What makes an everyday object a work of art? This complete, discussion-led lesson pack uses London’s iconic Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square as its springboard to explore one of the most compelling questions in contemporary art.

Through the lens of three provocative and headline-grabbing artworks — Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian (a banana sold for $6.2 million), Marcel Duchamp’s Fountain (a signed urinal), and Claes Oldenburg’s monumental Clothespin — students debate the nature of art, value, found objects, and the transformative power of presentation.

The 22-slide PowerPoint drives rich group discussion with carefully crafted questions: Does price equal worth? Can anyone tape a banana to a wall and call it art? What changes when an artist signs an object? A closing plenary consolidates learning with structured reflection questions.

The accompanying Symbolic Plinth worksheet then puts students in the artist’s seat — challenging them to choose an everyday object, place it on the plinth, and justify their creative decisions, just as real commissioned artists have done on Trafalgar Square’s famous empty pedestal.

Ideal for: KS3 / GCSE Art & Design
Key themes: Conceptual art, found objects, value & worth, the Fourth Plinth
Includes: 22-slide PowerPoint + illustrated student worksheet | Ready to teach | No prep required