HomeOut-of-Scale Body Parts: A Drawing Exercise for Kids Free original lessons
Out-of-Scale Body Parts: A Drawing Exercise for Kids
Kids draw a monster with deliberately wrong-sized body parts, then check their choices against a simple checklist to build observation and scale awareness.
Free lesson
Four exercises
Worked answers
Object Drawing Lessons
This exercise asks children to draw a monster whose body parts are intentionally out of scale. Instead of learning correct proportions, learners choose one part to make huge and another to make tiny, then explain why. The goal is observation: noticing that size changes how a drawing reads. A simple convention keeps checking fair: mark each body part on the checklist as normal, huge, or tiny. All resources described here are planned and free, not yet built.
Practice materials: Printable downloads are not available for this lesson yet. Use the instructions and four exercises below.
Why draw wrong on purpose
Drawing something at the wrong size is a fast way to see how scale shapes meaning. A giant ear suggests listening; a tiny head suggests something else. Children compare their choices and notice that scale is a tool, not a mistake.
The exercise stays playful. There is no correct monster. The only rule is that at least one body part is clearly out of scale and the child can say why.
- Choose a monster idea in one sentence.
- Pick one body part to make much larger and one to make much smaller.
- Sketch the monster in a blank frame.
- Write a short reason for each scale choice.
The checklist convention
Use a body-part checklist: head, eyes, ears, mouth, arms, hands, legs, feet, tail or wings. Mark each part as normal, huge, or tiny. This keeps the check simple and lets valid alternatives count.
If a chosen part is not on the checklist, such as horns, claws, or a second tail, add it to the list and mark it normal, huge, or tiny. This keeps the check simple and lets valid alternatives count.
- Circle each body part on the checklist.
- Label it normal, huge, or tiny.
- Confirm at least one huge and one tiny part.
- Write one sentence linking each choice to the monster's character.
Checking scale by eye
Children compare parts inside their own drawing, not against a standard body. Ask: is the huge part at least twice the size of a normal part? Is the tiny part clearly smaller? These are hypothetical example thresholds, not rules.
Measure actual paper and tools if numbers are used. Label any chosen values as examples.
- Compare the huge part to a normal part in the same drawing.
- Compare the tiny part to a normal part.
- Adjust one part if the difference is hard to see.
- Recheck the checklist marks.
Worked example
Draw a monster with a huge ear and tiny feet. Explain each choice in one sentence.
Worked answer
The monster has an ear drawn about twice the size of its head and feet drawn much smaller than its legs. Reason: the huge ear shows it listens for clues, and the tiny feet show it moves quietly.
Four practice exercises
Exercise 1
Draw a monster with a huge mouth and tiny hands. Mark the checklist and write one reason for each change.
Show answer and check
A monster with a mouth about twice the size of its head and hands much smaller than its arms. Reason examples: huge mouth for loud singing; tiny hands for careful holding.
Why: The child chooses two parts, changes scale clearly, and links each change to character.
Check: Compare the mouth to the head and the hands to the arms in the same drawing; confirm both checklist marks and two reasons.
Exercise 2
Draw a monster with tiny eyes and a huge tail. Use the checklist and explain how the tail helps the monster.
Show answer and check
A monster with eyes much smaller than its head and a tail about twice the length of its legs. Reason example: the huge tail balances the monster while it climbs.
Why: Scale change is visible and the reason connects the part to an action.
Check: Check that eyes are clearly smaller than the head and the tail is clearly longer than the legs; confirm one reason about the tail.
Exercise 3
Draw a monster with huge feet and a tiny head. Mark normal, huge, or tiny for four parts and write one sentence about the feet.
Show answer and check
A monster with feet about twice the size of its legs and a head much smaller than its body. Checklist marks four parts; sentence example: huge feet help it stomp through mud.
Why: The child uses the checklist for four parts and explains one scale choice.
Check: Confirm four checklist marks, one huge part, one tiny part, and one sentence about the feet.
Exercise 4
Draw a monster with one huge arm and one tiny arm. Explain why the arms differ and check your drawing against the rubric.
Show answer and check
A monster with one arm about twice the size of the other. Reason example: the huge arm lifts heavy rocks while the tiny arm picks up small seeds.
Why: Comparing two versions of the same part makes scale difference easy to see.
Check: Compare the two arms in the drawing; confirm the difference is clear, a reason is written, and the rubric items are met.
Common mistakes
- Making every part huge so nothing stands out. Keep most parts normal and change only one or two.
- Changing size but giving no reason. Add one short sentence for each changed part.
- Copying a friend's monster instead of choosing. Pick a different body part to change.
- Treating the checklist as a strict score. Use it to describe choices, not to grade correctness.
Self-check rubric
- At least one body part is clearly huge and one is clearly tiny.
- The checklist marks each part as normal, huge, or tiny.
- Each changed part has a short written reason.
- The drawing fits inside the frame and is readable.
- Valid alternatives are accepted; no single monster is required.
Questions and answers
Does the monster need correct proportions?
No. The exercise deliberately avoids correct proportion instruction. The point is to notice scale.
How many parts must change?
At least one huge and one tiny part. More is allowed if the child can explain.
What if the child marks a part differently than expected?
Accept any mark that matches the drawing. The checklist describes choices; it does not grade correctness.
Are the resources available now?
No. They are planned and free, not yet built.