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Artwork credits in display order:
1. Tyger, 2022 © Ai Weiwei | 2. Pounce, 2018-2019  © Kiki Smith | 3. Ode to the Tigers of Bandhavgarh, 2018-2019 © Raqib Shaw | 4. With the Weight of Each Step, 2018-2019 © Maya Lin

What does a tiger mean?

Action Challenge

10+ minutes / Inside

Learn about symbolism and creativity through tiger-inspired artworks exploring art and how it can be used to communicate.
 

Learning outcome: Pupils will create a visual symbol that reflects class values and community identity, inspired by tiger-related artworks. They will interpret meanings and communicate ideas, while exploring symbolism and emotional expression.
 

HBN FAQ Slice

Instructions

  • Introduce the activity, sharing with the class that you’re going to look at some paintings which were inspired by tigers
     
  • Show the gallery and ask pupils some or all of the following questions for a class discussion. Encourage pupils to be creative in their answers – there aren’t really any wrong answers!
     
    • What do you like about these pictures and why?
       
    • What do the artworks make you think about?
       
    • What story do you think the artist was trying to tell when they painted it?
       
    • Why do you think they painted a tiger?
       
  • Explain that the tiger is being used as a symbol in the artwork
     
  • Ask pupils to find other symbols in your classroom/school/nature 
     
  • Discuss what they might be being used to communicate. Can animals, birds and plants be used as symbols?
     
  • If time allows, create your own class or school ‘symbol’, based on class values you all agree on such as ‘We listen to everyone’s ideas’; ‘We spend time in nature.’
     

Adaptations

  • Simplify the discussion, focus on descriptive language rather than symbolic, e.g. tigers are orange, the tiger is playing
     
  • Use only one artwork as stimuli
     

Extensions

  • Ask pupils to find other nature-related symbols in your school/nature/home
     
  • Share class symbol with school community, encourage others to make their own and display them
     

Animal Art

Creative Challenge

15+ minutes / Inside 

Inspired by our gallery of tiger artwork, your class will create their own nature-inspired artwork. 
 

Learning outcome: Pupils will explore emotional and creative responses to nature through animal-inspired art. They will describe, interpret and express ideas, while deepening their understanding of environmental responsibility and appreciation for local wildlife.
 

Instructions

  • Distribute paper and paints (or crafting materials of your choice)
     
  • Introduce the activity, sharing with the class that you’re going to be creating animal artwork, but first you’ll look at some tiger paintings to get inspiration
     
  • Show the gallery and ask pupils some or all the following questions for a class discussion
     
  • How do these artworks make you feel?
     
  • How have they been created?
     
  • Why do you think the artists painted tigers? What do you think they were painting about?
     
  • What environment do these tigers live in in the wild? What do these forests look like and how are they different to ours?
     
  • Create your own pieces of animal-inspired art, use local / UK forests as inspiration – researching if time allows
     
  • Pupils could even focus in on a specific part of an animal, like the tiger’s stripes
     

Adaptations

  • Suggest or provide a specific animal for pupils to draw, something they are familiar with, or one they like

Extensions

  • Create a school exhibition and invite families, taking the opportunity raise money for WWF. You can even coincide this with International Tiger Day in July
     
  • Pupils could even make cards, calendars or tea towels of their pictures to sell at the exhibition
     
  • Don’t forget to send copies of your pictures to Happy By Nature happybynature@wwf.org.uk and they could feature on our website
     
  • Hold a ‘Wear it Wild’  day at school to fundraise for WWF

     

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Pupils and staff at Evelyn Community Primary School in Prescot, Merseyside, on 16th July, 2025, take part in WWF’s Happy By Nature schools programme – helping children get their daily dose of nature through learning and play.
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