This Art and design scheme of work video supports pupils as they plan their own still life composition, ready to sketch and paint in a future lesson.

Pupils could bring in meaningful objects from home, choose items from around the classroom, or teachers can provide a selection. They could focus on objects that represent themselves or communicate a message. Working individually or in small groups, children arrange their objects into a composition. They’re encouraged to try different layouts, overlap items, and think about what looks interesting from above. Standing up to arrange and view the objects works best.

The video encourages constructive peer feedback, helping each group refine their composition. Once they’re happy, they photograph it from above. These photos can be used to guide their painting in the next lesson. Pupils then make a quick sketch of their still life. This sketch captures the overall composition, not detailed features.

This video is part of Kapow Primary’s Year 4 Light and dark unit.

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

Art and design, Year 4, Painting and mixed media: Light and dark, Lesson 4: Composition.