Art and design at KS2

The Museum’s rich collection from Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas can provide inspiration for innovative art and design projects. You can discover fascinating objects made using a wide variety of materials and techniques and learn about their diverse uses, meanings and symbols.

Resources for visits
Online resources
Useful books

New guides for teachers

A new set of guides designed to help teachers access the richness of the objects in the Museum’s collection for teaching art and design. The guides can be used to support a visit or in the classroom with our online collection.

Containers

Food and wine vessels, baby carriers, teapots and coffins – this guide looks at types of containers and their use in different societies throughout history.
Download: pdf (495kb)

Symbols

Explore the idea that almost everything is symbolic – use this guide for activity ideas with your students. Make collages, design personal logos and discuss how the meaning of symbols can be transformed.
Download: pdf (219kb)

 Celebration

Music, fire, food, dancing, costumes: this guide looks at the significance of celebrations and festivals around the world and encourages students to imagine the sights, sounds and smells.
Download: pdf (275kb)

Resources for visits

Benin Art

Uncover the famous bronzes from the royal palace in Benin – a glimpse of a once thriving civilisation in Africa.

Download: Word (1.2mb)
pdf (470kb)   

Chinese Art

Jade jewellery, lacquer boxes, porcelain vases, bronze weapons. Find out about Chinese art materials and techniques.

Download  Word (1.2mb) 
pdf (714Kb)

Native North America

Explore North American pottery, ceramics, textiles, costume, totem poles, and contemporary arts.
Order this free resource

Online resources

Explore the collection

Search the Museum's online database of over 4,000 objects by material, culture, people or place. Download high quality images and find detailed information.

 

Online tours

Containers

They've been used to store wine, food, spices, jewellery and even body organs - this tour looks at containers and their cultural context.

Fish

An ideal starting point for fishy art projects. Includes notes for teachers to help create classroom activities.

Stories from Bengal

Discover the stories and myths of Bengal, told through scrolls, statues and other artworks.

Useful books

L. Garner, African Crafts (London, The British Museum Press 2004)

Designs Series (London, The British Museum Press) - a series of books about design in different cultures including Islamic Designs, Pacific Designs, Ancient Egypt Designs and many others.

Fabric Folio Series (London, The British Museum Press) - a new series of books looking at fabrics from different cultures, including Silk in Africa, Textiles from Guatemala and Embroidery from India and Pakistan.

S Canby, Islamic Art in Detail (London, The British Museum Press)

J Portal, C Michaelson, Chinese Art in Detail (London, The British Museum Press)

P Goldman, Looking at Prints, Drawings and Watercolours (London, The British Museum Press)

The above books can be purchased online, at the Museum shop or at any bookshop.

Teachers receive a 10% discount* when they quote teacher1011 in Museum shops.

For discount online, visit www.britishmuseumshoponline.org and enter teacher1011 on checkout.

*Discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers.