Making poppies for remembrance

Activity

Inspired by the art installation ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’, created to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, pupils create their own commemorative installation.

  • Estimated time: 60 minutes
  • Location: Indoors
  • School term: Early Autumn, Late Autumn
  • Level of experience: No experience needed
  • Subject(s): Art&DT, History

Learning objectives

  • To create a commemorative art installation using poppies to mark Remembrance Day

Preparation

You can find more information about the 2014 art installation on the Historic Royal Palaces website, along with photographs to share with pupils.

Cutting plastic bottles can be tricky for pupils and should be done with appropriate care and supervision where necessary.

Equipment

  • Empty plastic drinks bottles
  • Scissors
  • Masking tape
  • Paintbrushes
  • Red acrylic paint
  • Black permanent pen or acrylic paint
  • Red tissue paper (optional)
  • PVA glue or glue gun (optional)

Step by step

Begin by showing pupils photographs of the 2014 art installation at the Tower of London: ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’. Created by artists Paul Cummins and Tom Piper, it marked one hundred years since Britain first got involved in the First World War. 21,688 volunteers helped to install 888,246 ceramic poppies. 

Then guide pupils through the process of making their own poppy that will form part of their own installation. 

  1. Cut off the bottom of the drinks bottle.
  2. Cover all the cut edges of the bottle’s base with masking tape.
  3. Paint the inside of the base using red acrylic paint.
  4. Turn upside down and paint the outside of the base.
  5. Once dry, create the centre of the poppy in one of two ways: either paint a black circle in the centre of the base or paint the bottle cap black and attach to the centre of the base with PVA glue or a glue gun.
  6. (Optional) Apply red tissue paper to the surface of the poppy using PVA glue for additional interest and texture.
  7. Depending on how you choose to display the poppies, stems can be made from straws or dowelling or poppies can be hung using thread.

Hints & tips

  • The more poppies, the greater the impact of the installation. See if other classes in your school would be interested in getting involved.
  • Use the remaining part of the bottles to create a Small Bug Home, a great autumn gardening activity.