One of my favorite ways to kick off an art lesson is by reading a picture book. It instantly grabs the kids’ attention, sets the mood for creativity, and gently introduces the art concept we’ll be exploring. Books spark imagination and create a natural entry point into hands-on activities—and this lesson is a perfect example of that.
The Story
For this lesson, we read Ish by Peter H. Reynolds. It’s a cute story about a boy who loves to draw—until his brother makes fun of his art. His confidence takes a hit, and he stops creating. But thanks to the encouragement of his little sister, he begins to draw again, learning that his art doesn’t have to be “perfect”—it just has to be ish. The book teaches a great message: the process of creating is just as valuable (if not more so) than the final product. It helps kids shake off perfectionism and embrace their own unique artistic voice.
To keep costs down, check your local library for a copy of the book first—it’s a great free resource! If they don’t have it, take a look at ThriftBooks.com, where you can often find gently used (and even new) books at great prices.
This message sets the perfect tone for our activity: Scribble Drawings—a creative, confidence-building exercise that transforms seemingly messy scribbles into imaginative masterpieces.
The Introduction
Introduce the art activity by reinforcing some ideas from the book: “Sometimes people say scribbling is just something little kids do. But guess what? Artists use scribbles to make amazing art too! Scribbles might look messy at first, but they get your hand moving, your brain imagining, and your ideas flowing.”
Then follow up with: “Have you ever looked at a scribble and suddenly seen a dragon? Or a flying taco? Or a dancing unicorn? Today, we’re going to use scribbles to make art. Not just any art—we’re going to discover pictures hidden inside our scribbles and turn them into little stories!”
The Art
This activity is a fantastic way to encourage creativity and visual thinking, especially for beginning artists. Our homeschool group included children aged 3 to 7, and every single one of them had a blast!
You’ll Need:
- White Paper (any kind will do)
- Colored Construction Paper
- Pencils
- Coloring utensils (colored pencils, markers, or crayons)
Step-By-Step Instructions
- Give each child a piece of white paper and a pencil.
- Have them fill the page with big, looping, overlapping scribbles.
- Once they’re done, ask them to look closely at the scribbles—what shapes, animals, or characters can they find hiding in the lines?
- Using their coloring utensils, they’ll color in what they see—there’s no right or wrong answer!
- When they’ve finished, glue their scribble artwork onto a piece of colored construction paper for a polished look.
The Storytelling
To take the creativity even further, each child then used their discovered shapes or characters to tell a story. Then they each shared their story with everyone.
On a second sheet of white paper, they wrote (or dictated, for younger kids) a short story inspired by their artwork. The story could be as silly or serious as they liked—what mattered most was that it came from their own imagination. Once finished, we glued their story onto the back of their construction paper to create a two-sided masterpiece.
This lesson was a blast—fun, low-pressure, and full of opportunities for self-expression. Kids learn that art doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be theirs. By combining literature, creativity, and storytelling, this simple scribble activity encourages children to look beyond the lines and believe in their ability to create something wonderful.
Whether you’re teaching a group or working one-on-one at the kitchen table, this lesson is a fun way to remind kids (and maybe even ourselves) that art is about expression—not perfection.
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