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Robert Watts

Senior lecturer in art and design education and former teacher

Robert Watts is a senior lecturer in art and design education at Roehampton University, where he has taught and supervised student teachers on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes since 2000. Previously, he spent ten years teaching in inner-London schools. In 2016, he completed a PhD entitl... Robert Watts is a senior lecturer in art and design education at Roehampton University, where he has taught and supervised student teachers on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes since 2000. Previously, he spent ten years teaching in inner-London schools.

In 2016, he completed a PhD entitled Children's Perceptions of Beauty: Exploring Aesthetic Experience through Photography.

Robert has co-edited two books on primary art education, published several academic journal articles and written many articles on primary education.

Making dream catchers primary art lesson

Primary by Robert Watts

Making dream catchers – Primary art lesson inspired by dreams This primary art lesson plan is all about making and personalising dream catchers then writing about and painting the dreams they might ensnare… Although there are times when we wish our pupils were tuned in to teaching rather than following their fantasies, dreams have long been a wonderful source of inspiration for artists. Many memorable […]

Clay KS2 art lesson

Primary by Robert Watts

Clay KS2 art lesson – Build a whole-class clay village sculpture The Greek village of Kayaköy, deserted during WWI, provides an atmospheric focus for this KS2 clay project. It involves children sculpting their own abandoned community from clay… In this lesson plan you’ll find ideas for encouraging children to design and build a collection of ghostly structures. They will then combine their individual pieces to create […]

Urban environment KS2 art medium-term plan

Primary by Robert Watts

Urban environment – KS2 art medium-term plan Use everything from photography to collage to help pupils develop their art and design skills, right on your doorstep

Christmas art KS2 lesson plan

Primary by Robert Watts

Christmas art KS2 – Use balloons to create light-themed artwork Put down the cotton wool, step away from the glitter and try Robert Watts’ altogether classier Christmas art KS2 project. It involves making translucent sculptures from tissue paper… When it comes to Christmas it’s tempting to trot out the traditional art and craft activities – after all, there’s always a display board that’s crying out […]

KS1 D&T Lolly-stick castle lesson plan

Primary by Robert Watts

KS1 D&T – Lolly-stick castle lesson plan Use this KS1 D&T lesson plan to help pupils construct a lolly-stick castle, and understand collaboration and the design process...

Collage KS2 lesson plan

Primary by Robert Watts

Collage KS2 – Collaborative colour tone lesson plan Ripping, tearing, cutting, pasting, glueing – what’s not for kids to love? This collage KS2 lesson plan involves collaborating on a collage and playing with contrasting colours, tones, shapes and sizes. This lesson plan offers opportunities for children to immerse themselves in colour. They will experiment with contrasting complementary colours and explore the richness and […]

Roald Dahl art ideas PDF

Primary by Robert Watts

Roald Dahl art ideas – Make sculptures from recycled materials Quentin Blake’s illustrations are the inspiration for this Roald Dahl art and design lesson. Children will experiment with using recycled materials to create a collection of colourful sculptures that will allow them to bring Roald Dahl’s stories – and your classroom – to life. The brimming energy of Roald Dahl’s characters is captured perfectly by […]

Emotions lesson plan

Primary by Robert Watts

Emotions lesson plan – Create life-size works of art This emotions lesson plan draws on the work of the Expressionists (minus the anguish). Help children channel their emotions through distinctive brushstrokes and vibrant colours… Emotions lesson plan learning objectives The Expressionists and emotion Generally, artists aren’t very good at being happy. They’re really good at being lots of other things, such as gloomy, or […]

Gruffalo art activities

Primary by Robert Watts

Gruffalo art activities – Make clay sculptures inspired by the story Try these Gruffalo art activities and transform Axel Scheffler’s illustrations into 3D by making clay tiles and sculptures. Every sculptor needs a muse and there are few more inspiring sources than Axel Scheffler’s illustrations. Julia Donaldson’s books have become essential texts for early readers. The accompanying images are beautifully drawn, richly detailed and intensely colourful. […]

Repeated pattern art lesson plan

Primary by Robert Watts

Repeated pattern art – Additive & subtractive printmaking lesson Repetition isn’t always a creative cul de sac, as this repeated pattern art lesson plan demonstrates… Learning objectives Repeated pattern art Children can quickly learn how to employ a number of simple print processes that offer opportunities to create multiple prints that they can share, swap or give away. The printmaking processes we use in […]

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