Core Skills Analysis
Art and Design
The child painted on a fan using silk as the surface, exploring how colour and paint could be used to decorate an object. The activity involved making visual choices and applying materials to a specific form, connecting creative expression with the shape and purpose of the fan. Through the process, the child practised making and developing an artwork with care. Completing a decorated fan also gave the child an opportunity to create an object that was both artistic and functional.
Physical Development
Painting on silk gave the child an opportunity to practise hand control while applying colour to a surface. Working on a fan involved attending to its form as the child painted, supporting coordination between looking and making movements. The child also practised handling art materials as part of a focused creative activity. These experiences supported developing control and confidence with fine-motor tasks.
Tips
Tips Invite the child to compare silk with paper or cotton by painting a small sample on each, then describe how the surfaces feel and how the paint behaves. Explore colour mixing by combining two paint colours on a practice piece before adding a new colour to a fan design. Look at images of decorated fans from different times and places, and discuss how patterns and colours can communicate style or meaning. Finally, encourage the child to draw a simple fan design first, paint it, and share what choices they made.
Book Recommendations
- The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds: A picture book about beginning to make art, experimenting, and developing confidence in creative expression.
- Ish by Peter H. Reynolds: A story that encourages children to explore artistic ideas without worrying about making everything look exact.
- The Art Book for Children by Phaidon Editors: An accessible introduction to artworks and visual ideas that can inspire looking, discussing, and making.
Learning Standards
- England National Curriculum, Art and Design, Key Stage 1 (non-statutory application): Making a painted fan connects with using a range of materials creatively to design and make products.
- England National Curriculum, Art and Design, Key Stage 1 (non-statutory application): Choosing and applying colour supports exploration of materials and the development of artistic techniques.
- England National Curriculum, Early Years Foundation Stage, Expressive Arts and Design: The activity relates to creating with materials through exploration of colour, design, and artistic processes.
- England National Curriculum, Early Years Foundation Stage, Physical Development: Handling painting materials supports development of control and coordination in small movements.
Try This Next
- Make a colour-mixing chart: paint two colours together and label or name the new colour.
- Draw a fan outline and plan a repeating pattern using shapes, lines, or colour blocks.
- Compare painted samples on silk, paper, and cotton; describe the surface and paint effects.
- Create a short art-sharing prompt: “I chose these colours because…”