Trying to fit drawing lessons into your jam-packed curriculum can seem a bit chaotic and not always prioritized over subjects like science, math, or history. But today, I want to share why you should schedule drawing lessons weekly. Incorporating drawing activities into your lesson plans can excite children and foster deeper learning, I’ll explain more in a bit. Plus, as a teacher, you can help your students record their findings as they study.
When children learn to draw they can record and draw important information, like a scientist. Scientific recording is different from freehand doodling or drawing. Freehand drawing is imaginative and freeform, while scientific recording by drawing captures exact details of specimens, such as parts of flowers or leaves. The importance of recording helps students study and remember details of their subject matter. I discuss in my book how teachers can use drawing as a tool for teaching important subject matter extensively in Chapter 6, “Managing Art Time,” and Chapter 7, “Art Routines,” in my new Montessori Elementary Art Guide book.
I’ve been teaching STEAM art lessons for years and researching how scientists in labs and universities draw and diagram regularly. Many scientist share they wish they had taken drawing lessons during their studies, as a result they struggle to draw and diagram well. They report they have a lot of research work that involves recording details and labeling. Undoubtedly teaching art literacy, particularly drawing can be beneficial for advanced research work in the classroom. Yes, more art in the classroom..PLEASE!
Where to fit in more drawing lessons
I want to share some specific tips on scheduling drawing lessons. Primarily if you’re working with only one child, running a big class of 30, or a visiting art teacher to hundreds of students in a single day. Scheduling weekly art lessons is essential for meeting national art standards. Specifically for teaching early childhood and upper elementary grade level students. Hundreds of teachers and parents reach out to me regularly with this big question – How often should children be doing art activities?
Schedule Drawing Into Your Weekly Lesson Plans
The answer is at a bare minimum, once a week! Try to include one easy drawing lesson alongside something your students are already learning. Add drawing lessons with writing lessons. Depending on your specific art goals, you should build on a drawing skill weekly by adding a new twist. Like a new lesson, drawing medium, tool, or creative idea. If you need help with teaching children basic drawing, you can check out my Drawing Curriculum Here.
Drawing Examples Lessons
- Learning to Make Curved Lines: Practice drawing smooth, flowing lines by starting with simple arcs and gradually increasing complexity. This helps improve hand control and precision.
- How to Draw with Color Pencils: Use light pressure to layer colors, building up intensity gradually. Experiment with blending techniques to create smooth transitions between hues.
- Using a Template or Stencil to Trace Basic Shapes: Utilize stencils to trace geometric shapes, providing a foundation for learning proportions and creating structured compositions.
- Trying Different Values with Green Color Pencils: Explore shading by varying the pressure applied to the pencil, producing different values from light to dark green. This technique adds depth and dimension to drawings.
- Demonstrating How to Draw Curved Lines into the Shape of Leaves: Create leaves by sketching curved lines and using green color pencils to add shading. Experiment with different values to highlight veins and texture, enhancing realism.
Every week, students should create and learn a new skill that focuses on the Elements and Principles of Design (Artsy Terms). Learn these terms by downloading the list here. Finally, if you have questions, check out my book’s or curriculum for further art teaching guidance. Adding drawing lessons can be easy if you just add them to some of the other lessons your already teaching. Drawing lessons do not need to be over complicated for elementary grades students, and especially with 3-6 ages.
I hope that helps, love to hear your feedback!
Spramani Elaun – Art Instructor
Need more guidance? Order:
– Defining Visual Arts Book
– Done-For-You Drawing Curriculum
– Early Childhood Art Guide
– Montessori Early Childhood Art Guide
– Elementary Art Guide
– Infant & Toddler Art Guide – Coming Soon!
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