How to Draw Back to School Pictures (Easy Directed Drawing for Kids)
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Looking for an easy way to teach kids how to draw back to school pictures? These simple step-by-step drawing tutorials make it fun for young artists to draw familiar school objects while practicing handwriting, vocabulary, and fine motor skills at the same time.
Whether you’re a classroom teacher planning first-week activities, a homeschool parent easing back into lessons, or simply looking for a creative afternoon activity, these directed drawing worksheets are an engaging way to build confidence and creativity.
Why Kids Love Directed Drawing
Directed drawing is one of my favorite ways to combine art with learning.
Instead of staring at a blank page wondering where to begin, children learn to break a picture into simple shapes and lines. By following one small step at a time, they discover that drawing is something they really can do.
Along the way they’re also practicing important early learning skills like:
- Fine motor control
- Pencil grip
- Following directions
- Observation skills
- Handwriting
- Vocabulary
- Creativity
- Confidence
It’s amazing how proud children become when they finish a picture they never thought they could draw!
How to Draw Back-to-School Pictures
This printable set includes eleven easy directed drawing lessons featuring common back-to-school objects.
Each page walks children through six simple drawing steps before inviting them to trace and write the matching word.
The gradual progression helps even reluctant artists feel successful.
My kids like to draw these first with a regular pencil, then color them in with markers or colored pencils. You could also outline the image with a sharpie or another black marker.Â
Pictures Included
The printable includes step-by-step directions for drawing:
- apple
- backpack
- globe
- calculator
- laptop
- school bus
- school
- scissors
- lunch box
- book pencil
- pencil case
Each picture also includes a handwriting section where children trace the word that matches their drawing.
More Than Just Drawing
One of my favorite things about these worksheets is that they combine several subjects into one simple activity.
Children practice:
Art
Learning to draw simple objects one step at a time.
Handwriting
Tracing and writing each vocabulary word.
Reading
Connecting the written word with the finished picture.
Fine Motor Skills
Building pencil control while drawing and writing.
Instead of practicing each skill separately, kids are naturally using all of them together.
Ways to Use These Directed Drawing Pages
These worksheets are perfect for:
- First week of school
- Morning work
- Homeschool lessons
- Art centers
- Literacy centers
- Early finisher activities
- Indoor recess
- Sub plans
- Quiet time
- Back-to-school themed units
I especially love using activities like these during the first week of homeschool. Rather than jumping immediately into heavier academics, we ease into our new routine with creative projects that build excitement for the year ahead.
Why Directed Drawing Works So Well
Young children often believe they’re “not good at drawing.”
Directed drawing changes that.
Breaking a picture into manageable steps helps children experience success quickly. As they build confidence, they’re more willing to keep creating and trying new things.
Adding handwriting practice also reinforces vocabulary in a meaningful way. Instead of simply tracing the word backpack, children have just finished drawing one themselves.
That connection makes learning more memorable.
What’s Included in the Printable?
This printable PDF includes:
- 11 directed drawing worksheets
- Six drawing steps for every picture
- Word tracing practice
- Black-and-white printer-friendly pages
- Instant digital download
Recommended for:
- Kindergarten
- First Grade
- Homeschool
- Classrooms
- Beginning writers
- Early elementary art lessons
These are available in my shop to purchase.Â
More Directed Drawing Activities
If your kids enjoy these, they might also love these printable drawing sets:
How to Draw Fireworks: Draw and Write Patriotic Pictures
How to Draw Halloween Pictures: Draw and Write Printable
How to Draw Animals for Kids: Draw & Write Pages
More Back-to-School Activities
If you’re planning your first week of school, here are a few more fun ideas:
Printable Back to School Mad Libs for Kids
88 Back to School Writing Prompts for the First Week
Printable First Day of School Signs
Sometimes the best learning happens when children don’t even realize they’re practicing important skills.
These directed drawing pages combine art, handwriting, reading, and creativity into one simple activity that’s perfect for the beginning of a new school year.
Whether you’re welcoming students into your classroom or starting another homeschool adventure around the kitchen table, I hope these printable drawing lessons help make those first days a little more fun.
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