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Year 4

Surreal dreamscape collage

I can select images and arrange a composition for a Surreal dreamscape collage.

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New
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Year 4

Surreal dreamscape collage

I can select images and arrange a composition for a Surreal dreamscape collage.

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Share activities with pupils
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These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. By moving the material, rather than the scissors, complex shapes are easier to cut.
  2. Triangular composition can help to draw attention to parts of an artwork, but doesn’t have to be used by the artist.
  3. Overlapping images can help an artist to share what they think is most important within the artwork.

Keywords

  • Select - to choose elements to include in an artwork

  • Composition - how the images are arranged within an artwork

  • Overlap - when images are layered over one other

Common misconception

When cutting complex shapes, we move the scissors rather than the paper.

Remind pupils to move the paper, rather than the scissors when cutting, with their thumbs facing upwards towards the ceiling.


To help you plan your year 4 art and design lesson on: Surreal dreamscape collage, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

To allow pupils room for exploration, photocopy their dream portraits prior to the lesson so they can play with scale and composition.
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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Collage can be made from paper, textiles and found objects.
Correct answer: True
False
Q2.
Which of the following did not inspire the Surrealists?
dreams
the subconscious mind
Correct answer: painting from different viewpoints
Q3.
To create different tones, we can draw lines closer together or further apart.
Correct answer: True
False
Q4.
The side of an object nearest to the __________ will show the lightest tones.
lightbox
Correct answer: light source
lightning
Q5.
Organic shapes have curved lines and are found in ...
geometry.
straight lines.
Correct answer: nature.
Q6.
__________ are a combination of reality, dreams and the artist’s imagination.
dreamlands
Correct answer: dreamscapes
dreamportraits

Exit quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
When cutting complex shapes, which of the following statements might be helpful?
Correct answer: Use scissors with your thumbs facing the ceiling.
Move the scissors towards the material.
Correct answer: Move the material you are cutting rather than the scissors.
Q2.
Composition refers to how the images are arranged within the artwork.
Correct answer: True
False
Q3.
Which of the following materials could be included in a collage?
Correct answer: fabric
Correct answer: paper bags
bubbles
Q4.
Artists should always use a triangular composition.
True
Correct answer: False
Q5.
__________ images can help an artist to share what they think is most important within the artwork.
Overlaying
Overreaching
Correct answer: Overlapping
Oversimplifying