Chinese Landscapes  Art and Design Autumn 1 2018

In Art and Design lessons this Autumn, we have studied the techniques used with watercolour paint, as part of the Y6 Literacy topic on The Willow Pattern story. Initially, we studied the features which make up traditional Chinese landscape paintings, such as pagodas, cherry blossom trees, water and mountain ranges, creating many annotated sketches.  We then experimented with watercolour paint techniques, such as wet-on-wet (adding clear water to the paper and then brushing over with thin washes of paint), background washes using thick brushes, and building-up thin layers of paint.  The most popular technique was definitely spattering paint with a toothbrush!  We had to use a limited colour palette, inspired by The Willow Pattern design and our final paintings were excellent!

Autumn 2 term  -  Design and Technology - Off-road Mountain Vehicles!

This half term, we have been investigating motorised pulley systems. As part of the Geography  topic work on Mountains, the children have made Off-road model vehicles. 

The set criteria stipulated that the vehicle had to be able to move, use an electrical motor to drive a pulley system and have an original design. We spent the first couple of weeks making the chassis, wheels and axles, adding the motor circuit and pulley systems later. We finally designed and then made a vehicle body, which needed to ensure that the circuit could still be accessed, so that the vehicle could move.

After lots of measuring, sawing, designing, persevering and partnerhip, Year 6 have created ingenious little models! To celebrate our achievement, we tested our models with a rally in the school hall, which was great fun! 

Congratulations Year 6! Your perseverance paid off and you have Off-road Model Vehicles to be proud of!

Freedom quilts - Art and Design - Spring term 2019

As part of the topic work on slavery, Year 6 investigated the history behind the Freedom quilt code designs. We researched the Underground Railway and how sewing skills liberated thousands of African slaves in 19th century North America. The children each chose a symbol and experimented with designing in different colours and improving their tracing skills. The symbols were then transferred to fabric to make samplers, starting with a felt square for a base, on to which a variety of fabrics were appliqued for each part of their chosen symbol. Even though some children choose the same symbol, each sampler was unique and Year 6 made good use of a wide variety of textures and colours in their fabric choices. I am very proud to say that despite finding sewing difficult initially, each child persevered and made great progress with their skills! The children's samplers will be displayed in the glass cabinet in the school gallery!