Printing and Pattern — Year 5 Lesson Plan
National Curriculum: Art & Design KS2 — printmaking techniques; create sketch books; improve mastery of art techniques; learn about great designers including William Morris
Overview
Pupils explore printmaking as an art form, designing and making relief prints using foam or polystyrene tiles. They create repeating patterns and study artists such as William Morris to understand how pattern is used decoratively and symbolically.
Learning Objectives
- Design a motif suitable for relief printing, considering positive and negative space.
- Create a relief print using a foam or polystyrene tile, applying ink evenly.
- Produce a repeating pattern by rotating, reflecting, or translating a single motif.
- Make connections between their work and the pattern designs of William Morris.
Key Vocabulary
Suggested Lesson Structure
Show a range of William Morris patterns. Discuss: what do you notice? What natural forms does he use? How does the repetition create a feeling of order and beauty? Ask pupils to identify the single motif within a complex repeat pattern — this is harder than it looks.
Demonstrate relief printing: draw a design onto a foam tile with a pencil (the pressure creates a groove that will not print). Apply ink with a roller — only the raised surface takes the ink. Press paper onto the tile and peel to reveal the print. Show how a second colour can be added using a second tile. Discuss positive and negative space: the drawn lines become the unprinted areas.
Pupils design their motif on paper first — a natural form (leaf, flower, bird). Transfer to tile and test-print. Evaluate: are the lines clear? Is there enough contrast between printed and unprinted areas? Pupils may refine their tile before the final print.
Pupils produce a final print and then create at least a 2×2 repeat by rotating or reflecting the tile. They can mix two complementary colours for added complexity.
Display all prints together as a class exhibition. Ask: which repeat pattern is most effective and why? How do the choices of colour and motif affect the mood of the print? Compare to Morris: what similarities do you see?
Common Misconceptions
- Drawing harder into the tile makes a clearer print — too much pressure can tear the foam; a firm, even stroke is sufficient.
- The design will look exactly like my drawing — the image is reversed in printing; encourage pupils to plan for this, especially with letters or asymmetric designs.
Prior Knowledge
Pupils should already be able to:
- KS1 Art: pattern-making and printing with objects.
- Year 3 Art: observational drawing of natural forms.
Want a personalised version of this lesson?
Use Staffroom to generate a complete lesson plan tailored to your class — add context about ability, recent learning, or specific pupils and get a plan ready to teach. Free trial, no card required.