A tree is a tall rectangle trunk with a big, bumpy cloud of leaves on top. The leaves are a free shape, like the ones in Neat Shapes and Free Shapes.
A flower starts with a circle in the middle. Put petals all the way around the circle, then add a long stem and a leaf.
Key idea
Tree: rectangle trunk, bumpy leaves on top. Flower: circle center, petals all the way around, then a stem.
Why it works
Petals grow in a ring around the middle of a flower. When you draw the center first, it is easy to fit the petals around it.
Common mistake
Some children draw all the petals on one side, or make them every different size. Go around the center like a clock, making the petals about the same size.
Worked example: Let's look
What do you draw first for a flower?
- The center is the middle of the flower.
- The petals go around it, so it comes first.
Answer: The circle center.
For the grown-up. Look at a real flower together and count its petals before drawing it. Some have 5, some have many more.