This unit has been fully revised for 2026
Sequence of Learning for Teachers
This unit of work follows a common thread of dragon’s eyes and children create different dragon’s eyes using a range of media and techniques. Key learning covers blending colours when using coloured pencils, paints, and soft pastels. These activities provide an opportunity to extend and deepen children’s understanding of the elements of art and in particular colour, the colour wheel and mixing colours using colour theory. Children also learn about texture as another element of art. When creating a clay-bas relief tile of a dragon’s head children develop techniques to create texture when using clay. When drawing a dragon’s head children learn how artists create visual (or implied) texture using different drawing techniques. Children bring all this learning together to create a ceramic dragon’s eye which is painted using acrylic paints.
This knowledge, skills and understanding is delivered through the following convergent task sessions:
Session 1: Blending Using Pencils
Session 2: Ceramic Textures
Session 3: Creating Visual Texture Using Pencils
Session 4: Blending Using Pastels
Creative Outcome (Divergent task) – Dragon’s Eye Sculpture
The unit of work completes with the creative outcome (divergent task) activity that can be delivered over two or more sessions. These sessions can also be used for children to complete activities from sessions 1-4. For the creative outcome children create a ceramic sculpture of a dragon’s eye applying their learning from this unit of work on ceramic sculpture and colour techniques. The creative outcome activity provides an opportunity for children to apply their knowledge, skills and understanding from previous sessions in this unit of work. Through the creative outcome children will develop their creativity and understanding of the creative process by combining their imagination with the knowledge they have acquired.
Each Unit of work consists of:
• Comprehensive medium-term planning that details the learning journey, resources, vocabulary development and links to online learning.
• Separate lesson presentations for each teaching session.
• Additional presentations linked to learning within the unit.
• Photocopiable resources to support teaching within the unit.
• Advice on challenge and support in art and design.
• Assessment statements: Keeping up with the curriculum.

In addition to the above, each unit also includes a downloadable primary progression map for art and design (curriculum pathway) and an extensive vocabulary list. Combining and sequencing Art Academy units of work allows schools to create a scheme of work for art and design from key stage 1 to the end of key stage 2.