These resources are for both primary and secondary educators to support whole class learning either on a gallery visit or back in the classroom. Scroll right down to see the full range of themes on offer including teachers’ information on our temporary exhibition programmes.
Activity sheets help students explore work in the gallery or they can be used with online images which you can find at Search the Collection
Teachers Notes provide answers for the Activity Sheets with additional discussion points
Topic Notes are a more detailed illustrated explorations of the theme as background information for teachers or for older students wanting to do individual research
Resources linked to the TES website Some extended half term project feature on the TES website. Subjects include Running your own Block-Printing Project or Citizenship and Campaigning. Click through and explore the various folders.
Inspiration from Nature (Key Stage 2)
William Morris is chiefly known as a great designer of patterns derived from natural forms. Wild and garden flowers, inter-twining leaves, birds and animals all feature in his wallpapers, textiles, carpets and ceramics.
This topic features:
Investigating Pattern (Key Stage 2)
William Morris is famous as a great designer of flat patterns. He disliked the over-elaborate designs of wallpaper, textiles and furnishings popular with mid-19th century Victorian taste. He wanted to produce simpler, natural designs that would suit the purpose and material they were designed for.
For further classroom based resources on pattern see Working with Pattern Inspired by Wiliam Morris below
Running a Design Business (KS 3-4)
William Morris had a great flair for business and marketing. Morris & Co became one of the most successful design brands in the late Victorian period.
Exploring Techniques and Materials: Block Printing (KS 3-4)
Working with Pattern (follow up activities) (KS 2)
A richly illustrated Teachers' Resource Pack featuring a clasroom scheme of work inspired by William Morris. Developed by textile artist Sba Shaikh.
The pack includes:
- Individual lesson plans (fully differentiated for both SEN learners and G&T pupils and including key vocabulary lists with definitions)
- Resources, including images and photocopiable worksheets where required
- Lists of additional resources required from schools
- Opportunities for children to explore patterns from different countries and understand how William Morris was influenced by art from different cultures
Part 1 contains five lesson plans with cross-curricula links and photocopiable classroom resources
Part 2 contains a classroom Powerpoint presentation to accompany the lesson plans
This Scheme of Work covers units from Maths, ICT, Art & Design and English from the current National Curriculum. Links to these are outlined on the contents page of Part 1.
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Working with Pattern 1
(212kb)
Exhibition Resources
Kehinde Wiley: The Yellow Wallpaper (All Key Stages - Art, Citizenship, PSHE)
February 21 - July 12 2020
African- American artist, Kehinde Wiley, is well known for his is highly naturalistic paintings of people of colour. Explore 6-newly commissioned portraits of Black women from Dalston, East London.
Pop by Design: DANAD Design 1958-1962
February - April 2020
DANAD Design were a collective of painters, designers and architects who pioneered the Pop Art aesthetic. Featuring work by Peter Blake, Tom Adams, Peter Adams, Bernard Cohen, Barry Daniels, Robyn Denny, Colin Huntley and Edward Wright with 'Works in Focus' sheets and project ideas
For secondary Art & Design and Design & Technology teachers
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DANAD Design teachers resource
(102kb)
Pioneers: William Morris & the Bauhaus
October 2019-January 2020
William Morris shared many ideas and principles with The Bauhaus - a revolutionary interdisciplinary art school of architects, artists, designers and craftspeople who had a vision of rebuilding society after the First World War, on modern international lines. Learning about its principles help us understand our material world more clearly. This resource contains summary background information, 'Object in Focus' sheets, and a questioning framework to look at any design object.
For secondary Art & Design and Design & Technology teachers
Extended Project Resources on the TES (Times Educational Supplement) website
Run your own block printing project has been developed with students by artist Anna Alcock during printing workshops at the William Morris Gallery. The project is a comprehensive, detailed and adaptable set of lessons designed to encourage successful and creative printmaking activities for Key Stages 1, 2 & 3, for the specialist and non-specialist teacher alike
Agitate, Educate, Organise - Citizenship Learning Resources on William Morris and Campaigning
The materials include student worksheets, document facsimiles, background information for teachers and presentations for KS2 and KS4. These resources have been developed with a visit to the gallery in mind, but they will also provide a sound reference point for anyone wanting to know more about the role of William Morris as an activist and campaigner
Stories Told by William Morris and Friends is a project that uses six art works and designs from William Morris Gallery's collection to support literacy at Key Stage 2. A visit to the Gallery can be built upon to create a half-term unit using the resources downloadable here
