Using Sketchbooks to Make Visual Notes
Sketchbooks are great places for pupils to make visual notes. Making visual notes can help to slow down looking and thinking, and give space for pupils to process information and make it their own. This can be really useful when you are exploring a particular topic or artist. Visual notes also provide a useful way for pupils to revisit / recap ideas later on in a project.
Making visual notes is a skill in itself and you need to give pupils time to practice new skills. This resource introduces you to the different ways of making visual notes; it’s important to introduce children to as many options as possible so that they can find the ones which work best for them as individuals.
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Jo W
February 22, 2023 @ 5:30 pm
Thank you. This is very helpful. How would you suggest using visual notes for print making? We are focusing on montype and the collograph and we will be looking at the artist Jean Dubuffet durign the visual note session. Thanks!
Jo W
February 22, 2023 @ 5:32 pm
and it is with year 3 children making visual notes for the first time.
Paula
February 22, 2023 @ 5:39 pm
Study the questions above, in relation to the images we show. Then when you choose images by your artist, try to think of questions/things to help children notice, which are specific to the image. The questions you ask and things you want the children to notice will be unique to the artist/image. If the children are doing it for the first time give them plenty of guidance (which means you thinking in advance of say five things you want them to start to notice, and these might be a mixture of imagery, colour, form, line etc etc. Walk around the class as they work so you can see when you need to use your voice to prompt the whole class ajd keep them moving forwards. Hope that helps!
Jo W
February 22, 2023 @ 6:30 pm
Thank you. So you think this still works with printing? Looking at shape, lines etc that the artist uses rather than the technique of printing?
Paula
February 23, 2023 @ 8:30 am
yes thats fine. once they have had practical experience of the technique they would find it easier to focus on that aspect in an artwork made by others. But looking at prints you can still talk about line, colour, shape, composition etc as well as HOW it was made – make sense?
Jo W
March 15, 2023 @ 12:29 pm
It does. Thank you so much.
julie g
November 9, 2023 @ 8:49 am
Hi Can I add a child’s visual notes to the website?
Rachel
November 13, 2023 @ 10:40 am
Hi Julie, if you email rachel@accessart.org.uk we can have a look! Many thanks
Jo W
September 9, 2024 @ 4:48 pm
Hi, Can you suggest how this would look different in KS1 compared to KS2? Thank you!
Rachel
September 16, 2024 @ 10:44 am
Hi Jo, it really depends on how much KS1 children have been using sketchbooks. If they are part of their art ‘vocabulary’ from an early age, by the time they reach KS2 they will have more confidence in how to use sketchbooks and make them their own. Encourage them to take ownership and build confidence in their own voice and expression – and that any notes or drawings they make in the sketchbooks are valid. As with any class there will be variation (as it should be!) so just provide them with lots of positive opportunity to use sketchbooks in all the ways they can be (see https://www.accessart.org.uk/sketchbook-skills/) and they will all find their own level of working. Good luck!