Pre-K Art & Prewriting
36 weeks of short, flexible play-based activities for ages 3–5. Explore with a caring adult; practice may be oral, physical, or artistic.
What children will practice
Watch a grown-up demonstrate, try it together, then show what you notice by speaking, pointing, moving, or drawing. There are no timed drills or required independent handwriting tasks.
All 36 weekly art & prewriting activities
📖 Open Textbook- Week 1
Scribbles tell stories
I can make big crayon marks and tell your grown-up what they mean.
Unit: Welcome to Learning - Week 2
Draw straight roads
I can draw vertical and horizontal roads for a toy car on large paper.
Unit: Welcome to Learning - Week 3
Trace a giant circle
I can trace a large circular lid on paper using a thick crayon.
Unit: Welcome to Learning - Week 4
Make zigzag grass
I can draw slow zigzag lines along the bottom of a farm picture.
Unit: Welcome to Learning - Week 5
Tear and glue paper
I can tear large strips of paper and glue them onto a collage.
Unit: Our Families & Feelings - Week 6
Play with modeling dough
I can roll a long dough snake and pinch it into two pieces.
Unit: Our Families & Feelings - Week 7
Make a name picture
I can draw yourself and let the grown-up write your spoken name beside it.
Unit: Our Families & Feelings - Week 8
Draw a tall tree
I can use a long line for a tree trunk and round marks for leaves.
Unit: Our Families & Feelings - Week 9
Follow curvy paths
I can draw a smooth curve connecting a drawn animal to its home.
Unit: Colors, Shapes & Sounds - Week 10
Print with sponges
I can stamp different shapes using a child-safe sponge and washable paint.
Unit: Colors, Shapes & Sounds - Week 11
Practice gentle pencil grip
I can hold a chunky crayon comfortably and make six short strokes.
Unit: Colors, Shapes & Sounds - Week 12
Draw a familiar person
I can draw a family member and tell one detail for the grown-up to label.
Unit: Colors, Shapes & Sounds - Week 13
Make loop shapes
I can draw large open loops across paper, then trace them with a finger.
Unit: Nature Detectives - Week 14
Draw a rain cloud
I can make small dots and straight lines falling from a cloud.
Unit: Nature Detectives - Week 15
Build letters with dough
I can roll dough to form the first letter of your name.
Unit: Nature Detectives - Week 16
Use scissors safely
I can with adult supervision, cut along a short straight line on thick paper.
Unit: Nature Detectives - Week 17
Make a color journal
I can choose a color, draw two things that color, and name each.
Unit: Stories & Imagination - Week 18
Draw shapes together
I can draw a circle, a triangle, and a square in a pretend town.
Unit: Stories & Imagination - Week 19
Make a picture story
I can draw what happened first and what happened next on two panels.
Unit: Stories & Imagination - Week 20
Write with a finger
I can trace a large letter in a shallow tray of dry cereal with an adult.
Unit: Stories & Imagination - Week 21
Draw a self-portrait
I can draw your eyes, mouth, hair, and favorite shirt.
Unit: Things That Move - Week 22
Practice gentle curves
I can connect two large dots with a curved crayon line.
Unit: Things That Move - Week 23
Make a grocery list
I can draw three things to buy; the adult writes the matching words.
Unit: Things That Move - Week 24
Draw small and large
I can make one large circle and one small circle on the same page.
Unit: Things That Move - Week 25
Build a sticker pattern
I can place a repeating star-and-dot sticker pattern across a strip.
Unit: Our Neighborhood - Week 26
Create a thank-you picture
I can make a picture for someone helpful and dictate a thank-you sentence.
Unit: Our Neighborhood - Week 27
Trace your name
I can follow thick dotted letters of your first name without pressure for perfection.
Unit: Our Neighborhood - Week 28
Make a neighborhood map
I can draw a home, a tree, and a path to a familiar place.
Unit: Our Neighborhood - Week 29
Choose drawing tools
I can try a chunky pencil, marker, and crayon and describe which feels best.
Unit: Growing & Changing - Week 30
Make a seed journal
I can draw a planted seed today and an imagined plant tomorrow.
Unit: Growing & Changing - Week 31
Draw movement
I can make fast lines for a running animal and slow lines for a walking one.
Unit: Growing & Changing - Week 32
Add details to a drawing
I can draw a barn and add a door, window, and roof.
Unit: Growing & Changing - Week 33
Make a pretend invitation
I can draw a picture invitation and dictate who it is for.
Unit: Ready to Celebrate - Week 34
Build a mini-book
I can fold paper into a tiny book and draw one idea on each page.
Unit: Ready to Celebrate - Week 35
Sign your artwork
I can try writing your first initial or make a personal mark.
Unit: Ready to Celebrate - Week 36
Choose a favorite creation
I can select one drawing, describe it, and display it proudly.
Unit: Ready to Celebrate