sketchbook assignments for elementary

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10 Sketchbook Prompts Your Students Will Love!

Wooo! You decided to (or at least thinking about) start bringing in student sketchbooks in your art class! In my previous blog post, I talked about the many benefits I have found from having students work in sketchbooks every single day. These range from enhancing creativity, improving drawing skills to building classroom communities. I genuinely cannot say enough positive things about the possibilities they can create. But the burning question is always: What the HECK do we draw in them? The short answer is- a variety of different things. With prompts I try to find ideas that are simple enough for a beginning artist to complete, but broad enough that an advanced student can expand upon and add lots of details. I also try to give prompts that require them to put their own interests into to allow me to learn more about them. I also open up my supply cabinets and let them experiment with whatever medium they choose- charcoal, watercolor paint, markers, color pencils, gel pens, etc. I have found by giving them a range of options and choices they feel more inspired to actually *do* the assignments. I also try to find time during the week to do the prompt with them during class. This is just a fun thing to do. It gives me an opportunity to make art with them and they see me modeling what I want them to do. With that being said- here are some of my all time favorite prompts I have done with my students throughout the years. These are all images of my students’ artwork! Feel free to check out the packet of these prompts and others in my TPT shop if you are interested in trying them out with your students!

Circle Challenge

“Fill a page in your sketchbook up with circles and decorate each of them however you want. No less than 45 circles.” Why it’s great: This is a great prompt that pushes their creative skills. What are all the different ways you can take a circle and turn it into something else? How many things can make up a circle? (Donuts, fruit, planets, pizza, peace signs, emojis, more..) It’s also a great exercise to create variety in artwork.

Design a skateboard.

Why it’s great: This is the first prompt I give every year. It’s simple and easy for the students to come up with different ideas. Who doesn’t love a good skateboard design??

Watercolor Doodle Strokes

My students love working with watercolor paint. And the ones that are a bit iffy with it, this is a great way for them to get their feet wet in it (no pun intended). Why it’s great: There’s very minimal drawing needed for this one! They pick a color scheme, fill their pages up with watercolor strokes and fill them in with fun doodles. The doodles can be simply line designs or patterns- or they can be detailed little drawings that advanced students will enjoy doing.

Arrows Challenge

Similar to the circle challenge except it’s “fill up a page with different arrows”. Once they have them all sketched out, they pick a fun color scheme. Why it’s great: One of the biggest challenges with my students and their sketchbooks is making sure they utilize ALL their page space. This prompt is a great way to practice overlapping, variety and space usage.

Song Illustration

Everybody and I mean eeeeeeeverybody loves music and has that one song that speaks to them on so many levels. I love seeing what my students’ favorite songs and music groups are. Why it’s great: The majority of this prompt can be text from the lyrics with a smaller, simpler drawing to compliment the design. Good for beginner art students but your advanced kids will come up with a plethora of creative ideas!

Draw something inside of a jar/envelope.

These are 2 different prompts with the same idea. It’s basically a “free draw” prompt but in a more enclosed space. Why it’s great: These give the students a lot of freedom to draw whatever they want but they don’t have to worry about filling up the *entire* page.

Favorite Decades

Dedicate a page in your sketchbook to your favorite decade. You can include everything from music, toys, fashion, fads and trends to celebrities and movies/TV shows. Why it’s great: This is another prompt that allows you to see your students’ interests. It always warms my millenial heart when someone does a 90s spread!

Keyhole Bedrooms

For this, I recommend they look up photo references (you can also show them a few from the internet). Pinterest (if it’s not blocked from your school server) tends to have the best pictures of bedrooms. I recommend dorm room photos as well because the furniture tends to be very simple and not elaborate. I tell the kids to not worry about achieving a realistic perspective on this one… just try and design a really cool looking room. Why it’s great: This prompt is challenging for many students! It definitely pushes them but they usually end up really enjoying it in the end. If you want to incorporate writing, have them write a story about their room on the back of their sketchbook page. 

Rubber Duck Challenge

I did not even know this was a thing until I saw it in one of my many art teacher facebook groups. It’s definitely being used by many teachers everywhere and for good reason. Ya’ll. They are HILARIOUS. I was seriously wheezing laughter when I was flipping through grading them. It makes me want to turn it into a full blown project- which I may actually do in the future. Why it’s great: This prompt is so freaking weird. And the kids LOVE. IT. They come up with SO many great ideas and it always ends up being a class favorite.

I hope these prompts give you a good place to start with your students. Feel free once again to check out my prompt packet on TPT if you would like to try them out with your students. Happy Art Making!

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Step by Step Sketchbook Drawing Prompts

Practicing basic drawing techniques can help artists of all ages build confidence and sharpen their technical skills.

I love having my students keep a sketchbook. It’s a great opportunity for students to practice foundational skills, brainstorm artwork ideas, and write and reflect about their own artwork and the artwork of others.

It’s a great place to hit all of the standards of teaching that are NOT about producing finished artworks! I think creativity and self-expression are the pillars of a quality art education, but sometimes it’s time to focus on those drawing basics!

Here is a list of my go-to drawing sketchbook assignments. These are step by step video guided tutorials that are classroom ready or can be done at home! I love doing these in the classroom, but they are perfect for distance learning in our new reality of Covid-19.If you’re not an art teacher or in an art class, draw along with me in your sketchbook to grow your artistic skills.

How to Shade Water Droplets

Facial Proportions for Beginners

Two Point Perspective

One Point Perspective 3-D Letters

Value Scale Zentangle

Contour Drawing

How to Draw an Eye

Value Scale & Sphere Shading

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HI! My name is Sierra Machado and I am an art educator in Oklahoma. This is a creative space dedicated to the craft of teaching and art making. My goal is to inspire young artists, encourage and support fellow art educators and to push myself to create more art. View all posts by Sierra Machado

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• For My Student Teachers
• Artist Birthdays
• Art by Mr.E

November 06, 2018

Sketchbook prompts.

• Dream Bedroom.
• You were shrunk and are standing somewhere that everything is giant compared to you.
• Combined 3 or more animals into a new create, and create its habitat.  
• Futuristic Car/Truck.
• Underwater World (Think Atlantis!).
• Royal Outfit.
• Favorite Food.
• Design a logo for your favorite fruit/vegetable. (Logo is like the Nike Swoosh or the symbol on the Pepsi can.)
• Insect or Creepy Crawly attacking a city.
• A magic world! 
• Animals dressed as people.
• Rocket ship that could carry people from the moon & back.
• A robot that could do a chore you do not enjoy doing. 
• Alien plant growing in your garden/flowerbed.
• Animal in a tree....that doesn't belong in a tree.
• Dark and stormy night.
• Bug in a spider web.
• Playing a sport.
• Favorite nursery rhyme.
• Illustrate your favorite song.
• Food with a face/arms/legs.
• Bundled up for cold weather.
• Dragon(s) in flight.
• Create your own cartoon character, his/her friends and/or enemies, and setting.
• Scribble & then turn it into something awesome.
• Draw something you know well(pet, toy, friend, food) with your eyes closed(NO CHEATING!).
• In the jungle.
• You with crazy hair.
• Tree house.
• Design your own board game.
• Give an animal wings that doesn't have wings(Bat wings, butterfly wings, bird wings, bug wings..etc).
• A boat on water.
• Tropical island.
• At the circus.
• If sharks could fly.
• Invention that would help you.
• Something shiny.
• An open door.
• Inside your favorite store.
• You as a superhero.
• Make a sign/advertisement of something that is important to you.
• Something sweet to eat.
• What would you do with a million dollars?
• If you could travel back in time...where would you go?
• A room you are in has no gravity..what does it look like.
• Dinosaurs are alive and well today.
• A day at the amusement park.
• Helping someone.

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Sketchbook Ideas for the Art Classroom

Sketchbook Ideas for Elementary Art

I want to share why I started using sketchbooks in my elementary art classroom, seven ways I used sketchbooks, and the benefits students got from using them. I’ll also give you a few tips for getting started, making sketchbooks, and keeping sketchbooks organized.

Why Use Sketchbooks?

I first started using sketchbooks because I wanted students to experiment and try out ideas before jumping into their art. When I gave them a single piece of paper, they often threw it away or lost it when they finished using it. When they put those experiments in a sketchbook, I found that they valued them much more and wanted to add to them a create a collection of ideas. I like how they record students’ thoughts and ideas and the different challenges they had in art throughout the year. In particular, I felt like there was so much more information in the sketchbooks than the final work of art at times. Equally, I like that students coan write down ideas about the meaning of the work of art.

1) Using Sketchbooks with Essential Questions

I liked giving students “ essential questions ” that they could draw and write out the answer to. Writing comes more naturally for some students, and others want to draw first and then write about it. So often, I would give them a strip of paper with the essential question written on it and have students glue the question at the top of the page and do their sketching below. If I wanted students to draw more than one thumbnail, sometimes I’d have them trace around tagboard rectangles to create 2-3 boxes on one page.

