Drawing, Types, Media and Supports for SS 1

Class: SS 1
Term: First Term
Week: 3
Age: 15 years
Duration: 60 minutes
Subject: Visual Art
Curriculum Theme: Fundamentals of Visual Arts
Focal competence: Creating artworks using basic tools and techniques
Key competencies/values: Critical Thinking; Creativity and Innovation; Innovation
Skills:

• Using lines, contours etc. in making simple still-life drawings

Previous Lesson: Line, Shape, Value, Shading, Texture and Pattern in Drawing
Topic: Introduction To Drawing
Subject Matter: Meaning of drawing, Types of drawing, Drawing media and supports

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils/students should be able to:

Cognitive Domain

• Define drawing.
• Identify the types of drawing.
• Discuss the purpose of drawing.
• Explain the uses of common drawing media and supports.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate drawing as a form of communication and self-expression.
• Show interest in exploring different drawing media.
• Demonstrate care in handling drawing materials.

Psychomotor Domain

• Handle various drawing media and supports correctly.
• Make simple sketches using basic drawing techniques.

Social Domain

• Collaborate with peers during practical drawing activities.
• Share ideas on the effective use of drawing materials.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 New Revised Senior Secondary Education Curriculum (SSEC)
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work For The New Revised Senior Secondary Education Curriculum (SSEC)

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Sketchbooks or A4 cartridge sheets/cardboards
• Graphite pencils (2H-8B)
• Erasers
• Charcoal sticks
• Colour pencils
• Ink pens
• Rulers
• Examples of different types of drawings (e.g., sketches, technical drawings, expressive drawings)

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is foundational for Visual Arts students as it introduces them to the core practice of drawing. Understanding the meaning, types, purposes, and appropriate media for drawing equips students with essential skills for visual communication and artistic expression. It lays the groundwork for more advanced art techniques and creative development.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have basic knowledge of art and design elements such as lines, shapes, and forms from their Junior Secondary School Visual Arts classes.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Introduction To Drawing

Meaning of Drawing

Drawing is a visual art form that involves making marks on a surface to create an image, design, or diagram. It is often a preliminary step in other art forms like painting, sculpture, and printmaking, but it can also be a complete artwork in itself. Drawing uses lines, shapes, tones, and textures to represent objects, ideas, or feelings.

Types of Drawing

Drawing can be classified into various types based on its purpose, style, or technique. Common types include:

1. Sketching: Quick, spontaneous drawings often used to capture an idea, moment, or preliminary composition. They are usually not highly detailed.
2. Life Drawing: Drawing from a live model, often focusing on the human figure, to study anatomy, proportion, and gesture.
3. Still Life Drawing: Drawing inanimate objects arranged in a composition, focusing on form, light, shadow, and texture.
4. Landscape Drawing: Depicting natural scenery such as mountains, trees, rivers, and skies.
5. Portrait Drawing: Focusing on the likeness and character of a person’s face.
6. Technical Drawing: Precise and detailed drawings used in engineering, architecture, and design to convey exact specifications and measurements. Examples include blueprints and mechanical drawings.
7. Expressive Drawing: Drawings that emphasize emotion, mood, or abstract ideas rather than realistic representation.
8. Cartooning/Illustration: Drawings created for storytelling, comics, books, or advertisements, often with exaggerated features or simplified forms.

Purposes of Drawing

Drawing serves multiple purposes, both practical and artistic:

1. Communication: Drawing is a universal language that can convey ideas, instructions, and information across cultural and linguistic barriers. Technical drawings, maps, and diagrams are prime examples.
2. Planning (Design and Engineering): It is an essential tool for designers, architects, and engineers to plan, visualize, and refine their concepts before execution. This includes creating blueprints, prototypes, and schematics.
3. Self-Expression: Drawing allows artists to express their emotions, thoughts, observations, and imagination. It can be a powerful medium for personal reflection and artistic statement.
4. Observation and Study: Drawing helps artists to observe the world more closely, understand forms, light, and shadow, and improve their visual perception.
5. Record-Keeping: Historically, drawing was used to document events, people, and places before the advent of photography. It still serves this purpose in fields like scientific illustration.

Drawing Media and Supports

Drawing media are the materials used to make marks, while supports are the surfaces on which drawings are made.

Common Drawing Media

1. Graphite Pencils: Made from graphite and clay, encased in wood. They come in various grades indicating hardness (H) or blackness (B).
   • H Grades (e.g., 2H, 4H, 6H, 8H): Harder pencils that produce lighter, finer lines. Useful for detailed work, technical drawing, and initial sketches.
   • HB Grade: A medium-hard pencil, good for general writing and drawing, offering a balance between lightness and darkness.
   • B Grades (e.g., 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B): Softer pencils that produce darker, richer lines and tones. Ideal for shading, expressive drawing, and creating deep blacks.
2. Charcoal: A dry drawing medium made from burnt wood. It produces rich, dark tones and can be easily blended and erased. Available as sticks (vine or compressed) or pencils.
3. Colour Pencils: Pencils with wax or oil-based pigments, used for adding colour to drawings. They can be layered and blended to create various hues and effects.
4. Ink/Pen: Liquid ink applied with various types of pens (e.g., dip pens, technical pens, felt-tip pens, ballpoint pens). Ink produces strong, permanent lines and can be used for cross-hatching, stippling, and washes.
5. Pastels: Pigment sticks with a binder, available in soft, hard, and oil forms. They offer vibrant colours and can be blended for painterly effects.
6. Conté Crayons: Harder than pastels, typically made of pigment, clay, and a binder. They come in earth tones and black, producing rich, opaque lines.

