This Art and design scheme of work video introduces a lesson in which pupils prepare to create abstract sculptures. They will take inspiration from playground structures to explore space and shape.

Children begin by looking at the large shapes found in play equipment, developing ideas through drawing. This builds on familiar skills, while introducing the concepts of positive and negative space. Pupils practise identifying positive and negative space in photos of play equipment.

They then revisit the 3D models created in Lesson 1. Before drawing, children observe carefully and are challenged to draw quickly and from different viewpoints. They explore three approaches: drawing the structure, the negative space around it, and both together. Next, children work in pairs to plan a sculpture, using ideas from artists, their sketches and the shapes they’ve explored. Some may combine abstract forms, others may design simplified versions of familiar equipment.

This video is part of Kapow Primary’s Year 3 Abstract shape and space unit.

See more of our Year 3 Art and design scheme of work.

Art and design, Year 3, Sculpture and 3D: Abstract shape and space, Lesson 3: Seeing space.