To support class theme of "Water".

Class walk to the local Neath and Tennant Canal. Children walked along the towpath for a short distance.

We took photographs and made observations regarding habitats and talked about what the canal was used for now and in the past. Also we observed reflections in the water.

To explore different types of art forms. To study the colours and patterns used in traditional canal ware.

Use ICT to record their creative work.

The children looked at pictures of barges and the way in which they had been decorated. Castles and flowers are both traditional designs used. Choice of colour was also noted.

The task was to decorate plates and various size buckets in a style similar to that used by traditional barge people in the past.

Children painted the plates using traditional colours of red and dark green. Using yellow paint, the children added some line patterns on the plate. In the middle of the plate a flower was added, either painted or cut from a magazine. Around the edge of the plate it is traditional to have ribbon threaded. The children punched holes around the edges and the ribbon was woven through. The objects made are to be coated in PVA glue to seal the surface.

The small plant potholders are to be used in the class and are placed on the children's tables.

Extension task:
Design a plate using a graphics package on the computer, experiment with colour and pattern.

Class walk.

Children worked individually at the task.

Paired/individual task.

Large metal bucket.

Smaller buckets/plant pots.

Single hole punch.

Water.

Selection of paint brushes.

Ribbon.

Aprons.

Scissors.

PVA glue to varnish finished buckets and plates.

Computer.

Graphics package.

Word-processing package.

Can the child:

Talk about their own work and compare it to the traditional canal ware, which was popular in the past?

Talk about the colours, shades and patterns they have used?

Talk about their favourite colours and what colours they would chose if designing a plate?

Use a range of tools in a graphics package to design a plate, which is colourful and imaginative?

Talk about their choices and why they were made?

Write about their design using a word-processing package?