Joyful Learning Through Math, Art and Play!

Day 1: Polka Dot Panda — September Silly Sketches Doodle Challenge

Day 1: Polka Dot Panda 🐼✨

Welcome to the September Silly Sketches Doodle Challenge!

Each month, I host a playful drawing adventure called Doodle Month — a simple way to spark daily creativity with a quick doodle. For September, our theme is Silliness: one animal + one pattern each day. It’s light, joyful, and just a few minutes of pen-to-paper time to remind you that art doesn’t have to be serious to be meaningful.

This challenge is for everyone — whether you doodle in a sketchbook, jot on a notepad, or play along with your students in the classroom. The prompts are simple starting points, and what you create is entirely up to you!

Mel holding sketchbook with Polka Dot Panda doodle

Today’s Prompt: Polka Dot Panda

I started with a panda in my usual style, added some dots, and somehow ended up with bamboo and balloons — a full-on polka dot party! 🎈 That’s the beauty of doodling — you begin with one idea, and it grows in unexpected ways.

Here are three quick tips if you’d like a little spark for your panda today:
  • Start simple — a circle for the head, ovals for the ears, and two dots for the eyes.
  • Play with polka dots — fill the panda’s ears, cheeks, or even the background with spots. Big, small, uneven, or wobbly… it all works!
  • Add a twist — give your panda a balloon, a silly hat, or even polka-dot bamboo. The sillier, the better.
Remember: keep it quick, keep it light. Even a two-minute doodle is enough to spark a smile.

Polka Dot Panda doodle sketch with balloons and bamboo

More Panda Fun

If you’re feeling inspired, here are some extra panda activities to explore:
Printable Polka Dot Panda coloring page for kids

Simple panda directed drawing activity for kindergarten

Simple panda directed drawing activity for kindergarten

Join Us!

The September Silly Sketches Challenge is completely free, and it’s never too late to jump in. All you need is a pen, a piece of paper (or a sketchbook if you’d like), and a few minutes each day. One doodle, one pattern, one playful spark.

See you tomorrow for Day 2: Striped Giraffe! 🦒✨

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