Using a Combination of Drawing, Dictating, and Writing to Share Ideas
Using a Combination of Drawing, Dictating, and Writing to Share Ideas Objective: Students will learn to express their thoughts and stories by drawing pictures, dictating to an adult, and beginning to write letters or words to communicate their ideas clearly.
Learning Objectives
- Students will illustrate their ideas by drawing a simple picture.
- Students will verbally explain their drawing to an adult or parent.
- Students will attempt to write letters or words to represent their ideas.
Materials Needed
- Blank drawing paper
- Crayons or markers
- Pencil
- Notebook or lined paper for writing
- A quiet space for dictation
Key Vocabulary
- Dictate
- To say words out loud for someone else to write down.
- Illustrate
- To draw a picture that shows or explains an idea.
- Write
- To use letters and words to share your thoughts on paper.
Detailed Activities
Express Yourself: Drawing and Dictating
- 1. Give the child blank paper and crayons or markers.
- 2. Ask the child to draw a picture about something they like or an event they remember.
- 3. After the drawing is complete, have the child explain their picture out loud to you.
- 4. Write down exactly what the child says next to the drawing or on a separate sheet.
- 5. Encourage the child to try writing their name or any letters they know related to the story.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- This activity helps your child practice expressing ideas in multiple ways, which is important for early language and writing skills.
- Be patient and encouraging, especially when your child attempts to write letters—it’s about effort and communication, not perfect spelling.
- Use this as a daily or weekly routine to build confidence and comfort with storytelling and writing.
Assessment Questions
- Can your child tell you what their drawing is about?
- Did your child try to write letters or words related to their drawing?
- Is your child able to dictate their story clearly for you to write down?
Extension Ideas
- Create a simple storybook by combining several drawings and dictated sentences.
- Use photos of family or events to inspire drawings and stories.
- Introduce letter tracing worksheets to support letter formation skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
That’s normal at this age. Focus on drawing and dictating their story first. Writing can come gradually as they become more comfortable.
Ask open-ended questions like ‘What is happening in your picture?’ or ‘Who is in your drawing?’ to help them expand their ideas.
At this stage, it’s best to celebrate their attempts without focusing on correctness. The goal is to encourage expression and interest in writing.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Children must write full words or sentences before their ideas count as writing.
- Drawing is less important than writing in early literacy development.
- Dictating stories is not a valuable part of learning to write.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Allow extra time for drawing and dictation without pressure to write.
- Use larger paper and crayons for easier manipulation.
- Provide letter cards to help with recognizing and copying letters.
For Advanced Students:
- Encourage writing simple sentences using known sight words.
- Ask the child to add more details to their story when dictating.
- Introduce simple punctuation marks like periods.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Spend the first 10 minutes on drawing to let creativity flow.
- Use 15 minutes for dictating the story while writing it down.
- Use the last 20 minutes for experimenting with writing letters or words.
Standards
- K.W.6 — Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose opinion pieces, informative/explanatory texts, or narratives in which they tell a single event or several loosely linked events.
Printable Worksheet
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