Printmaking: Relief Printing — Year 2 Lesson Plan
National Curriculum: Art and Design KS1 — To develop a wide range of art and design techniques; to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products; to know about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers.
Overview
Pupils develop their printmaking skills by creating a relief printing block from foam sheet or polystyrene tile. They design a simple motif, cut or draw into the block and produce a series of prints exploring repeat and rotation. Inspired by William Morris wallpaper designs, pupils develop an understanding of how pattern is used in design and apply this to create a printed repeat-pattern product.
Learning Objectives
- To understand how a relief print is made by raising or cutting into a surface
- To design a clear motif and transfer it to a printing block
- To use a roller and ink to produce clean, even prints
- To know about the repeat patterns of William Morris and explain how pattern is used in design
Key Vocabulary
Suggested Lesson Structure
Show pupils William Morris wallpaper designs and ask: what shapes can you see repeating? How has the designer rotated or reflected the motif? Look also at simple examples of relief printing. Introduce the task: design a motif, make a block and print a repeat pattern.
Demonstrate how to draw a bold, simple motif (a leaf, star or flower) and transfer it to a foam tile using a pencil or biro, pressing firmly to create a recessed line. Show how to roll ink evenly onto the tile using a brayer and take a print by pressing firmly and peeling carefully. Demonstrate two arrangements: straight repeat and rotated repeat.
Pupils design their motif on paper first, then transfer it to their foam tile. They take three test prints on scrap paper, adjusting ink coverage and pressure before printing on their final paper. They experiment with rotation and try fitting their block into a corner-to-corner arrangement.
Pupils create a final repeat-pattern print on a strip or sheet of white or coloured paper, working to fill the surface with a clear, even repeat. They may add a second colour by over-printing a second block if time allows.
Mount and display prints as a class wallpaper frieze. Pupils identify one feature of their pattern they are proud of and one thing they would change if they printed again. Compare with Morris: what makes a pattern feel balanced and satisfying?
Common Misconceptions
- Pupils often apply too much ink, which floods the fine lines of the design — demonstrate that a thin, even coat of ink gives the sharpest print
- Some pupils are unsure how to register their block for a repeat — practise using light pencil marks on the paper to mark where each print should go
Prior Knowledge
Pupils should already be able to:
- Mono printing and texture rubbings from the Year 1 Printmaking unit
- Understanding of pattern and repeat from Maths and the Year 1 art curriculum
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