2) Using Sketchbooks with Big Ideas

As I started using  “big ideas,”  I created little tabs that students could glue into their sketchbooks for each big idea. We would  cover three big ideas each year and do several sketches and projects for each big idea. The tabs gave the sketchbook a framework and made it easy for parents and others to see how we used each big idea.

How to Use the Tabs

Each student gets a strip of paper. They glue it in their sketchbook with the word “Identity” hanging off the edge of a page and fold the extra paper over to the backside to add strength to the tab. While they are sketching, I’d come around with packaging tape and tape over the tab to keep it from ripping (optional step).

3) Sketchbooks for Reflection and Assessment

Sketchbooks can also be a place for students to reflect on their work and how they might revise or improve their work. Sketchbooks can also be a place for me to access students’ understanding of a concept. I like to write them little notes or give them a stamp of approval (using a cute rubber stamp). Then they can jump right into their art at the beginning of the next class without waiting for me to talk to them.

4) Free Choice Drawing

Early finishers.

Another way that students used their sketchbooks is for “free draw” time. If they have any extra time at the end of an art class, they can draw in their sketchbooks and continue to add to their ideas or draw something of their own choice. Students liked this opportunity, and it provided an excellent activity for an early finisher that was engaging but not distracting to the students still working. (Anything “too fun” or too noisy tended to cause the other students to start rushing through their work just to be able to join their friends in doing the activity.)

Be On the Lookout

Every once in a while, I had to curtail a 1st grader from “waisting pages” by just making a quick scribble and then turning the page. Other than that, students seemed to want to produce quality work. Furthermore, it didn’t use up all the pages of their sketchbooks during their free choice drawing time.

5) Sharing with Sketchbooks

Students can also use sketchbooks to display the thinking behind a lesson. For example, you can set up a table under an art show display and have a few sketchbooks open to the page where students did some thumbnails and writing about the final project. 

If you have an open house or curriculum night early in the school year, the sketchbooks can be a great way to let parents know what you are working on, even when you don’t have finished art to display yet. For instance, you can leave sample sketchbooks out on tables. Then, leave a different grade level on each table to show all the lessons in progress.

Walk-Throughs

When a principal or board member does a “walk-through” and asks students what they are making and why they are making it, students are much more likely to explain this if the information is in their sketchbook. Indeed, sketchbooks reinforce the information in the students’ minds and make it easier to share with others.

6) Elements of Art and Sketchbooks

All elements at once.

If you want to cover the elements of art quickly, you might consider using sketchbooks. There are two different approaches that I’ve tried. One is to go through the elements at the beginning of the year all at once. I did this by using my  Elements of Art Sketchbook Activities . Then, after teaching about the elements of art, students did an Op Art lesson that used the elements as a focus. Doing the Op Art lesson showed students how to use the elements of art to create illusions.

One Element Per Project

Likewise, another idea is to cover one or two elements for each lesson and do a quick activity before introducing the art lesson. It might take the entire year to cover all 7 elements of art, but if you plan ahead, this would be a great way to give each element a little more focus. Of course, each art project would be about much more than the element of art. The element of art would just give students a formal quality to think about in addition to the meaning or big idea of the art project.

7) Art Critiques Using Sketchbooks

Sketchbooks can quickly become a tool for critiquing art. One way of doing this is by creating an interactive page. Interactive pages are not only fun for students, but they engage them in a way that makes them want to go back over information and share their work with others. In addition, these activities help students retain information. 

An interactive page is a flip-flap that students open to reveal the answer to a question or some information. For example, the front of the flap could say, “Describe what is happening in this work of art.” Next, students glue flaps into their sketchbooks and write the answer under the flap. If you’d like to do this type of activity focusing on the  Principles of Design  or  Elements of Art , I’ve created some pages for that. Finally, students can write about how the artist used the element of art or design principle under the flap.

Sketchbooks and Mental Health Benefits

One attribute of sketchbooks is the physical property of being able to shut the book. Keeping work semi-private helps students let their guard down a little and try things that they might not try on a piece of paper that gets displayed.  

I think some students find it necessary to “get out” some of their thoughts that might not be the most appropriate for public consumption.  After drawing in sketchbooks, students can edit out ideas. As a result, students can reveal something in their final work of art that they feel more comfortable sharing. Sketchbook drawings can also be an excellent tool for initiating a private conversation with students about their thoughts and feelings. Or if needed,  referring students to a counselor.

To Buy or Not to Buy

Student provided sketchbooks.

So if you haven’t tried using sketchbooks in your classroom, I suggest giving it a try! I was fortunate to teach in a district where I was able to ask students to bring in a sketchbook, and most students did! For example, I ordered 10-20 sketchbooks as part of my supply order and handed them out to students who could not afford a sketchbook. If this is not possible, try making them.

Making Sketchbooks

You could use a traditional bookbinding technique such as sewing or keep it simple by folding paper and using a long-arm stapler to staple them. Most students can make their own. Have older (5th grade) students make some at the end of the year for next year’s 1st graders. It’s also great to have a few extra made for new students. One advantage of making your sketchbooks is that students can decorate the cover. A simple way to do this is to give them the letters “A-R-T” to trace and color in with bright colors and patterns (or zentangle).

Keeping Sketchbooks Organized

To keep sketchbooks organized, I had the office print out labels (or give me a database to print them).

Color Coding

Before passing the label out, I color-coded the edge of the label with markers and glitter glue. (First-grade blue, 2nd red, third orange, 4th green, and 5th purple) Then after they got their assigned seats, they got a sticker that indicated which table they sat at that also went on the label. Color coding made passing them out easy. Even if the students were not at their seats, someone could pass sketchbooks to the correct table.

The stickers also had their teacher’s name on them, so if I found a sketchbook lying somewhere in the room, I could put it with the rest of that class’s sketchbooks.

 Storing Sketchbooks

Depending on the size of your sketchbooks, you could store them in a crate or on a shelf labeled with the teacher’s name. If you are on a cart, ask teachers to give you a little spot for sketchbooks and work in progress in the classroom.

Before You Go

I’d love to hear how you’ve used sketchbooks in your classroom. 

If you have questions about how I’ve used sketchbooks in my art room you can ask them in my Facebook group .

The Benefits of Drawing

Use this infographic to display in your room or share with parents, administrators, or other teachers as a way to point out some of the academic benefits of learning to draw. While they are not the only reason for using drawing as part of a balanced curriculum, they are certainly worthy of celebrating and may help you advocate for including drawing as part of your art or classroom learning experiences.

You can read more about The Benefits of Drawing in this blog post.

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Stacey Peters

I create engaging drawing resources that help students build confidence and express themselves through art. I'm a former elementary art teacher of 25 years turned business owner. Giving you the tools you need to bring more drawing into your classroom brings me joy.

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Category Archives: sketchbook assignments

New products in shop: little doodle sketchbook & more.

Teachers Pay Teachers is throwing a huge Back-to-School sale.  I am joining in.  I keep my prices affordable as it is, but this sale is a huge steal!  I have over 50 art teacher resources available in my shop.  Everything is 20% off (EDIT: except the HUGE GROWING BUNDLE,  because that is already ridiculously cheap) August 1-2.  Add the coupon code: BestYear for additional savings (28% off total). I have some resources you might be interested in! NEW:  Elements of … Read more… →

Back to School Sale & New Art Task Cards

Everything in my shop is 20% off August 3-4, just in time for back to school!  I have PowerPoints, Signs, Discussion Cards, Sketchbook Prompts, Art Journaling E-Zines and Getting to Know You Cards. I also have new Art Task Cards which I think will be really useful for kids that need an idea starter. This is a set of 240 (yes, 240!) Art Task cards. The cards contain a simple prompt that can be interpreted in a variety of ways. … Read more… →

Art Around the World – Sketchbook Prompt Cards

The 3rd/4th grade class used a grid format to design their sketchbook cover.  I am loving using grids in my personal artwork.  I am doing a series of grid mixed media paintings which you can see here, here and here, and oh yeah here too.   To prepare for this lesson, I drew a 1 inch square grid on a piece of 8.5″ x 11″ piece of paper.  Then, I photocopied it for the class.  Here’s a trick.. if you cut … Read more… →

Sketchbook Covers for Kids

It has been a busy 2 weeks and a rough transition back to school.  The actual “school” part has been just fine.  The problems have been with coordinating my schedule and “life balance.”  I will talk about that more at the end of this post, but first I will show you some pretty pictures. We have been making sketchbook covers from donated file tab dividers.  My sister-in-law works in medical records and they were transferring everything over to digital, so … Read more… →

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Engaging Sketchbook Ideas 5 Days a Week

Are you looking for sketchbook ideas to keep students engaged in your middle school art or high school art class? Encouraging students to embrace daily sketchbook activities is a way to build confidence in your art classroom. Although it can be challenging to keep students engaged, by providing them with a structured time, specific instructions, and keeping it quick (5 minutes!) students will get into the habit of daily sketching. Check out sketchbook ideas below.

