Teacher resources
Directed drawing and writing worksheets
124 free directed drawing worksheets with a writing page for kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd–3rd grade. Kids draw one of Kevin Coulston’s characters in six easy steps, then write about it with words and prompts made for that character.
Three levels for every drawing
- Kindergarten: a big drawing box, a sentence to trace, a picture word bank and one word to write.
- 1st grade: a drawing box, an eight-word bank and three sentence starters on primary lines.
- 2nd–3rd grade: a small sketch box, strong story words, a First, Next, Then, Last plan and ruled lines.
Every page ends with an “I can” checklist, so kids check their own work before they hand it in.
How to teach a directed drawing lesson
- Show the finished drawing and talk about what kids notice.
- Draw each of the six steps together. The gray outline on the step page shows where every line goes.
- Add color, a background or a funny detail.
- Turn the page over and write. Read a few stories aloud at the end.
Questions teachers ask
What is directed drawing?
Directed drawing is a guided lesson where kids draw a picture one step at a time, copying each new line from the teacher, a video or a step page. Everyone ends with a drawing they are proud of, and the shared steps build confidence for kids who say “I can’t draw.”
Why pair directed drawing with writing?
Kids who have just drawn a character have plenty to say about it. The drawing gives them a topic, the details to describe and a reason to write, so even reluctant writers fill the lines.
Which level should I print?
Kindergarten traces a sentence and writes one word. 1st grade finishes three sentence starters with a word bank. 2nd and 3rd grade plan and write a short story with First, Next, Then and Last. Print a mix if your class has a wide range of writers.
How do I print them?
Each PDF is two US Letter pages: the six drawing steps and the writing page. Print double-sided so the steps are on the back, or one-sided and staple. They print well in black and white.
Are they free?
Yes. Every set is free for home and classroom use. Print as many copies as your class needs.
All sets are free for home and classroom use. More for teachers: the drawing pages library, thinking sheets, writing worksheets and Story Studio.
Free for teachers
Get the free Classroom Drawing Kit
12 printable pages: six step-by-step lessons, a grid activity, draw-and-write sheets and teacher notes, sent with your welcome email. After that, new classroom printables by email.