How to Draw Animals for Kids: Draw and Write Printables
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Do your kids love learning how to draw animals? Mine have always loved step-by-step drawing tutorials! They’re constantly asking how to draw different animals, and I love seeing how excited they get when they realize they can actually draw something that once seemed difficult.
I wanted to make some printable drawing activities for them, but you know me—I always like to add a little educational twist!
So I combined step-by-step animal drawing with handwriting and spelling practice to create these Draw and Write Animals pages.
The printable pack teaches kids how to draw 10 different animals, with a space to practice drawing and a word to trace on every page. It’s a fun way to combine art and literacy without making it feel like another writing assignment.
Step-by-Step Animal Drawing for Kids
When I was a kid, we had tons of those how-to-draw books. I still have a few from my childhood, and I’ve collected more for my own kids over the years. My kids particularly love the Ed Emberley drawing books. They’re wonderful to have on hand for children who enjoy drawing.
I love how step-by-step drawing breaks a picture down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Instead of looking at an entire animal and wondering where to begin, kids can follow one simple step at a time. That’s exactly how these printable animal drawing pages work.
What’s Included in the Draw and Write Animals Pack?
This printable set includes 10 step-by-step animal drawing worksheets.
Kids can learn how to draw:
- Fish
- Sheep
- Cow
- Pig
- Dog
- Cat
- Bird
- Elephant
- Frog
- Lion
Each page includes a simple drawing tutorial, a large space for children to draw their own animal, and the animal’s name written out for tracing.
How to Use the Draw and Write Worksheets
These pages are simple to use for homeschool lessons, classroom activities, or independent creative time.
1. Choose an Animal to Draw
Let your child choose an animal that interests them. You can work through the pages in any order.
2. Follow the Drawing Steps
Have your child look at the step-by-step illustrations and draw each part of the animal in the large drawing space. Encourage them to take their time and notice how the shapes fit together.
3. Trace the Animal’s Name
Once the drawing is finished, children can trace the animal’s name at the bottom of the page. This gives them a little handwriting and spelling practice while connecting the written word to their picture.
4. Color the Finished Drawing
Kids can color their animals and add backgrounds or other details if they’d like. A lion might be standing in the grass, or a fish could be swimming through an underwater scene.
Combining Drawing, Handwriting, and Spelling
One of my favorite things about these printables is that kids get to practice several skills in one activity. Drawing helps children observe shapes, follow directions, and practice pencil control.
Tracing the animal names gives them a chance to work on letter formation and notice how the words are spelled. And because they’re excited about the drawing, the writing often feels like a natural part of the activity rather than a separate assignment.
I’ve used these pages with my son when he was in second grade, and my sixth-grade daughter loved them too! Even my preschooler wanted to try.
I love activities that can work for several ages, especially when kids are happy to sit down and do them together.
Helping Kids Feel Confident About Drawing
Drawing can be intimidating for children who think they aren’t good at art. I’ve seen that with my own kids. But when they follow a simple drawing tutorial and see the picture come together, they’re often surprised by what they can do.
These pages give children a starting point, but they can still make each drawing their own. It’s perfectly fine if their animals don’t look exactly like the examples!
The goal is to practice, experiment, and enjoy creating something.
More Ways to Use These Animal Drawing Worksheets
You can easily extend these pages into other learning activities.
- Animal unit studies: Choose a drawing page to go along with an animal you’re studying.
- Handwriting practice: Focus on tracing the animal names and identifying the letters in each word.
- Spelling activities: Have children copy the animal names onto a separate sheet of paper.
- Creative writing: Ask kids to write a sentence or short story about the animal they drew.
- Art centers: Keep the pages available for independent drawing practice.
- Animal research: After completing a drawing, have children learn one interesting fact about that animal.
For younger children, simply following the drawing steps and tracing a few letters may be enough. Older kids can add more details to their drawings or write a paragraph to go with their pictures.
Watch the Draw and Write Animals Activity
Here’s a look at how these printable animal drawing pages work.
Get the Printable Draw and Write Animal Pages
Ready to try these with your kids? My Draw and Write Animals printable pack includes 10 step-by-step drawing worksheets featuring familiar animals.
Each page combines a drawing tutorial, space to create the picture, and handwriting practice with the animal’s name.
Get the Draw and Write Animals Printable Pack in My Shop
These are a fun addition to art lessons, handwriting practice, literacy centers, and homeschool activities.
More Drawing and Writing Activities for Kids
If your kids enjoy combining art and literacy, you might also like these activities:
- First Grade Sight Word Handwriting Pages
- 100 Fun Spelling Games and Activities
- Draw and Write Halloween Pages
I love finding ways to make learning feel creative and enjoyable. These animal drawing pages are a simple way to practice art, handwriting, and spelling all at once!
