Samuel Ward Academy Art and Design: How We Learn Art

Learning with Words in Art (Years 7–13)
At Samuel Ward Academy, we believe that learning and using the right words helps us become better artists. Art isn’t just about drawing or painting – it’s also about thinking, talking, and writing clearly about what we do and why we do it.

We don’t just teach art so that everyone becomes a professional artist. We teach it to help students become creative, confident, and thoughtful people. We want all students to learn how to think for themselves, work well with others, and make smart choices. To do this, we teach the special words used in art – step by step – so everyone can understand and use them.

We want all students, no matter what they have learnt before, to have the same chance to learn the language of art. This helps them talk about their own ideas, understand others' work, and take part in the world of art and design.

What We Want You to Learn

In our art lessons, we focus on helping you:

• Think creatively and talk about your ideas in art.

• Reflect on your work and explain what you did and why.

• Be in control of your learning by using the right words.

• Get ready for the future by building strong communication skills.

We teach new words clearly and use them often, so you remember them. These words help you talk about your work, write about it, and grow your knowledge over time.

How We Teach Art Vocabulary

We follow a few important steps to help everyone learn art words:

• We teach important art words directly.

• We go over these words again and again so you don’t forget them.

• We use them when making, talking about, and thinking about art.

• We help everyone understand, no matter how they learn best.

• We show how real artists think and talk about their work.

• We help you use these words to explain your ideas and opinions.

What You’ll Learn and When

Years 7–9: Learning the Basics

What we teach:
Words that describe the visual elements of art, like line, tone, colour, and texture. We also teach you names of materials like graphite, ink, or collage.

Why:
So you can describe what you see and make in art using the right words.

How we teach it:
With word lists, picture glossaries, sentence starters, and examples. You’ll use these in your sketchbooks, when talking, and during art-making.

What you’ll be able to do:
Talk and write about your art clearly and reflect on how you made it.

Years 9–10: Going Deeper

What we teach:
Words that help you compare, explain, and understand art better. These include ideas like contrast, rhythm, symbolism, and genre.

Why:
To help you think more deeply about what art means and how it connects to your own work.

How we teach it:
Using helpful writing guides, structured discussion tools, and examples from your teachers.

What you’ll be able to do:
Explain what your artwork is about, how it was made, and why you made it that way.

Years 11–13: Becoming an Independent Artist

What we teach:
More advanced words and ideas, like juxtaposition, installation, and postmodernism. You’ll also learn how to write about your art in a thoughtful and personal way.

Why:
So you can explain your creative ideas clearly and connect them to the wider world of art.

How we teach it:
With one-to-one chats, group talks, written reflections, and feedback to help you improve.

What you’ll be able to do:
Use art words confidently to explain, reflect on, and improve your work.

How We Help You Remember

We make sure you keep the words in your memory by:

• Practising with quizzes, sketchbook tasks, and games.

• Talking and writing using sentence starters and art talk.

• Using the words in your own art and in your sketchbooks.

• Getting feedback from teachers to help you improve.

Checking Progress and Thinking for Yourself

You will:

• Use checklists and questions to see how well you are using art words.

• Get help from your teacher to use vocabulary more precisely.

• Use your sketchbook to show your ideas, your learning, and your thoughts.

We often ask questions like:

• What am I trying to show?

• How do my art choices help me do that?

• What words help me explain it clearly?

A Model for Other Schools Too

Our way of teaching art through vocabulary isn’t just for our school – it’s something other schools can use too. It:

• Gives all students a fair chance to learn art.

• Helps you learn creative thinking step by step.

• Makes your ideas easier to explain and understand.

• Prepares you for future jobs, college, and life.

We believe learning the right words helps unlock creativity—and we’re proud to share this way of learning with others.