Learning to See

Drawing Explorations with Children

Lisa Burmaninfo@lisaburman.com.au

Overview• Drawing as a

“research tool” – what does this mean?

• A process for Drawing Explorations

• Setting the environment

Changing Ideas

“Views on the adult’s role in young

children’s experiences are changing. So too

are theories of child development and how

children learn, and long-held views on

children’s drawing.”

Ursula Kolbe

Through observational drawing, children develop skills for:–Looking closely–Communicating what they see

and think–Wondering aloud–Using analogy

Becoming Friends• Through drawing explorations, children become

familiar and confident with materials• Then they can use drawing as a “research” or

“representational” tool:– Sketch a block structure they built– Draw their ideas for changing the dramatic play area into a

store– Sketch their ideas (like how clouds make rain, or other

emerging theories about the world) so they are more visible to others

– Draw a map of how to get to their house, or how to find buried treasure in the garden

Set an Invitation to LearnImagine a special guest ….

how do you greet them for a meal?

how do you set the table

how do you show that you value them?

Process of Exploration• Small groups most effective• Slow it down• Use senses first• Point out interesting features• Talk about shapes and lines• Use your finger to show shape and line• Talk about colours, textures, • What does it remind you of? What else does it

look like? What else?

Supporting Children through the Drawing

• Look and draw, look and draw – encourage children to spend time drawing, by stopping and

looking occasionally• Coach or scaffold to include details by referring back to

the exploration and observation before. – Remember how soft you said the feather felt. Show me how

you would draw that.– Remember how we looked closely at the part where the leaf

and the steam connect. Let’s look at that again and then you can draw it.

– If you are having trouble with a shape or line, stop and look closely again. If you want you can try the shape a few times on some scrap paper first.

Try it Ourselves!

• How can you use drawing explorations?

• What are good drawing models for young children?

• Connections to inquiry projects?