Lesson 4

Joan Miró: Art Meets Imagination

Surrealism Series Finale — A Completely Different Style

🎨

→IMAGINE

Bold shapes. Pure colour.
Symbols that speak.Today you finish the Surrealism series with Miró.

Learning Objective:

Know who Joan Miró was and how his style differs from Magritte
React to and analyse his artwork using the framework
Begin creating a Miró artist research page

Teacher Print Tools

Catch-up

Were you out for Lesson 3? Read this 👀

Why this slide exists: Some of you missed last lesson. This is your fast bridge so you don't fall behind. Everyone else: you're fine — just listen for 60 seconds, then we crack on.

What you missed in Lesson 3

Topic: Magritte Artist Study — gridding, painting & annotation

GriddingYou learned to grid up an image and your sketchbook page (2cm × 2cm squares) so you can copy ANY image accurately, box by box.

Annotation FrameworkFour areas: Describe · Techniques · Visual Elements · Opinion linked to meaning. Hit all 4 = top mark band.

Magritte Fact FileYou started a research page on Magritte — facts, images, REACT writing, gridded study.

⚡ Your catch-up plan today

During Independent Work later, do Lesson 3's task instead of Miró:

Choose a Magritte image from the resource sheet
Grid it up (2cm × 2cm) AND your sketchbook page
Draw outlines box by box
Write 3 facts about Magritte
Try ONE annotation using the 4-area framework

🎯 You can still join in today

Listen during the I Do slides — Miró is fascinating and short clips will help you understand the WHOLE Surrealism series.

For the Exit Ticket, answer the Foundation tier questions — they cover the basics you need.

Teacher / TA note: If you were absent, raise your hand now so we can pair you with the right resource sheet and grid template.

Arrival Task

Arrival Task – Recall from Lessons 1–3

Instructions: Answer from memory. Q4 leads into today.

1. Surrealism (Recall)

What is Surrealism?

Art "beyond reality" — inspired by dreams and the unconscious mind.

2. Magritte (Recall)

Name the artist who used bowler hats and hidden faces.

René Magritte.

3. Gridding (Recall)

What did we use a grid for in the last lesson?

To help draw accurately / get proportions right.

4. Lead-in: Miró

Does all Surrealist art have to look realistic? Why or why not?

No — some Surrealists use abstract, symbolic styles instead.

1. Artists (Recall)

Name two Surrealist artists and one fact about each.

e.g. Magritte — bowler hats/impossible scenes; Dalí — melting clocks.

2. Framework (Recall)

What are the 4 parts of the annotation framework?

Describe, Techniques, Visual Elements, Opinion/Meaning.

3. Style (Recall)

Why did Magritte's realistic style make his Surrealism more powerful?

The realistic style makes impossible scenes feel unsettling and believable.

4. Lead-in: Abstract

What is "abstract art"? How might it differ from Surrealism?

Abstract = non-representational shapes. Surreal = dreamlike/impossible scenes that may still be recognisable.

1. Compare (Recall)

Compare Magritte and Dalí — how did each explore the unconscious?

Magritte — realistic impossible scenes. Dalí — dreamscape landscapes.

2. Techniques (Recall)

Explain all 4 Surrealist techniques with examples.

Juxtaposition, Scale Change, Transformation, Dislocation — all with examples.

3. Definitions (Recall)

What's the difference between "abstract" and "Surreal"?

Abstract removes recognisable subjects. Surreal distorts/combines recognisable things.

4. Lead-in: Symbols

Can simple shapes and symbols carry the same emotional weight as realistic paintings?

Yes — symbols can trigger emotions through association and simplicity.

L3 Recall

Lesson 3 Recall — The 6 We Missed

Instructions: Many of you didn't get to the Exit Ticket last lesson — let's nail it now. Whiteboards out. If you were absent, do your best — Q3 and Q5 are the big L3 ideas.

1) What does "surréalisme" mean?

Beyond reality.

2) What nationality was Magritte?

Belgian.

3) Why do we use a grid?

To draw accurately / get proportions right.

4) Which technique puts objects in strange places?

Dislocation.

5) Annotations should include…

Description, techniques, visual elements & opinion.

6) What media did Magritte use?

Oil / acrylic paint.

🎯 Lead-in to today: All this Magritte work was REALISTIC Surrealism. Today you meet a Surrealist who took the OPPOSITE approach…

I Do

I Do: Who Was Joan Miró?

Key Idea: A completely different kind of Surrealist — abstract, symbolic, and playful.

📝 Note at least 5 facts for your research page!

We Do

We Do: REACT to Miró's Work

Instructions: His style is very different to Magritte! Write your reactions.

Miró-style composition

👀 What do you SEE?

🎨 How is this DIFFERENT to Magritte?

🔍 Which VISUAL ELEMENTS?

💭 Your OPINION?

Sentence starters: "Unlike Magritte, Miró uses _____ instead of _____." | "This makes me feel _____ because…"

I Do

I Do: Magritte vs Miró — Two Surrealists, Two Styles

Key Idea: Both are Surrealists — but their art looks completely different. There's no single "right way" to do Surrealism!

