If your students are anything like mine, they’re obsessed with Mo Willems. And if you’re anything like me, you’re always on the lookout for activities that check all these boxes:
✅ Engaging
✅ Low prep
✅ Tied to literacy
✅ Actually FUN
Well, friend, consider it done! Let me introduce you to my Piggie & Elephant Directed Drawing Printables — aka: the magical combination of writing, reading, drawing, and "LOOK WHAT I MADE!" moments that will make you feel like a superhero (without the cape or paperwork).
What’s the Deal?
Your students get to follow simple, step-by-step directions to draw Piggie, Elephant, the Big Guy (hi, whale 🐳), Love Birds, a car, and a ship. That’s SIX different drawing options—differentiated FOUR ways—because you teach real humans, not identical robots.
Some pages are no-writing-required (perfect for kinders or “I lost my pencil” days), and some have sentence-writing options with different line types depending on your students' abilities or handwriting stage. There's even extra paper for your little novelists. I see you, future Mo Willemses.
Why Teachers Love This:
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It’s a sneaky way to reinforce comprehension. (“Let’s draw Gerald! But wait… what’s he feeling in the book again?”)
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It builds fine motor skills without a single clothespin or play dough in sight.
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Students become very proud of their creations. Like, “Please display this until I graduate” proud.
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It’s fun for centers, sub days, Fun Fridays, or “we finished math early and I am NOT starting a new lesson at 2:17 PM.”
Bonus Teacher Tips:
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Do all six drawings over a week while reading the books aloud = INSTANT cross-curricular magic.
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End the week by having students combine characters into one scene = hilarious and bulletin board-worthy.
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Let them record themselves reading their sentences on Seesaw.
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Keep a binder of reusable directed drawings in sleeves = easy access, forever engagement, zero excuses.
Whether you’re team Piggie, team Elephant, or team “please let the pigeon drive the bus already,” this resource is a go-to gem you’ll use year after year.
Check out the other Directed Drawings I have in action and a full preview of how I format the packet...I think you'll recognize some cool characters your kids will love!
