—11 minArtOutdoorFree play
Big Lines, Big Circles
A big-surface mark-making game where your child uses whole-arm movements to draw long lines and big circles, repeating the shapes and turning them into simple pictures with encouragement from you.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a large sheet of paper/cardboard on the floor (or pavement chalk outside)
- a chunky crayon/marker or thick chalk
Nice to have
- masking tape (to hold paper still)
- a plate/bowl (as a ‘circle helper’ to draw around)
- a wipe-clean surface or whiteboard
Movement level: low
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneProduces controlled varied strokesBody· 2y–3y· core· Steps 1, 2
- MilestoneCopies a circleBody· 2.2y–4.2y· core
- MilestoneUnderstands that they can use lines to enclose a space, and then begin to use these shapes to represent objects.Mind· 2.5y–4.2y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneGives meaning to own drawings or marksMind· 2.8y–3.8y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneDistinguishes between the different marks they make.Mind· 22mo–3y· core· Steps 1, 4
- MilestoneUses mark-making toolsBody· 22mo–2.8y· stretch
What it practices
- Draws lines and circles using gross motor movements.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Uses one-handed tools and equipment, e.g. makes snips in paper with child scissors.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Holds pencil between thumb and two fingers, no longer using whole-hand grasp.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE) — construct-derived activity authored from enriched DM2012 construct