This Art and design scheme of work video supports pupils in creating abstract animal studies as part of a printed textiles project.

Working from their mood boards and chosen imagery, pupils begin by drawing four squares on A3 paper. Using a viewfinder, pupils select a close-up area of an animal or insect image that fits with their chosen colour palette. This is drawn to fill the first square, creating a detailed magnified section.

They repeat this process for three more squares, selecting different parts of the same animal or insect for each. The emphasis is on observation—looking closely to replicate texture, pattern and line using a variety of drawing tools. Pupils are guided to think about how to represent delicate features like antennae, scales or fur, and how to use line to suggest movement and texture. These four abstract drawings will be developed further into textile designs in the following lessons.

This video is part of Kapow Primary’s Year 4 Fabric of nature unit. It introduces pupils to drawing, abstraction and pattern-making in a design context.

See more of our Year 4 Art and design scheme of work.

Art and design, Year 4, Craft and design: Fabric of nature, Lesson 2: One picture, four views.