🎩 René Magritte

Style: Hyper-realistic
Colours: Naturalistic, muted
Shapes: Recognisable objects
Technique: Smooth blending, fine detail
Message: Questions reality through impossible scenes

🎨 Joan Miró

Style: Abstract, symbolic, childlike
Colours: Bold primaries — red, blue, yellow, black
Shapes: Organic blobs, stars, crescents
Technique: Flat colour, bold lines, spontaneous
Message: Pure imagination through symbols

📝 New Keyword — Lithography

A printing process using a flat stone or metal plate. Greasy areas hold ink; wet areas repel it. Miró used it for bold, graphic prints.

Aspire: Why might simple shapes be MORE powerful than realistic paintings in some situations?

Don't write: "Miró is just like Magritte" or "Miró's art is childish and easy"

Write: "Miró's abstract symbols communicate emotion directly, where Magritte's realism creates unsettling impossible scenes — opposite approaches to the same goal."

Both Magritte and Miró are Surrealists — but they are opposites in style. And Miró's "childlike" look is a deliberate adult choice built on years of realistic training.

The 3 things to mention when comparing artists: Style · Colours · Meaning / Message

A pupil who covers all 3 with full sentences earns the highest mark band. Skipping "Meaning" or only naming colours caps the grade.

We Do

We Do: Match Keyword → Definition

Instructions: Select a keyword, then tap the matching definition.

Matches: 0/5

Hints: "Abstract" = think of art you CAN'T recognise. "Symbolic" = one thing STANDS FOR another. "Organic" = like in biology — natural, wobbly, not geometric. "Spontaneous" = no planning. "Lithography" = starts with "litho-" meaning stone!

Step 1: Select a keyword

Abstract

Lithography

Symbolic

Organic shapes

Spontaneous

Step 2: Tap the matching definition

Using images to represent ideas or emotions

Created quickly, without careful planning

Art that doesn't look like real life

Irregular, natural, blob-like forms

Printing with stone or metal plates

Spot the Mistake

🔍 Spot the Mistake — Student Answer

Instructions: A student wrote this about Joan Miró. Find the 3 mistakes!

"Joan Miró was a French artist born in the 1800s. He painted realistic pictures of cities using lots of dark grey and brown colours. His style is very similar to Magritte — they both paint things that look exactly like real life."

Here are the 3 mistakes:

Mistake 1: "French artist" — Miró was Spanish, born in Barcelona in 1893 (late 1800s is a stretch — he made his name in the 1900s).
Mistake 2: "Realistic pictures of cities" in "dark greys and browns" — completely wrong. Miró painted abstract, symbolic compositions using bold primary colours (red, blue, yellow, black).
Mistake 3: "Very similar to Magritte" — they are opposites! Magritte = hyper-realistic, recognisable objects. Miró = abstract, symbolic shapes.

👥 Turn to your partner: In one sentence each, describe Miró's ACTUAL style. Then compare — did you say the same things?

Independent Work

Independent Work – Miró Research Page

Instructions: Most of you → Miró research page below. Catch-up pupils (absent from L3) → see your task in the orange box.

Foundation

Title "Joan Miró", 5 facts from carousel, 2 printed images, REACT writing, name 2 visual elements.

"Joan Miró was a _____ artist born in _____."

Middle

Title, 6+ facts in own words, 3 images with titles, REACT with visual elements, explain lithography, comparison sentence: Miró vs Magritte.

Higher

Creative Miró-inspired title, 8+ facts with context, 3+ images with analysis, detailed comparison (style/technique/message), lithography diagram, "connection to my work".

🌉 Catch-up Path (absent from L3)

Skip the Miró page today. Instead: pick a Magritte image from the resource sheet → grid up the image AND your sketchbook page → draw outlines box by box → write 3 facts about Magritte → try ONE annotation. We can finish next lesson.

📋 Scaffolding

Foundation: copy from carousel + sentence starters. Middle: compare to Magritte. Higher: analyse symbolism and explain why Miró chose abstraction.

🏆 Success Criteria

Foundation: 5 facts, 2 images, REACT, 2 elements named.

Middle: Own-word facts, lithography explained, comparison to Magritte.

Higher: Contextual analysis, symbolism explained, personal connection.

Exit Ticket

Instructions: Answer independently. No notes.

1) What nationality was Miró?

Spanish.

2) Miró's style is best described as…

Abstract and symbolic.

3) What is lithography?

A printing process using stone or metal plates.

Knowledge Organiser (L4): Joan Miró

Fact	Detail
Born	20 April 1893, Barcelona, Spain
Early life	Worked as a clerk at 16; breakdown at 18; art lessons in hospital
Style	Abstract + Surrealist fantasy — bold shapes, bright colours, playful symbols
Inspiration	Tension between poetic imagination and harshness of modern life
Approach	"Nature as a child would see it — with adult intelligence"
Symbols	Stars, moons, eyes, birds — representing dreams, seeing, freedom
Colours	Bold primaries: red, blue, yellow, black
Media	Painting, lithography, sculpture, murals, tapestries
Death	25 December 1983, age 90

Magritte	vs	Miró
Hyper-realistic	Style	Abstract, symbolic
Naturalistic, muted	Colours	Bold primaries
Recognisable objects	Shapes	Organic blobs, stars
Smooth blending	Technique	Flat colour, bold lines
Questions reality	Message	Pure imagination

Arrival Task

Foundation

1) What is Surrealism?

