This Art and design scheme of work video supports pupils as they work together to create a large collaborative artwork using handprints, just like prehistoric artists did thousands of years ago.

The background should be prepared in advance of the lesson so that it is dry. Pupils can help by dabbing or wiping diluted earth-coloured paints onto large paper using sponges or cloths. Flicking paint from a brush adds extra texture.

Working in groups, pupils then explore positive and negative handprints. For a positive print, they dip their hand into paint and press it onto the paper. For a negative print, they place their hand on the paper and carefully sponge or paint around it, then lift their hand to reveal the shape. The video encourages overlapping, layering colours and using different hand sizes to fill the whole space.

This video is part of Kapow Primary’s Year 3 Prehistoric painting unit. It’s all about expression, collaboration and exploration.

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

Art and design, Year 3, Painting and mixed media: Prehistoric painting, Lesson 5: Hands on a cave wall.