By breaking down the week into specific themes, we can guide students through a range of exploration and technique-building while also focusing on regular art-making habits. In this blog post, we will explore how to incorporate different prompts throughout the week to make the most out of your daily sketchbook routine. You can also check out another blog post on sketchbook ideas to get a broad overview on how to successfully implement them here .

KEEP IT SIMPLE!

The key to a successful daily sketchbook activity is simplicity. Treat it as a quick and easy warm-up exercise, something students can engage in at the beginning of each class or as a bell ringer at the end of class. This approach allows for consistency and routine while eliminating the intimidation factor.

I display one PowerPoint slide a day at the beginning of class or at the end of class. The slide lists supplies to grab, instructions for what to do, and an image to draw or use as inspiration. You can hit the easy button and get a semester pack of these slides on my TPT here or website here or get an entire school year of daily sketchbook prompts (180 prompts!) on my TPT here or my website here .

Remember, the focus is on the process, not the finished product. Grade students on their time management, effort, and care for supplies rather than the aesthetic quality of their sketches. Tailor your expectations to each student’s individual skill level, meeting them where they are and encouraging growth.

A Weekly Guide for Prompts:

Monday: drawing from life.

Kickstart the week by honing observational skills. Although an image is included on the PowerPoint slide I display, I want students to find an object to physically put in front of themselves to draw. Topics can range from a pencil to the teacher’s desk, as long as they can see it and touch it. Emphasize capturing details and proportions accurately. I encourage students to explore value and add a cast shadow if there is time.

Tuesday: Combining Elements of Art

Introduce the fundamental elements of art by assigning prompts that require students to incorporate these elements into their sketches. This could include creating patterns, exploring symmetry, or experimenting with different textures. Often these topics will focus on combining line, shape, and value to create patterns. Include color if time allows. Topics can range from adding a pattern to a drawing of sunglasses to combining shapes to create a vase and decorating it. This does not have to include observational drawing, I like to have a simple reference photo on the slide for students to draw and then add patterns to it.

Wednesday: Drawing from Memory

Wednesday sketchbook ideas focus on memory. Encourage imagination and creativity by having students draw from memory. After a few days of warming up with sketches, I like to push them in the middle of the week. Drawing from memory can be more challenging than drawing from life. I always include an image for students to use as a jumping-off point. If they can’t think of anything to draw, they can always draw the reference image (although it misses the point of drawing from memory, it keeps them engaged). Topics can include drawing their bed, what they ate for breakfast, or drawing a portrait of a pet.

Thursday: Shading and Value Techniques

Sketchbook ideas on Thursday always focus on value. Guide students through practices like cross-hatching, stippling, and blending to enhance their understanding of light and shadow. Start with simple topics such as creating a grayscale, drawing a cone and adding value by stippling, before moving to more complex topics such as drawing and shading their eye.

Friday: Creative Focus

End the week on a fun and light note. Provide silly or open-ended prompts that encourage students to think outside the box and express their creativity freely. I love challenging students with random topics such as drawing what you think an animal that is part whale and part ladybug would look like. This is a day to have fun, be silly, and think creatively.

To keep the daily sketchbook routine seamless, simplify the supplies. Opt for tools that are easy to manage and clean up, ensuring a smooth transition in and out of the activity. Consider having the following supplies on hand:

• Extra fine tip Sharpies
• Colored pencils

Daily Sketchbook Ideas & Instructions:

Clear communication is vital to the success of daily sketchbooks. Avoid relying solely on verbal instructions, as this may lead to confusion for visual learners or miss students who aren’t fully tuned in. Instead, provide written instructions either through printouts or digital displays. Create a visual guide for each prompt, including the task, an inspirational image, additional instructions, and a list of supplies.

Remember to scaffold the concepts throughout the weeks, starting with simpler prompts and gradually increasing complexity. This ensures that students build confidence and techniques over time.

Additional Resources:

For those looking for a less structured approach, consider incorporating a sketchbook prompt jar . This provides students with the autonomy to choose prompts randomly, inspiring a variety of ideas. You can use this as an early finisher or fast finisher activity, sub plan, or fun art Friday station.

Conclusion:

It can feel intimidating to set aside time every day for students to work in their sketchbooks, but with the right structure, it will be successful. Not only will students practice techniques, but you will also engage students at the beginning or end of class, times when students are often distracted. Also, by breaking down the week into specific themes, simplifying supplies, and providing clear instructions, you create an environment that fosters creativity and skill development. Remember, the goal is to instill a love for art and regular art-making habits in your students. I would love to hear how you use sketchbooks in your classroom!

Don’t forget, you can hit the easy button and get a semester pack of these slides on my TPT here or website here or get an entire school year of daily sketchbook prompts on my TPT here or my website here .

Thanks for stopping by! Don’t forget to follow me on  Instagram  and  TikTok  for weekly visual journal demos and other project ideas.  Subscribe here  to get freebies, project tutorials, and more straight to your inbox. Until next time, keep sketching!

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Sketchbook Ideas for Any Classroom

Tools, supplies, strategies, challenges, prompts, lesson ideas, and assessments.

In this guide, you’ll be introduced to a variety of sketchbook ideas, processes, and techniques that can help you use this in any classroom and with any group of students.

Interestingly, artistic talent has nothing to do with this process. Making sketchbooks look pretty is NOT the point! Instead, it’s the simple practice of sketchnoting that makes this beneficial for all students – no matter what age.

Jump to a section:

The Benefits of Sketchbooks

Better for Our Brains?

Journaling for Yourself

4 Essential Sketchbook Tips

Creating Student Buy-In

Building Relationships through Sketchbooks

Idea 1: Combined Weekly Journals and Sketchbooks

Idea 2: Use Thinking or Drawing Prompts

Idea 3: Sketchbook Challenges

Idea 4: STEAM Journaling

Idea 5: Sketchbooks for Assessment

Idea 6: Providing Choice

Idea 7: Group Journaling

Idea 8: Embracing Icons

Process Over Product

Ahh, sketchbooks. You might hear some people call them visual journals, others call them doodles. Whatever term you use, the process of sketching has been around since prehistoric times. 

The sketchnoting process provides a space to construct meaning and provide better recall. Many people create them when they are taking notes. A big trend right now is creating sketchbooks based on what you’re reading . Sketchnoting helps people of all ages understand and process knowledge. They also help us recall details from a meeting, talk, book, or even a podcast!

There is plenty of research to back this up. Let’s start with Marzano and Classroom Instruction that Works . Non-linguistic representations are one of the research-based strategies proven to increase student achievement. Non-linguistic strategies can be sketches, graphic organizers or mind maps to make learning and comprehension visible. Perhaps you have provided these types of outlines for your students:

Students of all ages can use frames like this. Older students can create their own, or you can provide a few examples for them. 

Check out the resources of these sketchnote stars: Tanny McGregor , Sunni Brown and Silvia Tolisano. Their websites and books have many easy, usable sketch note ideas for you and your students. Start documenting that learning, today!

Better for our Brains?

Is it really better for our brains to take notes by hand instead of typing on a computer? Pam Mueller and Daniel Oppenheimer, two scientists at Princeton University, wanted to find out. Mueller had switched from taking notes on her computer to pencil and paper and noticed that she remembered much more from lectures. While typing notes on his computer, Oppenheimer discovered when he looked up, he had no idea what the speaker was currently talking about. These two personal experiences prompted their 2014 study.

Mueller and Oppenheimer discovered that college students had better long-term comprehension when they take notes by hand. Handwriting notes forces us to process the information; typing on a computer merely transcribes it. By offering sketchbooks as a tool for taking notes, we’re supporting this long-term comprehension. 

But “taking notes” can look different for everyone. For some, it’s simply writing things down by hand. For others, it’s drawing, sketching, and doodling. Whatever the method, the act of pulling out a sketchbook for learning is powerful.

Start with Visual Journaling for Yourself

Before we can teach something, we typically need to feel comfortable doing it ourselves. So now is a great time to start this practice for your own purposes.

To begin, try to use black thin and thick permanent markers plus just one colored marker . As you listen or participate in a conversation, book study, or even a podcast, write down keywords and phrases and add lines and shapes wherever there is space. 

You can sketch for:

• Self-reflection
• Improve memory
• Creativity, expression, reflective practice
• Note-taking

A visual journal can be your place for unstructured structure. Write your ideas down, and then play with words, shapes, and figures. 

Now that you’re ready to get started, here are my four essential visual journaling tips:

• Use a blank, unlined notebook, or create your own with some drawing paper in a manila folder.
• Simplify your notes with color, line, and shape! You can really jazz things up with colored markers, repetition, use of space and balance.
• Add your own graphics! Look at these free icon sites for inspiration: The Noun Project , FlatIcon or Open Clip Art . It’s much easier to start drawing when you can look at a simplified drawing of an object.
• Not into writing on actual paper? Try out a digital app! I have dabbled with Paper , Notability , and Inkflow Visual Notebook . Find one that suits your needs!

