European Art Workbook

Subject: Art
Level: Secondary
Age Group: 14-16 and 14-16
Order Number: 1030

We live in a multi-cultural society. Britain and indeed other parts of the world are home to a multitude of different nationalities including many Eastern Europeans. Eastern Europe boasts a wealth of folk art, traditions and fine art. This unit of work has been written to give non Eastern European students an opportunity to realise the breadth and innovation of talent from this part of Europe and for Eastern European children, wherever they live in the world, to celebrate their rich cultural heritage. This unit is aimed at pupils aged between 11 and 16 years of age. There are 8 modules and each begins with tasks for the 11-14 age range, whilst the Extension Tasks attached to every unit, targets 14-16 year olds. However, the tasks are interchangeable and open to differentiation – able younger pupils could be challenged by the Extension Tasks, whilst the easier projects could be used as a starting point for the less able student. The 8 modules look at different aspects of Eastern European art and all involve Investigating, Making, Knowledge and Understanding. There is plenty of opportunity for artist research and contextual, analytical studies, recording observations, creative expression and personal outcomes, learning new skills and techniques, annotation and evaluation. Elements can be taken from any of the modules to provide interesting and varied practical and theoretical cultural work exploiting a wide range of media. Students can make links across cultures and learn to appreciate how ideas have been developed and feelings expressed by people in another culture or as part of their own Eastern European cultural heritage. Most modules could be set as a complete unit of developmental work or as cover lessons and used by non specialist teachers. Teacher’s notes, outlining the materials to be used, are included for every module and key words appear at the end of all tasks. The internet can be used as a starting point in lessons for research, but if schools do not have computers, many of the module tasks can be completed without.