How artists make marks
I can use a range of drawing tools in different ways to make marks
How artists make marks
I can use a range of drawing tools in different ways to make marks
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- We can make marks using movements with our whole body, not just our hands.
- Different drawing tools and media are used by artists to make marks. This is called mark-making.
- We can explore using media with different drawing tools in unusual ways to create interesting marks.
Keywords
Drawing tool - any tool you can use to make marks with
Mark-making - the lines, dots, scratches and drawings created by drawing tools
Media - materials used to create artwork
Common misconception
When drawing, artists only use their hands.
Remind children that artists can use their whole body when creating marks.
To help you plan your year 1 art and design lesson on: How artists make marks, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 1 art and design lesson on: How artists make marks, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 1 art and design lessons from the Mark making: using drawing tools and techniques unit, dive into the full secondary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Licence
Starter quiz
4 Questions





any tool you can use to mark marks with
when an artist uses drawing tools to create marks on a surface
Exit quiz
4 Questions






