Ancient art primary resource

This primary resource gives children the opportunity to explore art from different ancient civilisations. Discover different examples of ancient art. What materials did people use to make art thousands of years ago? Why did they make these objects or paintings? Can you still see them today?

Pupils will learn about ancient art; from cave paintings to stone circles, and the incredible moai stone heads that surround Easter Island, in our National Geographic Kids’ Art primary resource sheet.

The teaching resource can be used in study group tasks about ancient art, as a printed handout for each pupil to review and annotate, or for display on the interactive whiteboard to be read and discussed as a whole class activity.

Activity: Ask children to read the primary resource sheet and divide themselves into groups according to their favourite style of ancient art from those they have read about (i.e. Stone Age cave paintings; aboriginal art; desert designs, stone circles, moai sculptures, etc.). Each group could plan how to make their own replicas of their choice of art style, thinking about what material they would use (i.e. paints, crayons, papier mache, clay, etc.) and how they would craft the design. After they have completed their plans, each group should be allocated a set amount of time to make their replicas and then evaluate what work best, and what could be improved. As a whole class, pupils could take different coloured pieces of paper and paint around their hands, in the style of Aboriginal rock paintings. Create a class of each child’s ‘rock paintings’.

N.B. The following information for mapping the resource documents to the school curriculum is specifically tailored to the English National Curriculum and Scottish Curriculum for Excellence. We are currently working to bring specifically tailored curriculum resource links for our other territories; including South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. If you have any queries about our upcoming curriculum resource links, please email: schools@ngkids.co.uk

This Ancient art resource assists with teaching the following Key Stage 1 Art objective from the National Curriculum:

Pupils should be taught:

• about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work

• to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space

National Curriculum Key Stage 2 Art objectives:

 Pupils should be taught:  

• about great artists, architects and designers in history.

This Ancient art primary resource assists with teaching the following Expressive arts First – Third level objectives from the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence:

• I can respond to the work of artists and designers by discussing my thoughts and feelings. I can give and accept constructive comment on my own and others’ work.

Scottish Curriculum for Excellence Fourth level Expressive arts objectives: 

• I can analyse art and design techniques, processes and concepts, make informed judgements and express considered opinions on my own and others’ work.

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