Art and Design
At Adswood Primary School, Art is a much-loved subject for our children, right from their very first steps in Nursery all the way through to Year 6. We believe that creative expression is essential to every child's growth, providing rich opportunities to express themselves, showcase their individuality, and build confidence through visual discovery.
Our 'Silk and Stone' Curriculum
Art is an integral part of all learning across our school, providing a vital foundation through which children visually experience new knowledge. We teach Art in a cross-curricular manner, weaving it directly throughout our bespoke, 'Adswood exclusive' Silk and Stone curriculum.
This integrated approach enables our staff to plan lessons creatively, ensuring every experience is inclusive, memorable, and long-lasting. By connecting Art with history, geography, and science, our children are fully immersed in their topics and given meaningful ways to display their understanding through hands-on creative outcomes.
Art Across the Year Groups
Year 1: Material Spies
Our Year 1 pupils are fully immersed in their topic, Material Spies, exploring the artwork of famous artist L.S. Lowry and his iconic depictions of Stockport viaducts. Learning from Lowry’s distinct style, the children are creating their own viaduct artwork using strong lines, industrial colour palettes, and the famous 'matchstick people'.
Year 2: The Great Fire of London
In Year 2, learning all about The Great Fire of London has inspired a striking art project. Taking inspiration from the work of artist Jan Griffier, our children created a mixed-media city skyline incorporating warm, fiery colour palettes to capture the atmospheric historical event.
Year 3 & 4: The Stone Age
Our Year 3 and 4 classes have been delving into the historical period of the Stone Age. To complement their history knowledge, pupils have developed their observational drawing skills and shading techniques by sketching Stone Age tools. As part of their continued creative journey, children will also be sculpting clay fossils throughout the autumn term.
Year 5 & 6: Silk, Trade, and Craft
In Upper Key Stage 2, all three Year 5/6 classes have flourished through a diverse range of artistic projects that bridge local history and world cultures:
Faux Batik Patterns: Crafting intricate patterns using traditional wax-resist techniques.
Traditional 'Chops': Sculpting custom clay stamps (chops) to print bespoke designs onto self-made paper fans, as is customary in Chinese culture.
The Art of Weaving: Discovering the heritage of textile production first-hand during a trip to the Macclesfield Silk Museum.
Picture Mapping: Visually mapping the historic 10,000-mile trade route of silk from China to Stockport.
Inspiring Lifelong Creativity
Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that all children are given rich opportunities to showcase their new-found knowledge through art outcomes that supplement and enhance their wider learning. Art at Adswood Primary School provides a wealth of enjoyment, fosters creative confidence, and equips our pupils with meaningful experiences that stay with them for years to come.
