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Please note
This unit has been updated for 2026–2027 to provide a clearer progression of painting skills and knowledge.
The old unit has moved to the Content archive area, where it will remain permanently available.
Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Explain how artists use colour and texture to communicate messages in their artwork.
- Identify warm and cool colours and use these deliberately to show mood or temperature.
- Talk about how colour choices in an artwork make them feel.
- Recognise different real and visual textures (in environment/artworks), using appropriate vocabulary to describe them.
- Use tools and materials in different ways to create a range of textured effects and patterns and explain, how tools and materials were used.
- Make choices about layout, materials and detail to strengthen the meaning or message in their artwork.
Suggested prior learning
Painting and mixed media: Colour mixing
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Teacher video: Exploring texture unit overview
Lessons
Lesson 1: Romare Bearden
Lesson 2: Collecting textures
Lesson 3: Making textured paper
Lesson 4: Story-inspired collages
Lesson 5: Adding detail
Key skills
Key skills
Generating ideas:
- Generating ideas from
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Key knowledge
Making skills:
- Understand that changing
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Key vocabulary
collage
composition
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Equipment list
Equipment needed across all lessons in this unit.
This list does not include equipment which is usually readily available in the classroom (e.g pencils, A4 paper etc)
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Full equipment list for the subject
Quantities marked × will update. Items without quantities are unaffected
- PVA glue ×1
- Clipboards ×15
-
Bags for collecting texture samples
×8 - Wax Crayons ×30
- Paint ×8
-
Varied tools for painting, such as sponges, forks, combs, cotton buds, cardboard.
×30 -
A range of materials suitable for painting onto
×30 -
A3 cartridge paper
×30 -
A variety of tools and materials for adding details, such as sponges, paintbrushes, pens, pastels and tissue paper
×15
The equipment below is optional
- Digital camera ×8
- Paper ×30
-
Additional collage papers, such as newspaper, magazine pages, wrapping paper or wallpaper
×15
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Related content
Unit resources
Knowledge organiser: Art and design – Y3: Exploring texture with paint and collage
Vocabulary display: Painting & Mixed media – Exploring texture with paint and collage Y3
A display version of the key vocabulary from the painting & mixed media year 3 unit.
Subject resources
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Cross-curricular opportunities
English: Spoken language.
Build on the learning
Drawing: Exploring tone, texture and proportion
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