This 1K-1 resource is a scaffolded activity designed to build students’ descriptive language and writing skills while supporting ELD and UDL strategies for emerging English Language Learners. It begins with students labeling a pre-drawn picture using provided word banks or picture cues for emerging learners. Next, they progress to drawing their own picture and labeling it, using graphic organizers or sentence frames to organize their thoughts. Finally, students draw, label, and write a descriptive sentence about their picture, with opportunities for peer collaboration or teacher modeling.

For added engagement and literacy connection, the activity can be paired with a read-aloud of The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, where students explore how colors "describe" themselves and draw inspiration for their own descriptive writing. UDL supports include options for drawing digitally or using printed templates, while ELD scaffolds offer sentence stems and visual aids to ensure accessibility.

UDL Scaffold for Emerging Learners:

Choice of Media for Drawing
Students can choose to draw using a variety of tools, such as crayons, markers, or a digital drawing app, ensuring accessibility for students with motor skill challenges or preferences for digital mediums. This flexibility allows all learners to engage in the activity with tools that best suit their needs and interests.

ELD Scaffold for Emerging Learners:

Sentence Frame Support
Provide sentence frames such as, "This is a ___. It is ___." or "I drew a ___. It has ___." These frames guide students in forming simple, complete sentences, reducing cognitive load while developing descriptive language. Visuals paired with vocabulary words help reinforce understanding and assist with labeling and sentence writing.