Once you’ve tried it out, plan how visual journaling will work best in your classroom with your students. “Cement” that learning with visual journaling!

Creating Student Buy-In for Sketchbooks

Now that you’ve tried some visual journaling on your own, let’s look at how to bring this practice into the classroom. To start, it’s helpful to look at historical examples.

We can learn so much by exploring journals from great minds of the past and present, and thanks to technology, now we can bring them into our classrooms!  Sharing DaVinci’s journals with students is a fantastic way to show an example of how these great thinkers recorded their findings. Take a look at DaVinci’s journals , Thomas Edison’s complete notebook , and Alexander Graham Bell’s sketchbooks .

A page from Alexander Graham Bell’s notebook 

These primary documents can even be treated as works of art, and observing them using the See, Think, Wonder strategy is very effective in helping students determine the purpose of journaling. Students are always amazed when learning about Marie Curie’s radioactive journals . Although they will be radioactive for another 1,500 years, students can safely view pages through a device.

Providing these mentor journals, combined with guided observation and discussion, gives students motivation and purpose when creating and using a journal of their own.

Often, sketchbooks can offer a gateway into communication with students. Here’s an example from educator Holly Valentine:

“Within my literacy block, as so many teachers do, I had a reader’s notebook. In it, one section was dedicated to weekly letters from the kids. In these letters, they were to write about their reading, how it was going and what they were struggling with. I would write back to them and the notebooks became a quiet, insightful written dialogue between myself and each student. As we got more comfortable with doing this – or I should say I got more comfortable and wasn’t trying to make each student appear to be perfect in my responses back to them – these letters began to morph into so much more than a reading discussion. Students opened up about everything and anything – events both in and out of school. And I started to see them so much more individually, and gain so much insight into these little souls in front of me.  I began to know each student so well, academically and personally, that when problems did arise, I felt like I really knew each student and what made them tick. I was often finding myself being able to address struggles before they got too big, or to understand what was at the root of them.”

Let’s take a look at some practical sketchbook ideas that you can start to implement in your own classroom.

Idea #1: Combined Weekly Journal and Sketchbook

You can use this process in your own classroom to maintain a weekly journal with the kids that combined not only writing but sketchnoting, the arts, perhaps even music. 

How would this work?

• So many kids have a hard time breaking away from the traditional linear notebooks, and as a result, struggle with looking at a blank page. Let them be inspired, and attack a weekly entry from any direction – how will they layout their thinking and ideas? What format will it take? It could be a combination of mediums and no right way to approach the entry.
• The use of and choice of color could add so much to the entry. It’s no secret that color choices often align to moods. Think of how insightful this could be as a getting to know your students exercise. You would learn how to connect outside events and emotions with what they are expressing through their journal.
• Caffeine for the Creative Mind – by Stefan Mumaw and Wendy Lee Oldfield
• Journal Sparks: Fire up your creativity with spontaneous art, wild writing and inventive thinking – by Emily K. Neuburger
• 52 Sketch Prompts – by Samantha Cole

What a wonderful memory this could be for you and each of your students by the end of the year, tracing through art the journey through your time together. 

In order to increase communication and facilitate that relationship between the two of you, it is important that the journal would become a place for you both to share. You will each find ways to add creativity and to comment on the work the other person is doing. 

Ideally, the journal will become a combination of art and writing, a natural flow of ideas.

Idea #2: Use Thinking or Drawing Prompts

Another idea is to allow students to free-sketch as a means of processing information. But looking at a blank page can be daunting. This is where thinking or drawing prompts can help.

Art Educator Michael Bell shares his practice for using drawing prompts with students:

“ When students are first getting into visual journaling I usually provide them with the drawing prompts, but also choices as to whether they want to use those prompts or create their own.  I give them a template of 10/10/10 to knock out their first 30 pages. 10 pages of notes, diary entries, text messages, etc., 10 pages of observational drawings or photographs, and 10 pages of mixed-media/painting with an overarching goal of FILL THE PAGE (every square inch!)”

Here’s a list of 25 drawing prompts if you need some inspiration:

• Choose something from the “Assorted Collage Items” box. Use that as your inspiration.
• Use the iPad mini to look  our Instagram pictures to get an idea.
• Get a piece of paper and draw with stencils. Overlap shapes.
• Use your favorite type of paint on a piece of paper. Fill in all of the space.
• Use stencils to create a border around a piece of paper. Create a collage in the middle.
• Look on the walls to get an idea. Where is your favorite artwork? Which one has your favorite colors?
• Look in your sketchbook and folder for an idea.
• What is your favorite center? Go, get supplies and start creating!
• Go to the drawing books and pick one you never used before and find something inspiring.
• Make 21 dots on a paper without looking at it. Now create something out of those random dots.
• Get a small piece of paper and draw tiny things on it.
• Create something with materials you have not used before.
• Draw a family portrait. Plot twist: It is a family of insects or animals.
• Create an animal playing a musical instrument.
• Draw the most terrifying animal you can imagine. Or the most adorable.
• Draw fresh fruit or vegetables, or something fresh from the oven.
• Make a drawing of some drawing materials. Or make a painting of some painting materials.
• Draw a collection of something, like: dogs, baseballs, bags, shirts, toys…
• Create a clock, a watch or a piece of jewelry.
• Create a robot that can do a chore that you do not like to do.
• Create an artwork that is made with only primary colors.
• Create an artwork that has only cool colors.
• Create a mysterious doorway or staircase.
• Create something that should have been invented by now.
• Create an interesting form of transportation.

Idea #3: Sketchbook Challenges

Sketchbook challenges are perfect for building your students’ creative skills in a low-stakes way that can be a personal collection of their own artistic and academic growth.

The challenges are collections of artistic prompts like the examples above which get the problem-solving creative juices flowing in short exercises. They provide an opportunity to build skill-sets and create a pattern of “making” every day.  They can easily give your students new sketchbook ideas to run with and eliminate the question of “what do I write/sketch/draw next?”

These challenges typically tackle drawing skills, but they can also include photography, painting, printmaking, etc. So find one, or a collection of challenges, to spark a daily practice! 

Sketchbook Challenges can:

Be Habit-Forming

• They can hold you accountable for doing something creative every day. This creates a habit of artistic accomplishment and builds confidence in the practice.

Be Time Flexible

• You can work on a project for as little or as much time as you’d like

Be Experimental

• If you like pen and ink drawing over painting, the challenges still work for you. Use the medium of your choice or challenge yourself with one that you’ve never tried before.

Be Inspirational

• These challenges might start out simple and then inspire you to complete a more complete project with more time and detail. I’ve developed some of my most interesting lessons from sketchbook challenge prompts.

Be Customized

• You can look at a few challenge examples from online resources and pick your favorites. Put them together on your own for a personal challenge that only includes prompts that you are interested in.

Here’s a list of 28 Sketchbook Challenges you can start with in your classroom: 

Looking for more challenges? ​​Explore the Sketchbook Skool Blog . This site is a fantastic collection of ideas, tips, tricks, and inspiration. If you get really into it, they offer classes as well. Co-founded by Danny Gregory , who brings humor and freedom to those who are creative and those who need more creative confidence.

Idea #4: STEAM Journaling

STEAM challenges may seem hard to assess. There are so many components, and it doesn’t make sense to give a paper pencil test to assess a performance-based activity. STEAM journaling, combined with a single point rubric, can solve the problem of this assessment quandary AND it can be used as a formative OR summative assessment.

A STEAM journal is not something that takes a lot of teacher preparation. It can be as simple as a 3 ring binder with plain paper, a composition book, or a stapled packet of paper. Or, it can be designed by students, like these student-created nature journals . 

Journals could also be digital so that students can add photos, videos, and captions to record the process of their learning. The app Seesaw can be an efficient tool for this, and Google Slides is another great tool for digital journaling. Whatever the design, the purpose is the same: an organizational tool that can help develop beneficial habits of mind .

Here are two suggestions for making this a natural part of the learning process:

• When first starting a journal, it is helpful to assign times for students to record . To do this, add a writing component as you build background knowledge. For example, if you ask students to turn and talk to a peer, require them to record a thought in their journal after they turn and talk. This holds students accountable, and it also helps them to retain information.
• Turn the “Think Pair Share” strategy into “Think Pair WRITE Share” . This means students will have a record of their conversations. In addition, your more introverted students, or your students who need more processing time, will have an equal opportunity (and a higher comfort level) to share their thoughts with the class.

Idea #5: Use Sketchbooks as an Assessment Tool

Sketchbooks can be used as both formative and summative assessment. Using a single point rubric is an effective way to do this. If you aren’t familiar with these rubrics, take a look at this article by Cult of Pedagogy and give them a try immediately. These rubrics have revolutionized the assessment process, making self-reflection easier for students, allowing for more student creativity, and making teacher feedback more useful and personalized.

