Graphic dictation by cells for preschoolers

A fun and instructive activity that promotes the development of critical abilities in preschoolers, such as hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, and concentration, is graphic dictation by cells. Using a grid of squares to create simple pictures, kids can follow instructions, practice attention to detail, and produce something they can be proud of.

Since each step requires counting and an understanding of the grid, parents and teachers can use these exercises to introduce young children to the fundamentals of mathematics. In addition, it’s a fantastic method to get them ready for writing and drawing while keeping them actively involved in the process.

These activities are appropriate for a variety of preschool ages because they are simple to set up and can be adjusted for varying degrees of difficulty. Graphic dictation by cells provides a straightforward yet effective tool to enhance a child’s development in a pleasant and entertaining way, whether it is used in the classroom or at home.

Entertainment or a difficult task?

Such drawings made by cells in a notebook provide a lot of kids with engaging entertainment and a fun game. It is crucial that an adult avoids making this a tedious, boring task in which the infant receives criticism for their mistakes. The youngster will then always enjoy studying after that.

However, many kids might experience challenges. They are typically linked to the child’s inability to count to ten and his confusion between the terms "right-left" and "up-down." In this situation, adults must assist the infant in making no mistakes, correct it, and offer praise when something goes well.

Age at which you can start doing it

As early as four years old, you can begin drawing on the cells with your child. At this age, the first assignment should be simple. To help your child learn how to move, you can first complete the task with him on a board or piece of paper. For beginners, drawing simple geometric shapes is a great option. Start with an image of a rectangle, square, or other basic pattern. You can use images of a triangle, trapezoid, or rhombus to teach students how to move diagonally.

A five-year-old can easily draw basic pictures under dictation without the need for visual assistance. You could ask him to sketch a flower on paper, for instance. Additionally, drawing an airplane or a house is a task that a five-year-old preschooler can do with ease.

You can increase the difficulty of tasks for children aged 6-7 by adding more diagonal lines. Drawing a rocket is one instance of such a task.

Preschoolers can learn important skills like hand-eye coordination, attention to detail, and basic math concepts through engaging in graphic dictation by cells, which is both enjoyable and productive. Children can enjoy a creative activity while learning to focus, follow instructions, and think critically by using simple shapes to draw on grid paper. Through playful, engaging instruction, this method also helps them become familiar with patterns and spatial awareness, laying the groundwork for future learning.

Methodology of the lesson

Setting up the workspace and gathering the required supplies should be the first step in the lesson. Simple pencils are used to draw in a notebook that is kept in a box. An eraser, which is used to remove incorrectly drawn lines, will be required so that the child can attempt to make the correction. An adult should draft the instructions or print them out along with an example of the work. Which drawing will be the objective of the graphic dictation cannot be disclosed to the child. He’ll see the outcome on his sheet following the right execution.

Generally, the instructions provide arrow-indicating digital designations, like 2↑ and 3↞. Here, the numbers represent the quantity of cells that need to be moved in a specific direction. An arrow placed next to the number indicates it. Thus, in our illustration, you ought to see: Move three cells to the left and two cells up. The older preschoolers can already be offered the opportunity to set the reference point independently as they start to move away from the one that the adult sets for the younger kids.

You should practice counting to ten with preschoolers and teaching them the terms "right-left" and "up-down" before you begin a lesson with them. Ask the young child to demonstrate what "move to the right, move up, to the left of, move down" means.

Include tongue twisters, riddles, finger gymnastics, physical education minutes, a discussion of the outcomes, and a dialogue or story to try and diversify the graphic dictation itself. Everything that is taught in the lesson should be related to the subject matter of the drawing.

Give the child instructions on how to draw even, neat lines and how to pay close attention to the task at hand before starting a graphic dictation.

Once the dictation is complete, make sure to congratulate the child on his accomplishment and, if needed, work with him to identify and fix any mistakes. You can ask the child to shake or paint the completed picture if that is what he wants to do. If the child is eager to continue the lesson and is not yet tired, you can ask him to draw something on the squares. Then, you can work with him to create a graphic dictation using his drawing as a model.

