Scribble Monsters

What you need

• a big sheet of paper
• a few chunky crayons

How to do it

1. Put the paper and crayons on a table or the floor and let them scribble however they like.
2. When they finish, ask "Can I add some eyes and a mouth?"
3. Add a pair of eyes and a funny mouth to their scribble and say "it's a monster!"
4. Ask what the monster is called and stick it up where they can see it.

Why it matters

Their scribble stays exactly theirs and becomes the monster's body, which tells them that what they make is worth looking at.

What they're learning

Mark making

Big free scribbles build the arm and hand movements they will later use for drawing and writing.

Imagination

Seeing a scribble turn into a character helps them see that a drawing can be anything.

Naming and describing

Choosing a name and a sound for the monster gives them words to play with.

What to look for

Watch whether they scribble in fast zigzags or round and round. Both are real mark making. Keep crayons out of mouths and let them lead.

A tip

Use the biggest paper you have so their arm can swing, and tape the corners to the table.

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