Towards the middle to end of our school year, I like to introduce different kinds of drawing and easel paint starters.
I wait until later in the school year so that the children spend the first part of their school year exploring the drawing and painting process without too much prompting from me. This is one example of a simple yarn drawing prompt the children explored.
Finding your Reason
The most important part, in my mind, of using a drawing prompt is to first have a reason behind the prompt. In this case, we had read the book titled “Extra Yarn” by Mac Barnett and then talked about different ways we can use yarn.
The reading of our book and the discussion on yarn gives the children context as to why the yarn is on their paper. when using a drawing prompt, I glue the prompt on the paper ahead of time so the focus stays on the drawing process rather than on gluing or designing with yarn. We saved the gluing and designing with yarn for another time.
Introducing the Process
Each child chose a yarn prompt from the table to draw on. They could integrate the drawing prompt anyway they wished in their drawing.
Sometimes, the children may have an idea of what they want to draw and other times, the children just begin drawing and are surprised by the results. And other times, the children just use the drawing prompt as a starting point for creating designs and color.
There is no right or wrong to drawing with a drawing prompt. It is simply a way to invite children to explore the drawing process beyond what they would normally do.
I always have extra drawing prompts on hand because some children will want to draw more than one and sometimes a child will get started and then realize something they could do that is different and want to start again.
The photos you are viewing today are from my prekindergarten class but I also explore drawing prompts with my threes and fours. I am hoping to share more of our drawing prompts and easel starters as I have the time.
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