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Important update
This Year 4 Painting and mixed media unit has been updated for 2026–2027 to provide a clearer progression of painting skills and knowledge.
The current Art, Year 4, Light and dark unit will move to the Content archive area in August 2026, where it will remain permanently available.
Explore the Art and design, Long-term plan for 2026–2027.
Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Accurately use the vocabulary tone, tint and shade.
- Mix colours with white and black to create a range of tints and shades.
- Create gradual changes in tone using tints and shades.
- Identify highlights, midtones and shadows on an object
- Apply lighter and darker tones to show highlights and shadows.
- Use tone to make an object appear three-dimensional.
- Use a range of paint techniques to create tonal variation.
- Use art vocabulary to describe elements of composition, such as shape, colour, light or balance.
- Arrange objects deliberately to create a balanced still life with areas of contrast.
- Mix a range of tints and shades, placing highlights and shadows in the correct places to show 3D form in a still life painting.
Suggested prior learning
Painting & mixed media: Exploring texture with paint and collage
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Lessons
Lesson 1: Tints and shades
Lesson 2: Three dimensions
Lesson 3: Tone techniques
Lesson 4: Composition
Lesson 5: Still life
Key skills
Key skills
Generating ideas:
- Generate ideas from
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Key knowledge
Making skills:
- The impact of
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Key vocabulary
blend (Y3)
communication (Y3)
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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)
Download
Full equipment list for the subject
Quantities marked × will update. Items without quantities are unaffected
- Table coverings ×8
- Paint
- Paint palettes ×30
-
A range of paintbrushes
×30 - Water pots ×15
- Sketchbooks or loose paper
-
Simple 3D objects to paint, e.g. cups, bowls, fruit or vegetables
×8 - Coloured paper ×30
- Hb pencils ×30
- A selection of Glue spreaders
-
A collection of objects to arrange as a still life (such as stationery, sports equipment, fruit, vegetables, books, toys.
×8 - Devices to take photos ×8
- Torches ×8
- Drawing pencils ×30
- Cartridge paper ×30
The equipment below is optional
- Oil and soft pastels ×30
- A3 paper
-
A variety of fabrics for draping
×8
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Related content
Unit resources
Knowledge organiser: Art and design – Y4 Painting: Light and dark
Aimed at pupils, a single page which gives key facts and definitions from the unit: Art and design, Year 4,…
Vocabulary display: Art and design – Y4 Painting: Light and dark
Cross-curricular opportunities
Science: Light.
