Art Teaching blog(11)- children's outdoor sketching

During this outdoor sketching activity, I took a group of 4 to 7-year-old children to sketch a train at Linglong Park in Beijing. I divided the 20 children into two groups and provided them with basic artistic guidelines tailored to their age and abilities.

For the younger group, I encouraged parents to accompany their children, helping them observe the train by creating stories. This storytelling approach inspired the children to notice more details and express their immediate emotions about the train on paper.

For the older group, I guided them to focus on the overall structure and intricate details of the train, encouraging them to observe carefully and recreate as much as possible. All students were given the freedom to experiment with various materials and artistic techniques to enhance their compositions. At the end of the session, they proudly shared their artworks, fostering confidence and creative expression.

Below, the artworks are arranged by age group, allowing us to observe how children at different developmental stages approach their creations in unique ways. As teachers and parents, it is essential to respect each child’s natural artistic journey and appreciate their works from their perspective.

Remember—give children the space and time to let their creativity flourish!