A single point rubric is basically a stripped down traditional rubric. Create a three-column chart. Choose your criteria for proficiency, and list that in the center column. The column on the left is a place to provide feedback for someone who has not yet reached proficiency in that criterion, and the column on the right allows space for feedback for those exceeding that criterion. Here is an example of a single-point rubric for artist statements:

When assessing STEAM journals, try to crowdsource your class to create the criteria. This is typically done after you’ve had students using a journal for at least one STEAM challenge. 

Once students have a little experience, they have ideas to share related to the journal organization and what it means to have a useful journal as a tool. You can also look back at famous journals and sample student journals from previous years, both exceptional and slightly off. After an initial student brainstorm, summarize the students’ criteria into categories, add anything that is missing, and create the rubric to share.

Using Sketchbooks for Formative Assessment

As a formative assessment, students can use the single point rubric to self-score and reflect on their journal periodically. This is a great sponge activity task– something that students can do as they wait for class to officially begin, as they arrive in the morning, or as they wait for their bus in the afternoon. 

After this self-reflection, conference with each student and use the rubric to direct your conversation. This conference gives you an opportunity to check in with students and set some goals for students who are struggling. 

You can also provide extensions for higher level students. Keeping a record of these conversations provides you with a progression of student learning.

Using Sketchbooks for Summative Assessment

Each marking period, after you’ve conferenced with each student two or three times, collect these sketchbooks and score them using the same single point rubric. 

Students have the opportunity to perfect their journal prior to turning it in, but the conferences and goal setting, along with the clear expectations provided on the rubric, give students a high chance of success. 

You can analyze the results to find if there are any patterns of misconceptions that you need to address, or if you notice that students are struggling with a part of the design process, such as making observations. Then, you can adjust your instruction accordingly.

Idea #6: Providing Choice

As teachers, we need to give our students opportunities to learn, understand and then use information. Imagery is important in our world. Allan Paivio’s dual coding theory says this: when we present information in visual and linguistic form, recall and learning improves. Creating sketchnotes will help students construct meaning and remember their learning.

Sketchnoting is also a great way to provide some choices. Many teachers have a few different organizers for students to choose from. You can display a few simple ideas for students to refer to, like these:

Idea #7: Group Doodling

All students benefit from cooperative learning and being active during a lesson. Group doodling is a great way to learn sketchnoting with your students! This strategy in The Doodle Revolution is perfect for when a class needs a visual of the lesson. 

For this idea, students create a large, visual reminder together. They will use a yard or two of wide paper from a roll or very large poster board, along with broad-tipped markers. These markers are a must since you can’t erase them and the drawings and words can be seen from far away. 

After the group doodle is created, it can be posted in the classroom for reference throughout the year. A group doodle will be much more meaningful to students than a visual that the teacher creates. 

Other bonuses to these sketchbook ideas of group doodling and choice offerings are that everyone is heard, and students can capture the content of the lesson quickly.

Idea #8: Embrace Icons

Let’s address the common concern that many people have:  “I can’t draw a straight line.” 

That old, ridiculous line is not true for anybody. You, and everyone else in the world can draw lines and shapes. 

If you need an image to look at to draw an object, use The Noun Project . There are over one million simple icons for EVERYTHING. The creators call it “global visual language,” and it is!

Try having students use these icon representations as a connection to ancient Hieroglyphics, and create their own visual language. Or, use the icons as a quick way to document their learning. So much can be done with such simple lines and shapes.

Process over Product

In the end, these sketchbook ideas offer a starting point for any student in any classroom to begin processing their thinking and sharing their interpretations. This isn’t meant as the end product; rather, the value is in the process of the work itself.

Much like the goal of learning is to continue to learn, the goal of sketchbooks are to continue to sketch. It’s through action that we make progress.

Additional Guides

Looking for more helpful ideas, strategies, and tools? Try one of our other resource guides:

Sketchbook Ideas

Sketchbook assignment ideas.

Current HS Sketchbook Assignment Handout :  

Sb assigns-adv hs art q3 2018-19, sb assigns-adv hs art q2 2018-19a.

SB ASSIGNS-ADV HS ART Q1 2018-19

Sketchbook Ideas to Boost your Creativity FREE PDF -Sign up for my Create Art with ME Newsletter!

NEEDED Sketchbook Supplies:

Great books on building creativity:

* Affiliate links-products that I love , use, and recommend

Requirements for my HS Art Sketchbook Assignments:

You must complete a minimum of 4- 5 assignments listed below in each 9-week period.

• Drawings should fill the ENTIRE sketchbook page (points will be deducted for small drawings.)
• Include DETAILS (include textures & value, unless otherwise specified.)
• Spend a minimum of 45 minutes on each assignment.
• Each sketchbook counts as a QUIZ grade!
• Sketchbooks handed in late will be accepted but 30 points removed for lateness, 2 days late will receive a “0”.
• DRAWINGS NEEDS TO BE FROM DIRECT OBSERVATION ie: you LOOKING at the objects ! That means NOT from memory, photos, or imagination. (except where otherwise noted). Pay close attention to proportions (size relationships)

YOU MUST LABEL EACH PICTURE at the top with the appropriate title (ex: SB #1: Black & White Design )

Size                 0-5

Effort             0-10

Creativity       0-8

Title               0- 2

                     25 pts.

Sketchbook Assignments:

Below are just some of the sketchbook assignments we have done throughout the years. Not listed are the essential contour line & gesture drawings that are required throughout the year.

SB #2: Juxtaposition Drawing: Create a new object by combining 2 unrelated objects-one needs to be from nature, the other needs to be mechanical. Render with full shading. Medium: colored pencil

SB #3: Contour line: Look in your backpack or purse, pull out 5 things you use on a regular basis (phone can not be one!) arrange them in an interesting way, then draw a contour line drawing (outline only) of the composition. Medium: drawing pencils

SB #4: Scissor Metamorphosis : Use a pair of scissors as a beginning point, creatively transform the scissors into something else- a monster, a robot, a machine, a vehicle, an animal. Change its scale & it purpose. Render with full shading . Medium: colored pencils

SB #5: Student Choice: Choose your own subject and complete a drawing using skills & techniques learned in class. Medium: Your Choice

SB #6: Preposterous Cross-links: Choose any 2 words below to combine together in one image:

Turtle      Octopus      Snake        Bird       Bee          Rat    Fish      Cat

Pencil      Saw            Hammer    Pliers     Scissors  Tire    Clock   Drum

Medium: colored pencil

SB #7: Futuristic Mutation : Take an everyday object and use your imagination to redesign it with a futuristic look. Medium: colored pencils

SB #9: Shoe: Draw one of your shoes from your closet. Or a shoe that you think is very interesting (ballet, boot, etc.) ADD FULL SHADING Medium: colored pencil

SB #10: Wheels : Draw something with wheels (Real or imaginary). Medium: your choice

SB #11: 2D & 3D Arrows : Create a full page composition using a combination of 3-dimensional and 2-dimensional arrows. Use overlapping to break up the spaces into interesting positive and negative shapes. Medium: Outline with sharpie and fill the shapes with markers

SB #12: Non-objective: Create a non-objective drawing using lines, shapes (geometric) & color-use a color scheme ! Look at artwork by Wassily Kandinsky for inspiration. Medium: Markers or colored pencils

SB #13: Pet Portrait : Draw a picture of your pet or the pet you would LOVE to have. Medium: Colored Pencils

SB #15: Hand Value Study:  Draw your hand in 2 different appropriate positions (both on the same page). Render with full shading. Medium: drawing pencils

SB #16: Eye Study:   Find 4 different eyes in magazines. Cut them out & glue them to your sketchbook page. Draw the eyes underneath the picture & render with a FULL range of shading. Medium: pencils or colored pencils

SB #17: Color Scheme: Choose your own subject, create an obvious focal point and complete the drawing by coloring it in a color scheme of your choice. Label what color scheme you used next to the title. Medium: Colored Pencils, Paint, or Markers

SB #18: Realistic VS Abstract: Choose one object to draw (an interesting one! NOT simple!) Divide you sketchbook page in half with a pencil line. Label at the top of one side “Realistic” & on the other side label “Abstract.” Under the Realistic side, use a pencil to draw the object as realistically as you possibly can. On the Abstract side, distort your object so that it is still somewhat recognizable-use abstracted colors to color it. Medium: Colored Pencils

SB #19: Crushed Soda Can: Draw a crushed soda can, include details like the logo. Render with full shading. Medium: drawing pencils

SB #20: Worm’s Eye Point of View: Draw your choice of subject matter from a worm’s eye point of view. From below looking up at the subject. Add shading to indicate highlights & shadows. Medium: drawing pencil

Sketching Improves Your Skills

SB #21: Bird’s Eye Point of View: Draw your choice of subject matter from a bird’s eye point of view. From above looking down at the subject. Add shading to indicate highlights & shadows. Medium: drawing pencil

SB# 22: Paper Airplane:     Fold a paper airplane, place it in front of you & draw from direct observation as accurately as you can. ADD FULL SHADING Medium: drawing pencil

