Explore and Draw: Drawing trees with charcoal

First of all, we played with unusual drawing materials. There were lumps of dry, red clay; big and small pieces of charcoal; conte crayons.

We played with these, getting to know the marks they can make, and we talked about the connection between charcoal and trees.

Then we went outside to meet the trees! The children laid underneath them and looked at them from the ground. They measured the diameter of the trunks, smelt the bark; felt how rough it was under their fingers.

Coming back inside, we encouraged the children to make marks on large sheets of paper on the floor, working together and bringing some of their ideas, thoughts and feelings about the trees into their drawings.

The images came from the children rather than being directed by an adult.

We encouraged them to work big, and to work together; to explore and expand on their ideas through mark making.