Today, I want to share a simple, joyful idea you can bring into your classroom right away—something that blends drawing, writing, fine motor skills, and even social-emotional learning into one easy experience.
A Simple Puppy Drawing (That Kids Love!)
This week (and a few years ago too!), I shared a quick puppy drawing on Instagram using just a few easy steps. It’s one of those “4 little hop bounces” drawings that feels almost like a game as you create it together.
Start with those small curved “bounces,” then add simple features—ears, eyes, and my favorite detail: a sweet little heart-shaped tail. That tiny touch makes it extra special (and perfect if you want to tie it into something like Mother’s Day!).
The best part? This drawing grows with your students.
Some will keep it simple, while others will add patterns, textures, backgrounds, or even turn their puppy into a completely new kind of pet. Let them take ownership and get creative—you’ll be amazed at what they come up with.
From Drawing to Writing
Once your puppies are complete, it’s the perfect moment to move into writing.In the pack, there are simple sentence starters designed to support a range of learners. After doing some shared or collaborative writing together, students can use those scaffolds to create their own little writing pieces.
Why a Pet Theme Works So Well
A pet theme is incredibly rich for early learning:- Phonics & Early Reading: So many simple, phonetic words (cat, dog, fish, pet, run, hop, sit…)
- Engagement: Familiar topics help children jump in quickly and confidently
- Social-Emotional Learning: Talking about caring, kindness, responsibility, and love
- Oral Language: Sharing stories about their experiences
Integrating Handwriting
This is also a great opportunity to connect with your handwriting program.You might:
- Focus on specific letters (p for pet, d for dog, c for cat)
- Practice simple fluency patterns
- Create a shared focus sentence like: “I love my pet.”
Fast Prep (or No Prep!)
If you’re looking for something ready to go, this Pet Fine Motor Activity Pack is designed to be low-prep and classroom-friendly:
👉 https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pet-Fine-Motor-Math-Activities-Tracing-Cutting-Writing-Crafts-11396898
It includes tracing, cutting, writing, and craft-based activities—perfect for centers, small groups, or independent work.
One Idea… or a Whole Week
You can:- Try just the puppy drawing tomorrow
- Add a quick writing activity
- Or expand it into a full week (or longer!) of integrated learning
Take what works for you and your students—that’s always the goal.
If you’d like more simple, meaningful ideas like this for early learning (both in the classroom and at home), be sure to join my newsletter. I love sharing practical ways to make learning feel connected, engaging, and joyful.