SB #23 : Creative Hand Drawing:   Trace you hand -yes I said Trace your hand on your page (tracing is usually forbidden). Use your imagination to turn you hand into something totally different. Add details-make it creative and interesting!    Medium: colored pencil

SB #24 : Cloth Drawing :    Draw the cloth that is hanging on the art room wall. ADD FULL SHADING Medium: Drawing pencil or Charcoal pencil (spray when finished)

SB #25: Interactive Drawing & Photo :  Fine a photo either of yourself or someone else (can be from a magazine). Cut the person out & brainstorm how you can create a drawing that combines the two so that they interact with each other. ADD FULL SHADING Medium: drawing pencils

SB #26: Flat to 3D- Come Alive: Look at the two examples below of a flat drawing-mostly lines/no shading that slowly transforms to become 3D with full shading. See MC Escher’s Drawing Hands for an example. Design your own drawing that morphs from flat to 3D. Medium: drawing pencils

SB #27: Visual Puns : Illustrate 2  visual puns (a visual rendering of a two-word noun phrase that illustrates the combination of the nouns with their literal meaning). Look at artist Don Stewart’s artwork  https://dsart.com/ Examples: hot dog, cat fish, hair brush, two face, fish face, bone head, Angel fish, Bat man, iron man, flower bed, Bed Bug, Boxing Match, Car pool, Card Shark, deviled Eggs, Fire Drill, Fish Tank, Football, Fruit Flies, Hammerhead, Handbag, Home Run, horse Fly, Jail Bird, Lightening Bug, Photo Bug, Strong Box, Submarine Sandwich, Swordfish, Watch Dog, Bird Brain, French Fries Medium: colored pencil

SB #28: Procreate Or Sketchbook App Drawing:  Use your iPad to create an ORIGINAL drawing of subject matter of your choice.  Medium: ipad

S B #29: Botanical Study:  Find a flower or plant from nature. Study it carefully before drawing. Draw the whole plant on 2/3rds of the page. Select 3 areas to “magnify” & draw smaller, partial up-close drawings of those 3 areas including all the details. ADD FULL SHADING Medium: watercolor, watercolor pencil, or drawing pencils

SB #31: Mixed Media Experiments: Have fun experimenting with mixed media techniques. Do the experimenting on other paper, then cut out the different experiments & glue them in your sketchbook. Label each experiment with a brief description of how you created it. Try at least 6 of these different experiments. Use up a minimum of 2 pages in your sketchbook. Medium:  various art supplies

SB #32: Collaged Music Sheet Drawing:  Glue a music sheet onto a page in your sketchbook-Let it dry completely (do at least one day in advance). Choose an image or two to draw with India ink & draw it directly onto the music sheet. Add color with watercolors or colored pencils. Medium: collage, ink, watercolors or colored pencils

Sketching Challenges Your Design Concepts

SB# 34: Line Inventory:   Draw two rows of four squares; one row of four vertical rectangles; and one row of four circles. When you have drawn your blank template, place four different kinds of lines in the first row of squares. Refer to the example below, but do not copy — come up with your own kinds of lines. Then, invent a series of variations on each line in the remaining columns. Medium: ink or sharpie

SB #35: Tool Metamorphosis: See Idea from Stan Winston School Choose a tool (hammer, ax, wrench, pliers, drill) as a beginning point, creatively transform the head of the tool into something else – a monster, a robot, a machine, a vehicle, and instruments, an animal, etc. Change its scale & it purpose. Render with full shading . Medium: colored pencils

SB #36 Balance Sketchbook Assignment: Draw 3 squares or circles. Use shape templates & rulers to create non-objective design examples of each type of balance (symmetrical, asymmetrical, & radial). See Types of Balance Lesson. Use Shape templates to create designs that illustrate each type of balance. Fit ALL designs on one page. Label & color them with colored pencils or markers.  Medium: colored pencils or markers

SB #37 Adult Portrait: Find a frontal view of an adult male or female. Cut it out or print it out. Open your sketchbook so it is showing 2 pages (a spread), glue onto the left side your sketchbook. On the right side use what we learned about adult human facial proportions to draw the portrait from the picture. Use light shading to indicate major values (highlights & shadows) or to lightly shade the nose. Medium: drawing pencils

SB #38 Refraction Drawing: Refraction is the visual distortion that happens when an object is viewed through a glass container filled with water (or some liquid). Find an interesting glass container (drinking glass, vase, jar, etc) and place a spoon or fork inside. Fill the container only half-way with water and place it on a light colored surface.  Carefully observe the distortion. Use observational drawing skills to draw the glass, spoon, water & any lights/ shadows you see on the table surface. Medium: drawing pencils

SB #39 Illuminated Letter :   Choose a letter to draw. Go on a computer & play with the letter in different fonts- choose one & print it out. Look up examples of illuminated letters for inspiration. Draw the letter large in your sketchbook in pencil. Add decoration to the letter, possibly even a border Medium: colored pencils, sharpies & markers

Sketching is an integral part of the creative process

SB #40 Fantasy Landscape: Use your imagination to draw a fantasy landscape. It can be anytime period on earth, in space or some other world. What type of plants, flowers, and trees would you see? What does the typography look like? can you see other worlds from the planet you are on? Are there buildings? What is gravity like in the land you are drawing? Medium: colored pencils

SB #42 Color Mood- Know about colors and their effect. Certain colors inspire certain emotions; learn to use them! Choose a color to explore, compose a realistic, abstract or non-objective drawing based on the emotion produced by a single color. Use the tints and shades of a color to add different values to the drawing.  Medium: colored pencils, watercolor pencils, or markers

• Black – authority, discipline, strength and promoting independence.
• Blue – cool, calming, relaxing, and promotes feelings of tranquility and peace.
• Green – balance, refreshing, normalizing, and promotes emotional growth.
• Orange – cheerful, commanding, and stimulates goodwill, conversation and appetites.
• Pink – calming, accepting, and encourages affection and socialization.
• Purple – comforting, spiritual, and generates mystery and a good sense of intuition.
• Red – empowerment, stimulation, drama, competition and passion.
• White – purification, energy, unity, and gives vigor to other colors it is used in combination with.
• Yellow – cheerful, expanding, and increases energy.

SB #43 Cast Shadows: Choose an object that has a lot of broken negative space (like a bike wheel). Using either natural light (Sun) or a lamp, position the light on the object so it creates a long and interesting cast shadow ( see bike example ). Compose a drawing that shows only a portion of the object & MOSTLY the cast shadow . Add value to the SHADOW, the rest can be contour line only. Medium: drawing pencils

How to Draw Steampunk Books:

SB #45 Broken Object Drawing : **ASK parents for an object that is not valuable. Break the object a little and then draw it showing all the broken fragments, tears, and loose debris. ***If you break something glass or metal, please wear protective gear (gloves and goggles) See Example by Armin Mersmann Medium: drawing pencils or colored pencils

SB #46 Travel Drawing : Draw a place you want to visit. Find a reference picture and create your drawing from that. Idea is from Art is Medicine Medium: colored pencils, drawing pencils, or watercolor pencils

SB #48 Merging Animals:  Combine 2 real animals to become a fantasy creature. Use characteristics of both and colors of both in the new design Medium: colored pencils

SB #49 Animal Eyes: Choose an eye to draw from these 4 types of creatures: Animal (land or sea), Bird, Reptile, and Insect. Draw 2 per page so they take up approximately ½ the page. Render with full shading.  Medium: colored pencils or Pen & Watercolor

Sketching brings new ideas & techniques to the surface

SB #50 Small to LARGE Enlargement Drawing : Choose 1-2 small objects to draw (less than 2”). Draw 3 preliminary sketches focusing on an interesting composition that enlarges the object (s) so much that it goes off the page on at least 3 sides of the paper. Medium: drawing pencils

SB #51 Magnification Drawing: Using a magnifying glass, look at an object or insect very closely. Draw the details of what you see. See The Helpful Art Teacher: Drawing Magnified Leaves Medium: colored pencils

SB #52 Sculpted Paper Strips Drawing : Credit- A Faithful Attempt-Curled Paper Drawings Give each student 2 strips of paper (½x11” & 1×11). Have students twist/bend/manipulate them into some type of curl or even add zig-zags. Tape them onto a sheet of paper so they are spread apart. Draw lightly with a HB pencil until they get the proportion just right. Use Drawing pencils 4B to add shading. Medium: Drawing Pencils

SB #55 New & Old: Find 2 objects to draw something new and something old or vintage. It would be most interesting to find an old and new example of one type of object (like phones, computers, mixers, anything that can show the progression of technology) Place them side by side or slightly overlapping each other and then draw them with full shading . Do research on the internet if needed Medium : drawing pencils

SB #56 Grid Journal: Read MilliAnde’s What is Grid Journaling  article, watch her video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmlEY5TK1zo , and view her examples. Choose a piece of architecture to explore (best to be physically present, but if you cannot then find several reference pictures to work from). In NONE of the grids will you draw the whole structure, you will focus on smaller sections.  Following her instructions draw your first box and one detail from the architecture. Next choose another detail to draw, make sure to draw the box to fit the detail. All the boxes should be different sizes. Continue to draw until you have between 7-10 boxes on one page.  Medium : Pen & Ink

