From pictures to words

Tales of monsters and stories of conquerers have been written and illustrated by pupils taking part in the Out of Art into Literacy project Molly Kearney, Greenslade Primary School (year 6), pencil and watercolour Photo © National Gallery, London Photograph: National Gallery Photograph: other Some 1,200 children took part in the project, looking at National Gallery paintings which sparked their storytelling Adil Ahmed, Fossdene Primary School, wax crayon Photo © National Gallery, London Photograph: National Gallery Photograph: other Written work by year 6 pupil Molly Kearney, who analysed the art she saw Photograph: National Gallery Photograph: PR The project began when 20 teachers from 10 London schools (all performing below the Sats target) were invited to the National Gallery to learn how to use paintings to encourage learning across the curriculum Wilfred Cameron Marples, Earlsfield Primary School (Year 5), charcoal Photo © National Gallery, London Photograph: National Gallery Photograph: other The aim was to develop children’s confidence in responding to paintings through speaking and drama. This would then help them to tell their own versions of the stories visually and through writing Didi Adibe, Archbishop Sumner (Year 4), handwritten letter Photo © National Gallery, London. Photograph: National Gallery Photograph: other All the children involved visited the National Gallery to see what became 'their' paintings Jadian Caprice Brown, Gulleit Abdi-Salan, Crystal Nyarko, Crown Lane Primary School (year 5), collage Photo © National Gallery, London Photograph: National Gallery Photograph: other Many returned to visit the gallery with their families, confident that they could now see stories behind the paintings Anmol Kaur, Greenslade Primary School (year 6), pencil and watercolour Photo © National Gallery, London Photograph: National Gallery Photograph: other One class teacher, Ruth Grimwood, said: "Overall, I would say the main impacts of the project as far as the children were concerned were extended writing of a far higher quality; high motivation to both write and tell stories; huge levels of engagement, even from reluctant writers ..." Molly Kearney, Greenslade Primary School (year 6), writing/art work Photo © National Gallery, London Photograph: National Gallery Photograph: other "... I saw more confidence in playing around with ideas and language," Grimwood said. Holly Coppins, Bannockburn Primary School, pencil/crayon Photo © National Gallery, London Photograph: National Gallery Photograph: other There is now a stack of art books in the corner of her classroom, which the children often choose at reading time. The catalogue of the National Gallery collection is particularly popular - providing inspiration for many more creative works Gurpal Bhogal, Greenslade Primary School (year 6), pencil and watercolour Photo © National Gallery, London Photograph: National Gallery Photograph: other More inspired illustration and storytelling from Greenslade primary Photograph: National Gallery Photograph: PR Examples of work from a selection of schools will be on show at the National Gallery from September 13 until December 5 Tyese Greene, Abdi Ahmed Adan, Crown Lane Primary School (year 5), Collage Photo © National Gallery, London Photograph: National Gallery Photograph: other