Grade 1 Creative Arts Drawing and decoration – Lines and shapes Notes

Creative Arts — Drawing and Decoration

Subtopic: Lines and Shapes (for Age 6)

Today we learn about lines (mstari) and shapes (umbo). We use simple lines and shapes to draw pictures and make pretty decorations — like the bright clothes and bead patterns we see in Kenya.

Lines (Mstari)

A line can be straight or wiggly. Try tracing with your finger first, then draw with a pencil.

Shapes (Umbo)

Shapes are flat pictures: circle, square, triangle, rectangle. We see them in windows, doors, beaded necklaces and cloth patterns.

Fun Drawing Activities

1. Trace lines: draw straight, wavy, dotted and zigzag lines on a page. Use a crayon and follow with a finger.
2. Make a house: use a square for the house, a triangle for the roof, a rectangle for the door and circles for windows. Colour it bright like a neighbourhood house.
3. Bead pattern: draw a row of circles, colour them in repeating colours (red, blue, yellow). This looks like Maasai beads!
4. Shape hunt: walk around home or school. Find 5 squares, 3 circles and 2 triangles. Ask a teacher or parent to help you write them down.

Materials

Paper, pencil, crayons or colour pens, a ruler (optional), and your hands to trace shapes.

Teacher / Parent Notes

• Use simple Swahili words to strengthen language: mstari (line), umbo (shape), duara, mraba, pembetatu.
• Encourage children to talk about colours and patterns they see in Kenya — shukas, kitenge, beadwork.
• Keep sessions short (10–15 minutes) and praise effort. Display their drawings on the wall for confidence.