50 More Perfect Sketchbook Ideas for Middle and High School Students

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This Power-point is the second in a series of 50 sketchbook ideas. This presentation illustrates 50 all new and different drawing exercises and contains close to 300 images of artwork to help you and your students fill up those sketchbooks. Each slide lists a sketchbook prompt alongside numerous student examples illustrating possible solutions. The illustrations range from lower level to advanced which both reduces student intimidation, and provides a visual rubric for the teacher. It is perfect for Middle School and High School classes where regular sketching is a key component to the class. It could also be used at the upper elementary or collegiate level course. Having taught drawing and sketching classes for years, I’ve put together another fifty sketchbook prompts that have been the most successful in my classroom over the years. Here’s how I know: Each week I give my students three choices for what to draw. They’re not dry or boring ideas but rather things that today’s youth is interested in. From song lyrics, and sadness, to game and toys, from shoes and clothes to friends and faces, the ideas presented here are relative and inviting. These three weekly prompts are similar yet unique. In other words, I prefer to group them based on a variety of concepts that might include: left brain thinking vs. right brain thinking, surrealism, feelings and moods, the natural world, studying objects, creating backgrounds, personal power, etc.). Throughout the years, I’ve found that certain exercises have been chosen more frequently by my students over the other two alternatives. My students have shown me what they’re interested in drawing and now I present the best of the best to you.

Best Practices Side Note:

I prefer to show my students the possible examples seen within this presentation and here’s why: In my initial years of teaching, I only gave my students written prompts with no visual possibilities. I had wrongly assumed that showing my students examples of other students work, would only encourage copy-cat solutions and a lack of creativity. By doing this, I found that the “artists” in the class were successful, while the “non-artists” frustratingly offered up weak solutions week after week and were left behind. I now show my students plenty of examples (those offered here) and the result? My talented students go well above and beyond the examples provided, and my lower level students (who generally struggle with envisioning possibilities) have a full understanding what to do, and come up with great ideas on their own.

If you’re looking for a plethora of effective and tested ideas sure to inspire your students, than this presentation is for you. I trust you and your students will enjoy this year’s-worth of ideas and produce the best sketches ever. Enjoy!

* Be sure to check out the original Power-point entitled: 50 Perfect Sketchbook Ideas for Middle and High School Students.

Bo (The Art Guru)