Sketching Develops Communication Skills

SB #58: Skeleton of Animal Study: Choose an animal (living or extinct) to draw its skeletal structure. First, draw a contour line -outline ONLY- of the animal (FULL body). Second, draw the skeletal structure inside the outline. Third, use a sharpie to fill in the negative space behind the skeleton. Medium: Drawing pencil & Sharpie

 SB #61: Realistic & Geometric: Choose an animal to draw a head portrait of. Draw a line down the center of the face vertically. On the left hand side draw the animal realistically with color and shading and go over major lines with sharpie. On the right hand side draw the animal as if it were make up of simple triangles, circles and squares (simple geometric shapes) that follow the major contours and textures of the animal. Go over major lines with sharpie and add shading. See examples here &  here .    Medium: Sharpies and Colored Pencils

SB #62 See a Need Fill a Need:  Think of a common problem that humans or animals struggle with. Design a solution to fixing that problem. Write down what the problem is and write out your intentions to fix the problem. Draw the new solution with full coloring. Add descriptions of gadgets to help us understand your ideas. See Invention Idea List below to kick-start your thinking.  Medium: Colored Pencils and Ultra-thin Sharpie

Invention Idea List

• New utensil or tool
• Help someone break a bad habit
• A new way to prevent ___________
• Something to help children who have a certain disability
• Make something safer
• Help find or keep track of _____________
• A better way to ____________
• Recycle ____________ to make or do ____________

 SB #63: Texture Spheres: Draw 6 spheres (2-3″). Apply 6 different textures to the different spheres: fur, fish or dragon scales, craters, basket weaving, spikes, lumpy, bricks or stones .  Make sure your textures follow the contour of the sphere! Watch Video: Pen & Ink Drawing Tutorials | How to create realistic textures (Part 3) Medium: P en and Ink or sharpies 

SB #64: Unique Door Handles:  Find a reference photo of a unique door handle. Draw the door handle large on your page including part of the door in pencil, then use watercolor pencils to paint it. Add DETAILS and shading!  Medium: Watercolor Pencils

SB #65: Story Dice Cubes Drawing: Use Rory’s Story Cubes to roll 3-4 images. Develop a story or scene with these images and illustrate it in your sketchbook. Medium: Colored Pencils and Ultra-thin Sharpie

SB #69 Personification Drawing: According to Dictionary.com Personification is “the attribution of a human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form.” Choose a man-made object to draw (stapler, hair dryer, etc) then draw the object, but personify it by giving it a face and other human characteristics. Medium: Sharpie and Colored Pencils

SB #70 Splatter Creature: Splatter some liquid watercolor on your page, blow it around with a straw. Let it dry. Now turn it into a creative creature (obviously fantasy). ADD LOTS OF DETAILS! Medium: Liquid Watercolors, Sharpie and markers

SB #71 Word Illustration: Choose a word (like Autumn, Flower, Candy, Science, etc) and create a FONT in which the letters are illustrations of the word you chose. See https://www.edinaschools.org/Page/4373 for examples of Mr.Henricksen’s 6th grade Word Art Project. EACH letter should be a different illustration of the word (ex: autumn: A-shape of candy corn, u-basket of apples, t-scarecrow, etc.) Medium: Sharpie and Colored Pencils

Sketching Builds Hand-eye Coordination and Develops Fine Motor Skills 

SB #72 Ball Point Pen Drawing: Choose a subject to draw. Render it with shading using only a ballpoint pen. Medium: Black or blue ballpoint pen

SB #73 Board Game Observational Drawing: Set up a board game with some of the game pieces on it. Choose a small section of the board to draw from. Render with shading. See Full Project from Nicole Brisco https://www.incredibleart.org/files/Nicole.htm#Mixed Medium: Drawing Pencils

SB #74 Organic Design Building: Design a building derived from an organic form (form found in nature). Draw the basic organic form and alter it into a building. Add details to the building that are influenced by the shapes, colors and textures of the organic form. See Example at https://www.studentartguide.com/lessons/art-lessons-for-substitute-teachers Medium: Colored Pencils

SB #75 Board Game Observational Drawing: Set up a board game with some of the game pieces on it. Choose a small section of the board to compose your drawing. Render with shading. Medium: Drawing Pencils

SB #76 Design Your Dream Swimming Pool: Design your dream swimming pool. What kinds of special features will it have-slides, bridges, pirate ships, fountains, etc. You can either draw from a bird’s eye view (directly above) or from a frontal view. Medium: Colored Pencils

SB #77  Candy Drawing:  Choose 3 different pieces of candy  (lollipop, ring-pop, gummy bear, peppermint, tootsie roll, candy cane, etc.). Arrange them so the partially overlap each other in an interesting way. Keep the candy in its wrapper (except for lollipops & ring pops). Take a picture of your composition from the viewpoint where you will be drawing from (so you can finish it later if needed). Draw in pencil as accurately as you can while looking at the candy directly. ( Look twice, Draw once ). Once drawn, render with shading in colored pencils. Medium: Drawing & Colored Pencils

SB #78  Thankful :  Think of something or someone you are thankful for. Draw it or them with SHADING! Medium: Drawing Pencils

SB #80 8 Ways of Seeing Part 1: (This assignment will be finished in 2 Parts) Website: https://medium.com/@katerutter/sketch-things-better-with-the-7-ways-of-seeing-6f9a24e5b9dd (my class’s assignment was slightly altered from the article)

Use a full spread (2 facing pages) & divide your sketchbook page into 8 sections- 4 on each page. Choose 1 object to draw & find a reference picture of it (Save to Photos). At the top of each section, write these titles: Symbolic, Gesture, Blind Contour, Simple Shapes, Contrast, Negative Space, Guided Contour, and Cartoon. Medium: 2B Pencil

1: Symbolic: Without looking at the object, draw a simple version of it. Sketch the “idea” of the object, not the specific thing. (think of logo symbols and how simple they are) 2: Gesture: Look at the object and make a very quick sketch of it, using only a few lines. Try to capture the “energy” and “rhythm” of the subject. Work super-fast! 3: Blind Contour: Without looking at your pen or your paper, use your eyes to “trace” the edges of the object, while, at the same time, using your pen to draw the outline in a steady, continuous line. Don’t look at your paper, and don’t pick up your pen! Go slow. 4: Simple Shapes: Stare at the object and break it down into basic shapes in your head. Aim for 3–4 shapes…no more than 6! Draw the shapes on your paper.

8 Ways of Seeing Part 2:  Using the same object from SB#5, create these drawings: 5: Contrast: Stare at the object and identify the shadows and darkest parts. Draw ONLY the darkest parts. Don’t draw outlines or lines unless they are the darkest parts. 6: Negative Space: Draw the space AROUND the object. Try to get as much detail in the shape as possible. When you’re done, draw a box around the shape and quickly fill it in. 7: Guided Contour: Look intently at the object and use your eyes to “trace” the edges of the object, while simultaneously using your pen to draw the outlines and shapes. Glance back and forth between the object and your paper. Try to get as much accurate detail as possible while still working at a quick pace. 8: Cartoon: Turn the object into a cartoon. Use abstraction methods: simplify edges, twist, stretch, pull, distort color, resize, exaggerate.

SB #81 Anthropomorphic: Anthropomorphic , derived from the Greek word anthrōposi , which means “human being”. It means suggesting human characteristics for animals or inanimate things. Toys can move, think and can talk; candlesticks and teapots can sing and dance. Choose an object or animal to transform anthropomorphically. Medium: Colored Pencil

HOW to Draw Anthropomorphic Animals and Objects:

• Make them bipedal (walking on two legs)
• Give them clothing and human accessories (make-up, glasses, hats, etc)
• Create animated facial expressions
• Change their proportions to more human-like body proportions
• Show them holding objects and otherwise change their physical abilities to include human abilities
• Show them doing human tasks (painting, driving a car, etc)

This Website has good ideas of how to create anthropomorphic characters: https://design.tutsplus.com/articles/how-to-draw-furries-aka-anthropomorphic-characters–cms-30243

SB #82 Texture Rubbings: Explore physical texture through texture rubbings. Divide your sketchbook page into 10 boxes. Find 10 actual textures from your surroundings. Create rubbings from the textures in your sketchbook by placing the object under your page and rubbing a crayon (on its side) over the object. Label the box with the object. Medium: Crayons & Watercolors

SB #83 16 Circle Challenge: (Modified 30 Circle Challenge ) Use a circle template to draw 16 circles on your page in pencil. Turn each of the circles into unique recognizable objects. You can draw inside and outside the circles. Medium: Drawing Pencils

Additional Sketchbook Resource s:

Student Art Guide: Tips for Producing an Amazing GCSE or A Level Art Sketchbook

Deep Space Sparkle- The Sketchbook Project (k-5th grades)

Other HS Art Project Ideas

• Beyond the Border Pen & Watercolor HS Project
• Mixed Media Drawing Collage
• Motorcycle Mixed-Media Art Lesson High School
• Ceramics Roll-A-Beast Animal Sculptures

Have you done any unique sketchbook assignments with your students? If so, I would love to hear about them! //

PLEASE Share this Post:

Just found your blog while doing some research on sketchbook assignments. This is a life saver! I am going to assign 10 for now to see how it goes with my students. Thank you for sharing!

