Young Children’s Drawings of Plant Life: A Study Concerning the Use of Colours and its Relationship with Age

Abstract

This study examines the drawings that elementary grade school children make on the subject of plant life. More specifically, the pictorial elements drawn by children are analysed together with their colour choices and the size of coloured surfaces. Furthermore, the results are put into perspective with the age of the children in the sample. The results indicate that there are significant differences in terms of both the content of the drawings and how colours are used. These findings are linked to the process of the comprehension of the plant world that, according to several studies, initially begins in elementary education. The conclusions highlight the convenience of considering the study of young children’s drawings and colour choices in order to achieve a clearer picture regarding the initial steps of the process of the understanding of biological phenomena in early childhood.