Drawing to Learn

Abstract

Jenn and I have made some fascinating discoveries.Hers were about the life cycle of butterflies and mine were about role of drawing in meaning-making and the construction of knowledge.Four-and-a-half-year-old Jenn is one of 24 children in my kindergarten class. We were studying the growth and development of Painted Lady butterflies as they progress from tiny caterpillars to larger ones, then pupae, and finally emerging as butterflies.On a large tabletop I had placed pencils, crayons, small squares of drawing paper, resource books on caterpillars and butterflies, and small plastic containers that each housed an individual caterpillar and crushed leaves for food. Jenn and several other children decided to adopt and observe a caterpillar and, through drawing, representits growth and development.I was particularly interested in the role drawing might play in the children’s construction of knowledge.I kept a record of Jenn’s participation in these events and examined her drawing from a Vygotskyan socio-cultural perspective (Vygotsky1962, 1978, 1997). By sharing this record of Jenn’s drawing events, I hope to show how drawing can mediate new understanding and become a powerful tool for learning for young children.