Methods of conducting graphic dictations

A graphic dictation can be done in a variety of ways.

• For those children who are just starting to do them, the simplest method is suitable – under the dictation of an adult. In this case, the teacher or parent dictates to the child how many squares and in what direction it is necessary to move.

The command "Dog" is an illustration of one of these commands. The infant follows adult instructions, dictating how to complete the task.

• The second method is to offer the child a sheet of paper on which the instructions for completing the task are written and the starting point is set, from which the child needs to move. The child himself looks at the number of squares and the direction of movement.

Take a look at the graphic dictation, for instance.

• "Car"
• "Horse"
• "Boat"

• The third method is drawing by symmetry. In such dictations, the child is offered a sheet on which half of the drawing is depicted and a line of symmetry is drawn. The child finishes the drawing, symmetrically counting the required number of cells.

An adult draws a line of symmetry and half of the Christmas tree in this instance. Kids are asked to complete drawing the other half in a symmetrical manner.

• The fourth method is suitable for older children. Here, the child is offered a sheet with a sample of a graphic dictation. The child must draw the same picture on his sheet as in the sample, independently counting the required number of cells and determining the direction in which he needs to move. Such dictations can be not only in the form of drawing lines along the cells, but also with completely coloring the required number of cells with colored pencils. As a result, the baby gets a colorful, beautiful picture in the notebook.

Drawing a "Elephant" could be a straightforward choice. Give the child just the completed picture and indicate where he needs to go.

Similarly, you could offer the child to draw a "Squirrel" or "Snake," which are both simple to draw (you should take out the instructions and just give the child the completed drawing).

Tasks that aremore challenging are

And the following schemes will be even harder to finish:

Benefits from completing tasks

If you give preschoolers graphic dictations on a regular basis—at least a few times a week—you should see positive results in two to three months. Even a diagnostic method known as "Graphic dictation" was developed by D.B. Elkonin. Its goal is to ascertain how well older preschoolers have developed the skills necessary for engaging in educational activities. They do, after all, assist greatly in getting the infant ready for school.

The child learns to navigate in space and on a notebook sheet, strengthens counting within ten, and gets his hand ready for writing by performing graphic dictations. Youngsters pick up the ability to focus on what adults say, comprehend what they say, and follow their instructions. It will be very difficult for them to study in school if they don’t have this skill.

We recommend watching a video of a young person practicing writing a graphic dictation.

The ability to focus on a particular task, as well as spatial imagination, thinking, fantasy, creativity, and perseverance, are all enhanced by graphic dictations. The youngster gains motor coordination.

Using the cells aids in overcoming challenges like poor spelling awareness and forgetfulness that frequently crop up during a child’s early academic years. They also aid in broadening the child’s horizons and vocabulary. Youngsters become familiar with the various methods of drawing objects on paper.

Activity Name	Description
House	Kids draw a simple house by following cell-by-cell instructions.
Tree	Children sketch a tree by moving one cell at a time, creating a fun picture.
Car	Preschoolers build a basic car image using step-by-step directions on a grid.
Animal	Following the grid, children draw an animal, improving motor skills and focus.

Preschoolers can benefit from a quick and enjoyable method of developing critical skills: graphic dictation by cells. Children can improve their concentration, fine motor control, and hand-eye coordination with this exercise. They take pleasure in creating art projects and drawing at the same time.

As kids learn to follow instructions and navigate a grid, it’s also a great way to introduce them to fundamental geometry concepts and spatial awareness. This approach can be used by educators and parents to enhance learning through interaction and engagement.

Including graphic dictation in a preschooler’s daily routine can be entertaining and educational. It’s a simple but useful step in getting them ready for more difficult learning tasks.

Video on the topic

Airplane. Graphic dictation by cells.

House. Graphic dictation by cells.

Robot. Graphic dictation by cells.

Dragon. Graphic dictation by cells.

Leaf. Graphic dictation by cells.