In this WWI Art KS2 scheme of work, your class will explore the work of the artists officially commissioned to record the war, with a focus on Paul Nash’s paintings. They will discover how art was used as a propaganda tool in the form of posters, and find out about the amazing dazzle camouflage which was invented and used during the war. Finally, children will create their own poppy-themed commemorative artworks based on the poem, ‘In Flanders Fields’.

With detailed lesson plans, slides and a range of printable resources, you will find everything you need to teach this Y5/6 ‘In Flanders Fields’ art scheme of work to your class.

You might be interested in our World War 1 Topic Bundle, which includes this Art scheme in addition to History and English schemes. 

Official WW1 Artists

In this first lesson, children explore and discuss the artworks of some of the artists who were officially commissioned to record the war through drawing and painting. In their independent work, children then analyse a chosen artwork in further detail. They are encouraged to share and explain their thoughts, feelings and opinions of the artworks throughout the lesson.

This downloadable lesson includes a lesson plan, a slideshow presentation and printable teaching resources.

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Paul Nash WW1 Paintings

During this lesson your children explore in depth the work of official war artist, Paul Nash. They find out about Nash’s experiences of war, and how they influenced the artwork he created. They discuss their own opinions of his artwork, and the view of the war that he was trying to portray. In their independent work, children recreate one of Nash’s artworks to show what the landscape might have looked like prior to the war. In the alternative activity, children are challenged to use an excerpt from a letter written by Nash to create their own piece of landscape war art.

This downloadable lesson includes a lesson plan, slideshow presentation and printable teaching resources.

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WW1 Propaganda Posters

In this lesson, children find out how art, in the form of posters, was used as a tool for propaganda in WWI. They examine and discuss a range of posters created during the war, thinking about who they were aimed at, what image was used and why, and how effective they think it would have been. In their independent activities, children are challenged to design their own posters based on the original slogans and images used.

This downloadable lesson includes a lesson plan, slideshow presentation and printable teaching resources.

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WW1 Dazzle Camouflage Art

Children find out about dazzle camouflage, and how it was created and used during WWI with the aim of protecting ships from torpedo attacks. In their independent work, they be challenged to design a new dazzle scheme for a ship using a given checklist. Alternatively, children make and paint their own clay model of a dazzle-painted ship.

This downloadable lesson includes a lesson plan, slideshow presentation and printable teaching resources.

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John McCraes Poem Poppy Art

In this final lesson, children discover why the poppy has become an international symbol of remembrance for those who fought and died in war. They look at John McCrae’s poem, ‘In Flanders Fields’, and use this as a basis for their artwork in their independent activities.

This downloadable lesson includes a lesson plan, slideshow presentation and printable teaching resources.

View Lesson 5