In this Graffiti Art KS2 planning pack, your class will find out all about the many varied forms of art in public spaces, and develop their own ideas for quick, colourful, eye-catching, humorous or satirical pieces of street art through sketching and annotating. Discuss how street art polarises opinion, when and where it is acceptable, and how it can improve or damage public spaces.

Through the five included lessons, children will build up a collection of sketches and improve their designs for pieces, and have opportunities to draw, paint, cut and stencil during every lesson.

There are differentiated activities, so there's something suitable for all children in Year 5 and Year 6 as well as a whole host of printable resources designed to help children prepare and work independently.

Lesson 1: Is Graffiti Art?

Is graffiti art or vandalism? Firstly, take a look at how graffiti and graffiti-style art polarises opinion, and how it can either damage or improve public spaces. Following this, take a closer look at how lettering is often a central feature of street art designs, and challenge children to develop ideas for a text-based 'throwie' street art design of their own through sketching.

What's included:

Lesson plan
Slides
Activity ideas
Differentiated challenge cards
Graffiti design cards

Lesson 2: Can urban art improve public spaces?

Can urban art improve public spaces? This is the question your class will consider as they look at the history of street art and how it gradually became more accepted. They'll go on to explore ways in which public spaces can be improved by 'authorised' street art. After that, it's up to you which of the two included activities you undertake with your class: either design works of urban art to improve a public space, or create small pieces of street art in public areas around school.

What's included:

Lesson plan
Slides
Activity ideas
Differentiated urban art sheets
Challenge card

Lesson 3: Satire

In street art, satire is often used to make statements about society or politics. Take a look at some political, satirical pieces of street art and challenge children to interpret their meaning. The included slides explain in straightforward terms what 'satirical art' is, as well as exploring the meaning of murals and wall painting memorials. Following this, children may design satirical works of art based on a range of issues described in the included printable resources.

What's included:

Lesson plan
Slides
Activity ideas
Satirical art sheets
Differentiated challenge cards
Teacher's notes

Lesson 4: How to Make Stencils

Teach your year 5/6 class how to make stencils which can be then be used to make colourful street art designs. Start by taking a look at works of art by Banksy, discuss their meaning and consider why the images are impactful. Following this, share the detailed instructions included, which explain how to work safely while designing and cutting stencils, ready for creating works of art during the next lesson. Teaching this as a standalone lesson? Don't worry! The plan includes an alternative activity that can be completed in a single lesson. Teaching this as a standalone lesson? Don't worry! The plan includes an alternative activity that can be completed in a single lesson.

What's included:

Lesson plan
Slides
Activity ideas
Differentiated challenge cards
Photo cards
Street Art Advert Challenge sheet

Lesson 5: Making Stencil Art

In this lesson, teach your class how to make stencil art using stencils they learned how to make in the previous 'Street Art' lesson – or if you prefer, the included stencil designs that come with this lesson pack. Start by taking a look at how stencils are applied, and how paint is used to create clear, neat, colourful stencil paintings. After that it's over to your children to create their own works of stencil street art using either the included stencil designs, or the stencils they drew and cut out during the previous lesson.

What's included:

Lesson plan
Slides
Activity ideas
Differentiated challenge cards
Stencil designs sheet

Art Movements

Street Art

Monet and the Impressionists