What should your child draw for back to school? Five drawings made of shapes they already know: the backpack is a rounded rectangle, the bus a long rectangle on two circles, the pencil a thin rectangle with a triangle tip, the blackboard a frame inside a frame, the alarm clock a circle with two bells. Each takes minutes — and the result is a notebook cover they will proudly show off in week one.
First-week drawing table
| Drawing | Basic shape | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Backpack | rounded rectangle | 3 min |
| School bus | rectangle + 2 circles | 5 min |
| Pencil | thin rectangle + triangle | 2 min |
| Blackboard | nested rectangles | 3 min |
| Alarm clock | circle + two bells | 4 min |
How to draw the backpack
A big rounded rectangle, a small arc handle on top, a small pocket rectangle in the middle with a zigzag zipper line. Add two straps peeking from behind — then your child colors it like their real backpack, making it their drawing, not the book's.
How to draw the yellow school bus
A long rectangle, two circles below for wheels, a row of square windows, a door at the front. The only trick: leave a small gap between body and wheels so they don't 'stick' — same as in our car drawing lesson. Color it yellow with a red side stripe.
The giant pencil and the blackboard
Pencil: a long thin rectangle, a triangle at the tip with a small black point, two lines along the body — your child writes their name on it.
Blackboard: a big rectangle with a smaller one inside for the wooden frame. On it they write 'Hello school' or practice drawing animals from letters — today's letter becomes a rabbit or a duck.
Idea of the week: a notebook cover starring your child
Instead of store wrapping: your child draws on a white sheet cut to cover size — a backpack, a bus, or a draw-by-numbers picture — then it is glued on and covered with clear film. A notebook like no one else's, opened every morning onto their own art.
Common questions
From what age? Backpack and pencil from 4; bus and clock from 5-6 using basic shapes.
How do I make the first school week calmer? A 10-minute drawing routine after school releases the day's tension — pick a ready idea from the drawing activities guide, or a short lesson from the Rasm Kids course that leaves them hungry for tomorrow.
