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Week 1 · Nature Detectives

Art

Nature sketching

Practice contour drawing from life.

Pick your age

5-day pacing

Today's focus: learn the concept.

The Hook

Real artists DRAW with their EYES first. The pencil just follows what their eyes saw.

The Big Idea

Looking slowly is the most important art skill.

Learn

A CONTOUR drawing follows the EDGE of something without lifting the pencil.

Don't peek at the paper too much — look at the LEAF, not the line.

See It

Contour

Looking at:    Your line:
   🍃            ╭──╮
                ╱    ╲
               ╱      ╲
              ╰────────╯

Try It (in the app)

30-second contour

Scored challenge

Pick a leaf. Draw it in ONE line in 30 seconds without lifting your pencil. Log how many you do.

Goal: 10 contour drawings in 10 minutes

Worksheet

Fill in here, or print a blank copy

Three Contours

Draw 3 things from nature with one continuous line.

  1. 1. Object: (draw box)
  2. 2. Object: (draw box)
  3. 3. Object: (draw box)
  4. My favorite: Why?

Hands-On Build

Outside-sketch pouch

Materials

  • ·Small pencil
  • ·Folded paper
  • ·Rubber band

Steps

  1. 01Fold 4 sheets into a pouch.
  2. 02Rubber-band the pencil to it.
  3. 03Carry on every outdoor adventure.

Mission Tie-In

Sketch the duck tracks for the Missing Ducklings case.

Wrap-Up Discussion

  • ?Was it harder to look at the leaf or the paper?
  • ?Which drawing surprised you?