Learning that can arise through mark making/writing
When displayed, children's mark making attempts become worthwhile and this boosts their confidence and self-esteem. Mark making activities produce a range of feelings and responses - awe and wonder, a sense of achievement and sharing ideas with others. They develop independence skills through selecting and using relevant writing materials.
Children learn to communicate their ideas through talking about the marks they make, ascribing their meaning. They will learn specific and appropriate vocabulary e.g. letter names, capitals, lower case, shapes, straight. They are encouraged to 'read' what they have written and eventually learn to form letters correctly.
Children become aware of positional language such as in front of, behind, next to etc, when drawing. They can draw and name shapes, make patterns and use stencils. Other mathematical development includes matching and sorting various types of pens/pencils, counting objects and comparing sizes of materials.
Through mark making children develop designing and making skills - selecting appropriate materials and exploring their potential. They will be given opportunities to observe and describe various textures and look for differences between light and shade.
Children develop creatively through accessing and exploring various materials. They can create patterns sometimes looking at abstract patterns of other artists. They learn to talk about the patterns and marks they have made, expressing their ideas and communicating feelings.
Mark making helps children develop fine motor skills. They will learn how to hold their pencil correctly and use various writing tools.