Who knew that using a fun and simple technique like directed drawing would help me teach descriptive writing and short story writing?
Teaching a writing support class for 5th, 6th, and 7th graders isn’t easy. Especially when kids have to get to school an hour early to attend. (I don’t even want to know the morning battles in those households!)
The kids were fine with our daily Wordle warm up. But the minute I’d say the words “Let’s write,” their expressions made me feel like I’d just announced the cafeteria was serving liver and onions for lunch.
Then I found a great solution to their writing woes. If your kids also think writing is a chore, try this fun idea with them!
I call it Draw and Draft, and I’ve had those same liver and onion kids beg to do more draw and draft activities. No joke, they write stories and are excited.
Therein lies the power of combining directed drawing with descriptive writing and short story writing.
What is Directed Drawing?
Maybe I had my head buried deep in an endless stack of essays or something, but I’d never heard of directed drawing until a 3rd grade teacher told me. Apparently, it’s commonly used in elementary classrooms to teach drawing and following directions. But I figured, why should the littles have all the fun? My upper elementary and middle school kids like to draw too!
Directed drawing is a step-by-step approach that makes creating art easy for everyone, with no art degree needed! It’s like having a guide showing you where to put each line or shape, so you can make something recognizable and cool.
Students follow simple instructions, starting with basic shapes and adding details with each step. As their observational skills improve, so does their motivation.
Why Teach Descriptive Writing with Directed Drawing?
If you combine drawing with writing, you’ll encourage your kids to form deeper connections between images, words, and meanings.
When students draw first, they’re essentially planning their writing. They notice details in the image, and the picture becomes a framework that guides their storytelling, transforming apprehension into excitement.
How Draw & Draft Works
I often use the Draw & Draft activities with the final goal being to combine the parts to write a creative story. It seems like a natural progression, and the kids usually have fun ideas in mind before we even get to this step.
However, you can just use one part of it, because every time kids draw and practice descriptive writing, they will be gaining valuable writing skills.
Step 1: Setting the Scene
You’ll start by giving students a couple of directed drawing images that allow them to choose a setting. As they add each part of the image, they bring their chosen setting to life.
They then use prompts and writing suggestions to describe the time and place in detail, strengthening their writing skills. Encourage them to add sensory details and to describe the setting in a way that enables readers to feel as though they are there.
They can even begin to think about how the setting might affect characters in a story.
Step 2: Character Creation
Once the setting is complete, have students move on to selecting a character. Depending on their skill level, they might choose a protagonist or simply any character they feel drawn to. Using directed drawing, they sketch their character, then write a description. Have them focus on adjectives to describe character traits and physical characteristics. In order for them to feel as though they know their character, encourage them to think about a goal their character might have.
Step 3: Introducing Another Character
For added complexity and interaction within their story, students then introduce a second character. This step provides an opportunity to consider relationships and dynamics between characters.
Step 4: Choosing an Object
In this step, students select an object to include in their narrative. For a more advanced challenge, they should pick something critical to their story’s conflict—perhaps an item that assists or hinders a character. At this point, introducing literary devices like similes or metaphors can enrich their descriptive writing.
Step 5: Short Story Writing
Finally, students weave together the setting, characters, and object to create a cohesive story. It’s so much fun to see them piecing their elements together into a narrative!
Writing Stations
If you like using stations in your class, this works great. That’s how I use them. You can set up four stations: setting, character (1), character (2), and object. Then put out a variety of options at each stations, and when everyone has completed all four, every station can turn into a planning and drafting station.
Doing it this way is lots of fun, because the kids become very invested in “collecting” all of the components. They become very attached to their choices, especially their characters.
Draw and Draft Summary
You’ll find that combining the modes enables students to visualize their stories and enhance their storytelling skills. I know it helps my students! I see them developing a deeper connection between images and words.
And it’s so easy! In a nutshell:
- Setting: Choose a setting, draw it, and describe it.
- Characters: Select two characters, draw them, and describe them.
- Object: Pick an object, draw it, describe it, and explain its significance.
- Short Story Writing: Students will pull all of that descriptive writing together, using it to help visualize their stories, and enhance their storytelling skills.
By guiding students through this structured yet creative process, teachers can help students build confidence in their writing abilities while nurturing their creativity.
Ready to Transform Your Classroom?
If you’re excited to try this engaging method, there are countless clipart sets available to help you create your directed drawing lesson. For those who prefer a ready-made solution, check out our “Draw & Draft” activities; they’re ready to go and will seamlessly integrate into your curriculum.
