- Definition
A variation is when something looks a bit different from how it originally appeared, like a stretched-out or zoomed-in version of a picture.
Drawing a flower and then drawing a close-up of just one petal is a variation because the view is magnified.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Variation is like building the same Lego tower twice, but using different coloured bricks the second time.
Ask your child: How could you draw this same house, but make it look different?
Common mix-up: Kids may think variation means making a totally new picture. It's about taking one idea and changing it, like drawing the same cat but with different colours or patterns.
Examples
- Drawing a shirt with stripes, then drawing a variation of the same shirt with polka dots.
- Making a clay dog, then making a variation by giving it a rough, bumpy texture instead of a smooth one.
variation 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 ↗
