Year 1 visit to The Laing

Year 1 had a wonderful morning during their recent visit to The Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle. The children were excited from the start as they travelled by Metro, enjoying the journey and spotting familiar landmarks along the way. When they arrived, they were welcomed by friendly leaders who guided them to the new portrait exhibition.

During an engaging workshop, the leaders explained what portraits are and how artists use them to show different feelings and emotions. The children took part in a fun activity where they showed an emotion to their partner. Some of the children then acted out their feelings to the whole group while everyone tried to guess the emotion. There was lots of laughter and thoughtful discussion.

Next, the children worked in small groups to explore the gallery. They were challenged to find three different portraits: one showing someone who looked happy, one including an animal, and one showing somebody doing something. Afterwards, each group chose their favourite portrait and wrote down ideas about the person, including what they might be called and what they enjoy doing. This helped their imaginations flow.

The children shared their creative ideas before heading to the art room to design their own portraits. Using a variety of mixed media, they produced vibrant and imaginative artwork. We were incredibly proud of their creativity, enthusiasm, and behaviour throughout the visit. It was a memorable experience that inspired their love of art and storytelling. Well done, Year 1 for representing our school so beautifully.