children in year one will investigate colour. They will learn to recognise warm and cool colours and look at tints and shades of colour. The children will investigate artwork such as A Bigger Splash – Hockney and Van Gough’s Sunflowers; before creating their own artwork.
Year 2
In year two, the children will build on their colour knowledge by investigating opposing colours, shape and textures. They will look at artwork such as The Arnolfini Portrait, and works by Matisse. Using their scissor skills, the children will create a cutout, in the style of Matisse.
Year 3
Students in year three will investigate line, learning the vocabulary to describe line accurately, and applying these skills when discussing artwork. They will look at artwork such as The Great Wave and Studies of Water. The children will use their knowledge of line to create tile prints.
Year 4
In year four the children will investigate tone, in particular how this is used to show form and drama. They will compare Caravaggio and Vermeer in their use of tone, and learn how to use a ground and underpainting using acrylic paint. Finally, the children will learn to use shading to show form.
Year 5
In year five, the children will learn about abstract art. They will learn about Rococo, a style of art and design from the 1700s. Children will compare two styles in art and design, and create their own abstract artwork; with an understanding that abstract art doesn’t try to represent anything.
Year 6
In year six, the children will be learning about sculpture in the Renaissance period and about the artists Brunelleschi, Donatello, Ghiberti, Michelangelo and the buildings Il Duomo and the Basilica of St Peter’s. They will investigate the role of sculpture in classical artwork.
