Describe body shapes with drawings

Supplied materials

• Paper or a text document; all cases below are original fictional learning inputs.
• An adult may read aloud; drawing or spoken answers are valid. No personal health information or physical performance is required.
• A paper figure has arms drawn to the sides. Another figure has arms drawn close to its middle. The first model is wider side to side; the second is narrower. The labels describe the space occupied in the pictures. They do not say that either person is healthier or that someone should force their arms into those positions.
• A drawn figure’s arms extend sideways. Which description fits?
• A drawn figure’s arms stay close to its sides. Which description fits?
• The paper figure bends its limbs inward. Which description fits?
• The drawing lengthens both arms upward. Which description fits?
• Two drawings differ only in sideways arm spread; one spreads farther. Which description fits that one?
• The figure’s knees and arms are drawn bent toward its center. Which description fits?

Learn the idea

A body shape describes where parts are in a model: wide, narrow, curled or stretched. These words describe a picture rather than whether one body is better than another. Different people make shapes in different ways.

Draw two simple figures and label the position of their arms or the size of the drawn space. A wide shape uses more side-to-side room than a narrow shape in the same model. Curled and stretched describe bending or lengthening the picture.

No real pose is required. Seated, imagined and drawn versions are valid. Do not stretch into pain or compare people’s bodies. The goal is clear description so another person understands the diagram.

1. Read or listen to the pretend story. Point to the details the question gives you.
2. Look at the drawn arms and space. Choose the shape word that describes this picture; you do not need to make the pose.
3. Check your answer against the example. Say what matches and what you would change.
4. Try the practice questions, then the extra task. Drawing or spoken answers are welcome.

Check your reasoning

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Take it further

Draw a narrow and a wide seated figure, then circle the one needing more side space in the model. Expected: the wide drawing, with no requirement to make either pose.

Nothing here is saved to an account or sent to a teacher. The answer download includes your current choice and any checked feedback. It does not include choices from the separate More practice section. Download that section separately.