2) Who used bowler hats and hidden faces?

3) What did we use a grid for?

4) Does all Surrealist art have to look realistic?

Middle

1) Name two Surrealists and a fact about each.

2) What are the 4 annotation framework parts?

3) Why did Magritte's realistic style make Surrealism powerful?

4) What is abstract art?

Higher

1) Compare Magritte and Dalí's approaches.

2) Explain all 4 Surrealist techniques with examples.

3) Difference between abstract and Surreal?

4) Can simple shapes carry emotional weight? Argue.

🌉 Catch-up Bridge — Lesson 3 Recap

If you missed Lesson 3, here's what to do during today's Independent Work:

Step	What to Do
1. Choose	Pick a Magritte image from the resource sheet
2. Grid image	Draw 2cm × 2cm squares over the printed image
3. Grid page	Same number of squares on your sketchbook, scaled up
4. Draw	Copy outlines box by box — one square at a time
5. Facts	Write 3 facts about Magritte (Belgian, 1898–1967, bowler hats…)
6. Annotate	Try ONE annotation using the 4-area framework

Annotation framework: Describe · Techniques · Visual Elements · Opinion linked to meaning.

L3 Recall – The 6 We Missed

1) What does "surréalisme" mean?

2) What nationality was Magritte?

3) Why do we use a grid?

4) Which technique puts objects in strange places?

5) Annotations should include…

6) What media did Magritte use?

We Do: REACT to Miró

What do you SEE?

How is this DIFFERENT to Magritte?

Which VISUAL ELEMENTS?

Your OPINION?

Scaffolding – Foundation

"Joan Miró was a _____ artist born in _____."

"His art is different because he used _____ instead of _____."

"His work makes me feel _____ because…"

Scaffolding – Middle

"Miró's style is different to Magritte because…"

"He used symbols such as _____ to represent…"

Scaffolding – Higher

Key terms: abstract, symbolic, organic shapes, spontaneous, lithography, primary colours, unconscious mind, photomontage, juxtaposition

Independent – Foundation

☐ Title ☐ 5 facts ☐ 2 images ☐ REACT ☐ 2 visual elements named

Independent – Middle

☐ Title ☐ 6+ facts ☐ 3 images ☐ REACT ☐ Lithography explained ☐ Miró vs Magritte comparison

Independent – Higher

☐ Creative title ☐ 8+ facts ☐ 3+ images ☐ Detailed comparison ☐ Lithography diagram ☐ Connection to my work

Exit Ticket – Foundation

1) Nationality of Miró?

2) Describe his style.

3) What is lithography?

Exit Ticket – Middle

1) Three ways Miró differs from Magritte.

2) Symbols Miró used and their meanings.

3) How lithography works.

Exit Ticket – Higher

1) Compare how Magritte and Miró explored the unconscious.

2) Why might Miró's childlike style require MORE skill?

3) Abstract vs realistic Surrealism — which is more effective?

Surrealism Series Complete!

Joan Miró: Art Meets Imagination

Teacher Print Tools

Were you out for Lesson 3? Read this 👀

What you missed in Lesson 3

⚡ Your catch-up plan today

🎯 You can still join in today

Arrival Task – Recall from Lessons 1–3

1. Surrealism (Recall)

2. Magritte (Recall)

3. Gridding (Recall)

4. Lead-in: Miró

1. Artists (Recall)

2. Framework (Recall)

3. Style (Recall)

4. Lead-in: Abstract

1. Compare (Recall)

2. Techniques (Recall)

3. Definitions (Recall)

4. Lead-in: Symbols

Lesson 3 Recall — The 6 We Missed

I Do: Who Was Joan Miró?

We Do: REACT to Miró's Work

I Do: Magritte vs Miró — Two Surrealists, Two Styles

🎩 René Magritte

🎨 Joan Miró

📝 New Keyword — Lithography

We Do: Match Keyword → Definition

🔍 Spot the Mistake — Student Answer

Independent Work – Miró Research Page

Foundation

Middle

Higher

🌉 Catch-up Path (absent from L3)

📋 Scaffolding

🏆 Success Criteria

Exit Ticket

🏆 Surrealism Series Wall of Fame

Knowledge Organiser (L4): Joan Miró

Arrival Task

Foundation

Middle

Higher

🌉 Catch-up Bridge — Lesson 3 Recap

L3 Recall – The 6 We Missed

We Do: REACT to Miró

Scaffolding – Foundation

Scaffolding – Middle

Scaffolding – Higher

Independent – Foundation

Independent – Middle

Independent – Higher

Exit Ticket – Foundation

Exit Ticket – Middle

Exit Ticket – Higher