Grade by Grade
B. Drama / D. Visual Arts · Drama and Visual Arts

Visual Arts: Lines and Shapes

D1.3 D1.4 D2.2 D2.3About 30 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can draw many kinds of lines: straight, curved, wavy, zigzag, broken, thick and thin.
  • I can use lines to show feelings and movement.
  • I can find geometric and organic shapes in art and around me.
  • I can notice signs and symbols in my day and in art, and tell what they mean.

Words to know

visual arts
Art you look at, like drawing, painting, sculpture and printmaking.
elements of design
The parts artists use to make art: line, shape, colour, texture, form, space and value.
line
A mark that goes from one point to another. It can be straight, curved, zigzag, thick, thin and more.
shape
A flat, closed space made when a line joins up, like a circle or a leaf outline.
geometric shape
A shape with a math name, like a circle, square, triangle or rectangle.
organic shape
A free, natural shape, like a leaf, a cloud or a puddle.
symbol
A picture or mark that stands for something, like a heart for love or a red octagon for stop.

Take a line for a walk

Put your pencil on a piece of paper. Now move it around without lifting it. Go up, down, round and round!

You just made a line. Lines are the start of almost every drawing.

Kinds of lines

Artists use many kinds of lines:

straightwavyzigzagbrokenthick and thinspiral
Straight, wavy, zigzag, broken, thick and thin, and spiral lines.
LineWhat it can show
straight, standing up (vertical)tall and strong, like a tree trunk or a person standing
straight, lying down (horizontal)calm and still, like a quiet lake or a sleeping person
wavy or curvedgentle movement, like water, wind or hair
zigzagexcitement, energy or danger, like lightning
spiralspinning or dizzy, like a snail shell or a whirlwind
thickstrong, heavy or loud
thinlight, delicate or quiet
Lines can show feelings and movement

Shapes

When a line joins up to close a space, it makes a shape.

  • Geometric shapes have math names: circle, square, triangle, rectangle. You see them in buildings, windows and wheels.
  • Organic shapes are free and natural: leaves, clouds, puddles, animals, people.
A striped spiral snail shell and smooth round pebbles on rippled sand.
Nature is full of lines and shapes: a spiral line on the shell, wavy lines in the sand and round organic shapes in the pebbles. AI-generated image
geometric shapesorganic shapes
Geometric shapes (circle, square, triangle) and organic shapes (a cloud and a leaf).

Signs and symbols

A symbol is a picture or mark that stands for something. Symbols are all around you:

  • A red octagon (8 sides) means stop.
  • The maple leaf on our flag stands for Canada.
  • A heart can mean love.
  • Arrows show which way to go.

Artists use symbols in their art too, to send a message without words.

Worked example

Example: A winter picture with lines

Let's draw a snowy day using different lines and shapes.

  1. Draw a horizontal line across the page for the ground. It looks calm and flat.
  2. Draw vertical lines for tall pine tree trunks. Add zigzag lines on each side for the branches.
  3. Draw a snowman with circles (geometric shapes).
  4. Draw wavy lines in the sky for the wind blowing.
  5. Add tiny broken lines and dots for falling snow.
  6. Use a thick line around the snowman so he stands out, and thin lines for the snowflakes.

Our winter picture uses straight, zigzag, wavy, broken, thick and thin lines and circle shapes. The wavy lines show wind, and the thick line makes the snowman stand out.

Worked example

Example: What do the lines say?

Look at two drawings of the sea. In drawing A, the water is made of smooth, gentle wavy lines. In drawing B, the water is made of sharp, tall zigzag lines. Which sea is stormy?

  1. Think about wavy lines: gentle, slow movement.
  2. Think about zigzag lines: sharp, excited, wild.
  3. Match the feeling to the weather.

Drawing B shows a stormy sea, because zigzag lines look wild and full of energy. Drawing A looks calm.

Just for fun

What did the wavy line say to the zigzag line?

"Relax! Why are you always so edgy?"

Hands-on activity

Line and shape hunt and drawing

You need: paper, a pencil, crayons or markers.

  1. Walk around your home or outside. Find 5 kinds of lines: maybe straight lines on a fence, curved lines on a bowl, zigzag on a jacket zipper, a spiral on a snail shell or a pinecone.
  2. Find geometric shapes (a round clock, a square window) and organic shapes (a leaf, a cloud, your hand).
  3. Draw a picture of your favourite place using at least 4 kinds of lines and both kinds of shapes.
  4. Show a grown-up. Point to each kind of line and tell why you used it.

Bonus: draw a symbol you see every day, like a stop sign or a recycling symbol, and tell what it means.

Your turn

1

Draw a straight line, a wavy line and a zigzag line.

2

Which kind of line would you use for lightning?

3

Is a leaf a geometric or organic shape?

4

Name three geometric shapes.

5

What does a red octagon sign mean?

6

Draw a thick line and a thin line. Which one looks stronger?

7

What symbol is on the Canadian flag?

More practice: warm-up

1

Draw a curved line.

2

Is a window usually a geometric or organic shape?

3

What is a symbol?

4

Draw a spiral.

5

What can a heart symbol mean?

More practice: on your own

1

Draw a calm lake with lines. Which kind of line did you use? Why?

2

Find 2 organic shapes and 2 geometric shapes in your kitchen.

3

A drawing has lots of spiral lines. What feeling might it show?

4

What does an arrow on a sign tell you?

5

Make up a symbol for "Quiet, baby sleeping." Draw it and explain.

Challenge

1

Draw two faces: one happy and one angry, using only lines. How did your lines change?

2

Why do you think stop signs are always the same shape and colour?

3

Draw a picture of a windy fall day with maple leaves blowing. Use at least 3 kinds of lines. Tell which line shows the wind.

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

Which line looks like lightning?

2.

Which is an organic shape?

3.

Which shape is geometric?

4.

A drawing of a calm, still lake would most likely use ___ lines.

5.

What does the maple leaf on our flag stand for?

6.

A symbol is ___.

For parents and teachers

Big idea: Grade 1 students use the elements of design, especially line and shape, to communicate ideas and feelings, explain how artists use them, and notice signs and symbols in daily life and art.

How to help:

  • Go on line and shape hunts on walks: zigzag fences, curved bridges, organic leaves.
  • Ask about your child's drawings with specific questions: "Why did you use a zigzag line there?" rather than "What is it?"
  • Point out symbols: road signs, washroom signs, recycling symbols, the maple leaf.

Common difficulties:

  • Confusing geometric and organic. Ask: "Does it have a math name?" If yes, it's geometric.
  • Pressing too hard or too light. Practise drawing thick and thin lines on purpose.
  • Frustration with drawing "right." In art there is no single right way. Praise choices: "I love how your wavy lines make the water move."