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Learning through sketchbooks in art and design
This exemplar shows how sketchbooks can be used as an effective tool for recording learning across the curriculum. It describes a partnership project which brought two schools and their communities together with practising artists to explore their outdoor environments through art and language. The included video examples demonstrate an approach to assessing children's understanding and use of the visual elements.
How to use this exemplar
The information provided in this resource, along with reflective questions, invites you to consider how your school or setting might benefit from using sketchbooks for recording learning across the curriculum.
The video examples describing the assessment of children’s understanding and use of the visual elements should be helpful in building practitioner confidence in discussing the visual elements of the art and design curriculum with learners and colleagues, particularly for staff in early years settings and primary schools.
In ‘What was the impact?’, you are invited to read the views of learners and practitioners about the learning which took place. Then, individually or as a team, explore the documents and files that accompany the study and consider the following improvement question in your own context:
- How effectively do you provide opportunities for learners to develop their knowledge of the visual elements and their skills in using them?
- How confident are you in assessing learners’ understanding and use of the visual elements?
- What is the range of opportunities you provide for learners to work with community partners in learning activities that are motivating and creative?
Explore this exemplar
What was done?
The project involved a group of Gaelic-speaking primary learners from two schools – Bunsgoil Shlèite on Skye and Tollcross Primary, a Gaelic medium school in Edinburgh. The project began with learners exploring their own local environments once a week over a term with the support of practising artists. The following term they went on a week-long exchange hosted by their partner school. The learners were therefore each able to experience the differences between the two environments – rural and urban. The project was delivered through the medium of Gaelic.
Why?
Air Iomlaid (On Exchange) was a partnership project bringing two schools and their communities together with practising artists to explore their outdoor environments through art and language. The lead artist described the project as undergoing a process of ‘getting fit’ artistically.
The sketchbooks were used as a method of developing artistic confidence in the learners. Sketchbooks were also used by practitioners as a way of recording and analysing learners’ progress.
What was the impact?
After enjoying the outdoor experiences, working with the artists and creating their own public exhibition, the learners' main perceptions of the impact of the project focused predominantly on their learning experiences, for example:
- how to put feeling into the paintings
- how to use shades and tone
- how to write poems based on your art work
- there are many possibilities when drawing a picture
Practitioners reflected that the outdoor learning experiences, which were expressive arts-focused but also interdisciplinary, enabled pupils to make connections across the curriculum, apply skills in a range of situations and learn in a way that was personalised and meaningful.
Video playlist
There are 8 videos in the series - see menu at top left corner of display for list.
Video Transcripts
Word file: Video transcript - Materials (19 KB)
Word file: Video transcript - Understanding form (19 KB)
Word file: Video transcript - Using form (18 KB)
Word file: Video transcript - Using paint (20 KB)
Word file: Video transcript - Colour (19 KB)
Word file: Video transcript - Composition in colour (19 KB)
Word file: Video transcript - Composition (20 KB)
Downloads
Word file: A Planning Toolkit for a School Partnership Project (29 KB)
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