Autumn 2 Curriculum Overview

Topic: Drawing and Painting

This half term in Art, the children in Year 1/2 will be learning about drawing and painting. They will explore how to mix colours, use different tools to create patterns and textures, and experiment with watercolour paints. By the end of the unit, each child will create their own piece of artwork using all the skills they have practised.

What We’ll Be Learning

1. The Colour Wheel
Children will learn about primary and secondary colours and experiment with mixing paints to create new shades. They will make their own colour wheels to show what they have discovered.

2. Exploring Tools and Techniques
Pupils will explore different ways to paint and print, using brushes, rollers, stamps, and even their hands! They’ll learn how different tools make different textures and patterns.

3. Watercolour Washes
We’ll explore how to use watercolours to make gentle backgrounds and blend colours together. The children will learn how adding more or less water changes the effect of the paint.

4. Creating Our Final Artwork
Children will plan and create their own piece of art using all the techniques they’ve practised — colour mixing, painting, pattern-making, and watercolour washes.

5. Reflecting on Our Work
At the end of the topic, pupils will look back at what they’ve made, talk about what they like best, and write or draw short notes explaining the techniques they used.

Artists we can explore

🎨 Wassily Kandinsky – famous for his colourful shapes and patterns.
🎨 Georgia O’Keeffe – known for her beautiful, soft colour blends.
🎨 Paul Klee – who used lines, shapes, and colour to create abstract art.

How You Can Support at Home

Here are some simple ways to encourage your child’s creativity at home:

• Talk about colour: Notice colours in everyday life – “What colours can you see in the sunset?” “What happens if we mix red and yellow?”

• Get creative together: Let your child paint, draw, or make patterns using things around the house like leaves, sponges, or potato stamps.

• Visit art in your community: Look at art displays, murals, or galleries – talk about what your child likes and why.

• Encourage imagination: Praise your child for being creative and trying new ideas, not just for “staying in the lines.”

• Share books and pictures: Look at illustrations in storybooks and talk about how the artist uses colour and shape.