- Definition
A drawing pencil is a pencil with soft lead, good for making dark marks and shading. Some schools use "primary printing pencils" which are similar to drawing pencils.
Using the side of a soft 'B' pencil to shade the shadow under an apple creates a smooth, even tone.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A drawing pencil is like a regular pencil's softer cousin, made for shading and drawing smooth, dark lines instead of just writing words.
Ask your child: What happens when you press lightly with this pencil, then press harder?
Common mix-up: Kids may think any pencil is a drawing pencil. A true drawing pencil has softer graphite designed for shading, not just for writing sharp lines.
Examples
- Pressing lightly to sketch the first faint outlines of a picture.
- Using a very dark pencil, like a 6B, to fill in the blackest parts of a drawing.
drawing pencil is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