Great Cynthia! These are good assignments for developing creativity & imagination. I have used all of these in my classroom & seen success with them! Let me know if you have any suggestions. Michelle

This is amazing! I always struggle with inspiring myself on what to draw, and this is perfect! Something new for every day 🙂

Thank you for the ideas! I am just starting out and find these very helpful. Are these assignments done at home or in class? What type of sketch books do you require? Spiral, bound, hand made?

Hi! These assignments are homework-outside of class (unless they finish a project, then they can work on the sketchbook assignment). I require a 70+ page spiral bound sketchbook (I like the single loop & if it has a folder that’s awesome!). I also prefer a heavier weight (80-90#). I will add a link to the top of this page with what I prefer.

Blessings on your school year!!

These are some great ideas for use as home work, thank you!

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Glitter Meets Glue

Sparkling Art Teacher Resources

Category: Sketchbook Ideas

Tags: Drawing , Elementary Art Resources

Sketchbook Prompts for Lower Elementary

Are your students bored with drawing? Here’s 200 sketchbook prompts for lower elementary school kids to spark creativity. Assign them for weekly homework, use in your TAB art room, or prep your sub plans.

Sketchbook Prompts Interactive Fan Bundle

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200 Sketchbook Prompts for Lower Elementary

Turn “I don’t know what to draw!” into “That gives me an idea!” with this fan deck of sketchbook prompts for lower elementary kids. Reach even your most unenthusiastic student. With 200 drawing prompts to choose from, there will be no short supply of ideas.

Plan weekly sketchbook assignments bell ringer activities , and even be prepped with last minute art sub plans . These prompts are designed to be fun, engaging, and easy enough to capture kid’s attention.

Sketchbook Prompts for Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grade

I used this fan in my lower elementary art classes and they loved it! They are easy and perfect drawing prompts for beginners. As a result of their success, I wound up making another fan deck for my middle schoolers and upper elementary kids, too.

• 200 simple drawing assignments your students will love, so you don’t have to spend all your time coming up with ideas
• Clear, crisp printing to make a professional looking resource for your lessons
• Basic drawing prompts written in easy, clear language to help spark ideas
• Step-by-step assembly directions with pictures, so you don’t struggle figuring out the best way to put it together
• Simple, clean design that enables students to focus on the task at hand

Examples of Sketchbook Prompts for Lower Elementary

• A palm tree on an island
• A paintbrush
• A superhero bug

Ways to Use the Fan Deck for Art Journaling

• These sketchbook prompts make great bell ringers . Ease kids into your art lesson with a “do now” to focus their attention. Then, have them finish it as their weekly or bi-weekly homework assignment.
• This fan deck makes an awesome fast finisher activity . My students were required to have a sketchbook in class so they could work on something of their choosing. Have a set of decks prepped in advance so students can peruse them for drawing ideas. Consider breaking the deck apart into two smaller decks so more students can share them. In this case, a 2” binder ring works just fine.
• If you’re a TAB (teaching for artistic behavior) teacher, this is a wonderful resource to have in your lessons. It’s a great vehicle for self-exploration and to encourage experimentation on their own terms.
• Going to be absent tomorrow? Leave these as art sub plans with your substitute teacher to have students pick a sketchbook assignment for the day. For this purpose, you might find it easier to have a small, hand-selected deck you keep in your sub tub with prompts that use dry art media such as pencil, markers, and colored pencils.

You Will Receive

• 1 Non-Editable PDF (51 pages containing sketchbook ideas to draw and 3 pages with step-by-step assembly directions)

Terms of Use

Please refer to my complete  terms of use  prior to purchasing.

8 reviews for Sketchbook Prompts for Lower Elementary

Tammy H. – August 15, 2024

Love this! My students in our recess art group loved flipping through this for ideas and challenges. Fun resource.

Kryssa R. – June 1, 2024

I’m very pleased with these cards. It has helped my students at the end of the school year to continue staying on task while still thinking creatively.

Melissa N. – October 22, 2023

My students loved these drawing prompts as fast finishers in our art class. They are learning to stretch their imaginations and add details to simple prompts.

Pamela E. – October 1, 2023

They love to choose what to make. A great option when a sub is there or one early.

a Colorful Mixture (Teacher-Author) – December 18, 2022

These have been extremely helpful in my classroom. I have used them as art warm-ups in the beginning of class as well as early finisher ideas.

Stacey W. – November 29, 2022

Great for bell ringers and early finishers! Thanks!

Resource to Desk (Teacher-Author) – August 31, 2022

Great for early finisher stations in art!

Mellissa Winzenrith – August 30, 2022

Amazing resource for group work!

Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.

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5 Simple Ways to Use Sketchbooks in the Elementary Art Room

Many years ago, I started thinking about using sketchbooks with my upper elementary students. I knew other elementary art teachers who had successfully added sketchbooks to their programs, but I was still a bit intimidated.

Weren’t they expensive? How would I use them with so many students? How would I be able to fit them into my 40-minute classes that meet only once a week? It seemed unmanageable.

Once I started using sketchbooks with my students, however, I couldn’t imagine teaching without them. In my opinion, they are an essential tool for every upper elementary art room.

I use my sketchbooks in much the same way across grade levels. Sketchbooks streamline a lot of different art room processes.

Here are a few ways you can use sketchbooks with your elementary students:

1. note taking.

Students in my classes often use their sketchbooks to take notes. For example, when teaching art history I’ll ask students to write down some basic information about artists and their work. Students also take notes about technical processes like one-point perspective or concepts like color theory.

2. Planning and Growth

Before I started using sketchbooks, my students would plan their artworks on loose pieces of paper. These papers often got lost, crumpled, or damaged. I would rarely be able to see the plan alongside the final work to observe student growth. When students plan in their sketchbooks, it is easy to keep everything together.

3. Experimentation

My students use their sketchbooks to experiment with different media. If we are using a new medium, I ask students to take 10 minutes to experiment with it in their sketchbooks before starting on their final work. This provides students a safe place to play and learn. It also keeps these experiments for easy reference later on.

4. Reflection

My students have a section of their sketchbooks devoted to artist statements . At the end of each lesson, they reflect on their work and the process by which it was made.

5. Early Finishers

When students complete their work early, I allow them to sketch in their sketchbooks. I have noticed they take their time and put more effort into these drawings than the drawings they do on “free draw” paper. Students take the sketchbooks seriously.

Everything previously mentioned was part of my program before I started using sketchbooks. The benefit to sketchbooks is that everything is all together, in one neat space. I can easily look through the books to observe student growth. Students can also look back to their notes to reinforce knowledge.

Here are 2 tips to get started with sketchbooks in your own classroom.

1. start using sketchbooks slowly, with only one grade level..

In the beginning, I used the sketchbooks with only my 5th graders. I did this because they were my oldest students, and I felt they would get the most use out of them. I also did not have the space to store sketchbooks for all 600 of my students. Storing one for each of my 5th graders was much more manageable. I eventually expanded to 4th grade, but in the beginning, I recommend starting with only one grade level.

2. Sketchbooks do not have to be expensive.

Because I was worried about the cost of sketchbooks, I did my research. I found a company called Sketch for Schools  which sells inexpensive elementary sketchbooks. They are durable and are offered with a variety of different options. I buy these for my 5th graders. The 8.5 by 11 books are easy to store in milk crates.

To save money, I had my younger students create their own sketchbooks using binder clips and copy paper. These are less durable, but still functional. My 4th-grade students use these, and I store them in a filing cabinet for easy access. One of the benefits of this system is that you can add paper as needed.

I cannot imagine teaching art without sketchbooks. They have become an essential tool in my art room, and my students love them. There are many ways to use sketchbooks with young students. Why not add this practice to your program this school year?

Do you use sketchbooks with your elementary students?

What are some different ways you use sketchbooks in your art room?

Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about in the scope of their educational experiences.

Anne-Marie Slinkman

Anne-Marie Slinkman, an elementary school art educator, is a former AOEU Writer. She is passionate about providing relevant and meaningful art experiences for all students.

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Sketchbook Assignments for Elementary

Description

Keep your students busy when they have finished their work by giving them a sketchbook assignment. There are two different lists included here. I use one list one year with my 3rd-5th grade sketchbooks, and the other list the following year. Each list has 30 ideas of things to draw. It includes ideas such as:

-Draw an outfit you would wear on tacky day. Use different patterns on each piece of clothing.

-Design a tiny city for bugs to live in.

-Draw a self-portrait with you having a bad hair day.

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