Common Drawing Supports

1. Cartridge Paper: A common, versatile drawing paper with a slightly textured surface, suitable for pencils, charcoal, and ink. It is durable and comes in various weights.
2. Sketchbooks: Bound collections of drawing paper, convenient for practice, quick sketches, and carrying around.
3. Cardboards: Thicker, stiffer paperboard, providing a rigid support for drawings, especially for larger works or mixed media.
4. Bristol Board: A smooth, strong paper, often used for detailed ink drawings, illustration, and airbrushing due to its non-absorbent surface.
5. Watercolour Paper: Heavier paper with a textured surface, designed to absorb water without buckling. Can be used for ink washes or mixed media drawings.
6. Canvas: Traditionally used for painting, but can also be primed and used for drawing with charcoal, pastels, or even ink, offering a unique texture.

Safe Working Methods with Drawing Materials

When working with drawing materials, it is important to observe safety precautions:

1. Pencils and Sharpeners: Always sharpen pencils carefully, pointing the sharpener away from your body. Dispose of pencil shavings properly.
2. Erasers: Use erasers gently to avoid tearing the paper. Keep erasers clean to prevent smudging.
3. Charcoal and Pastels: These can be dusty. Work in a well-ventilated area if possible. Avoid inhaling dust by tapping off excess material rather than blowing. Wash hands thoroughly after use.
4. Ink: Handle ink bottles carefully to prevent spills. Clean up any spills immediately. Avoid getting ink on clothes or skin, as some inks can stain.
5. Rulers and Cutting Tools: If using craft knives or blades for cutting paper, always cut away from your body and use a cutting mat. Keep rulers steady.
6. Workspace: Keep your drawing area clean and organised to prevent accidents and maintain the quality of your work.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Question and Answer, Explanation, Observation, Practical Activity

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Engagement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the students and asks them what comes to mind when they hear the word “drawing.” The teacher then introduces the topic: “Introduction to Drawing.”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the question and listen attentively to the introduction.

Learning Point: Activating prior knowledge

Step 2: Meaning of Drawing

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning of drawing as a visual art form involving making marks on a surface to create images. The teacher encourages students to share their understanding and provides examples.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, participate in the discussion, and contribute their definitions of drawing.

Learning Point: Defining drawing

Step 3: Types of Drawing

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Illustration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher identifies and explains various types of drawing, such as sketching, life drawing, still life, landscape, portrait, technical, expressive, and cartooning, showing visual examples where possible.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, observe the examples, and ask questions for clarification.

Learning Point: Identifying drawing types

Step 4: Purposes of Drawing

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses the purposes of drawing, highlighting its role in communication, planning (design, engineering), and self-expression. The teacher provides real-world examples for each purpose.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and contribute examples of how drawing is used in different fields.

Learning Point: Understanding drawing purposes

Step 5: Drawing Media and Supports

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces various drawing media (graphite pencils, charcoal, colour pencils, ink/pen) and supports (cartridge paper, sketchbooks, cardboard). The teacher demonstrates the different grades of graphite pencils (2H-8B) and their effects.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the different media and supports, noting their characteristics and uses.

Learning Point: Recognising drawing materials

Step 6: Safe Working Methods

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Instruction/Guidance

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains and demonstrates safe working methods for handling drawing materials, such as proper pencil sharpening, gentle erasing, and keeping the workspace clean, especially when using dusty media like charcoal.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils pay attention to the safety instructions and ask questions about proper handling.

Learning Point: Practising safe handling

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. What is drawing?
2. Mention two types of drawing.
3. State two purposes of drawing.
4. Name two common drawing media and two common drawing supports.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Assessing lesson understanding

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils/students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on the meaning, types, purposes, media, and supports of drawing into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Recording lesson notes

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes

Teaching Skill: Summarisation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly summarises the main points of the lesson, reiterating the importance of drawing as a fundamental skill in visual arts and encouraging students to practice regularly.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and prepare for the next lesson.

Learning Point: Consolidating lesson concepts

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework/Practice Exercise

Instruction: Answer the following questions and complete the drawing task:

1. Differentiate between H-grade and B-grade graphite pencils, giving examples of their uses.
2. Explain how drawing can be used for communication in everyday life.
3. Using any pencil from your drawing kit, make a simple sketch of an object you see in your home (e.g., a cup, a book, a fruit).
4. List three safety precautions you should observe when using drawing materials.
5. Research and write a short paragraph on how charcoal is made and its unique properties as a drawing medium.

Lesson Keywords

• Drawing – The act of making marks on a surface to create an image, design, or diagram.
• Sketching – Quick, spontaneous drawings used to capture ideas.
• Graphite Pencils – Drawing tools made of graphite and clay, graded by hardness (H) or blackness (B).
• Charcoal – A dry drawing medium made from burnt wood, known for rich, dark tones.
• Cartridge Paper – A common, slightly textured paper used as a drawing support.
• Media – The materials used to create art (e.g., pencils, charcoal, ink).
• Supports – The surfaces on which art is created (e.g., paper, cardboard).
• Technical Drawing – Precise drawings used for engineering and design.

Differentiation

Support: Provide simpler drawing examples and guide students with basic line exercises using HB pencils. Offer pre-drawn outlines for students struggling with initial sketching. Pair weaker students with stronger ones for peer support during practical activities.

Extension: Encourage advanced students to experiment with combining different drawing media (e.g., pencil and ink) or to create a more detailed still-life drawing using various tonal values from their pencil sets. Challenge them to draw an object from multiple perspectives.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding, students can search for videos on YouTube using terms like:

• meaning of drawing visual arts ss1
• types of drawing for beginners
• drawing media and supports explanation
• how to use graphite pencils grades