I spend a lot of time on planning for my art lessons, usually wanting to fit in with a class topic or school theme. I research artists whose work students can view and use for inspiration. I want to share my lessons and plans so that other art teachers may just find it saves some time not having to write/type up the details of every lesson.  I’m always on the lookout for ready made lessons I can cut and paste into my documents, but more often than not, I am writing my own.

I often look for ideas for student artwork on the topic, then work out the Elements of art that can be covered, skills, techniques and processes to be engaged with and adaptations for the year level.

 As I am teaching in Victoria, Australia, we use the Victorian Curriculum which has four strands (Explore and Express, Visual Art Practices, Present and Perform, and Respond and Interpret) all of which involve making and responding to art. Most primary school art Curriculums will have similar structure, standards and descriptors.

Here is a blank unit planning template for Foundation with the Victorian Curriculum with the strands and standards. I usually add in the 5E sequence (Engage, Explore, Explain, Extend/Elaborate/ Explain) in the description of the learning activities.