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What is a pencil?
A pencil is a tool we use for writing and drawing. It looks like a small stick and usually has a wooden cover with a dark lead inside. The lead is not metal; it is a soft material that makes marks on paper when we press it. Pencils come in many sizes and some are coloured for art work. Children use pencils for school work because mistakes can be corrected with an eraser.
How to hold and write with a pencil
Hold the pencil near the point with three fingers: thumb, index and middle finger. Keep your wrist steady and move your hand to form letters slowly at first. Practice drawing straight and curved lines. When the tip becomes dull, use a sharpener to make it pointed again. Writing with a sharp tip makes letters clear and neat.
Care and good habits
Store pencils in a pencil box so they do not break. Do not chew or bite pencils because that makes them dirty and can break the wood. Do not use other people’s pencils without asking. In exams, use the pencil that your teacher allows. Keep spare pencils for class so you do not run out while working.
What is an eraser?
An eraser, also called a rubber, is a small soft block used to remove pencil marks from paper. It works by rubbing the pencil line gently until the mark comes off. Erasers come in different colours and sizes. Some are fitted to the end of a pencil, while others are separate blocks kept in a pencil box.
How to use an eraser correctly
Hold the eraser between your thumb and fingers and move it gently over the mark you want to remove. Rub in one direction with light pressure so the paper does not tear. If the eraser is dirty, wipe it on a scrap paper first to clean it. For small mistakes, use the corner of the eraser; for larger areas, use a flat side.
Care and tips
Keep the eraser in a clean place so dust and pencil bits do not make it dirty. If you press too hard while erasing, the paper may wrinkle or tear, so be careful. Teachers often ask children to use erasers neatly and to avoid making the page messy. Replace an eraser when it becomes too small or crumbles easily.
What is a sharpener?
A sharpener is a small tool that makes the pencil point sharp. It has a tiny metal blade inside a small hole. When we put a pencil into the hole and twist the pencil, the blade cuts away the wood and the pencil core becomes pointed. There are simple single-blade sharpeners and small boxes that collect the shavings so they do not fall on the desk.
How to use a sharpener safely
Hold the sharpener in one hand and the pencil in the other. Put the pencil tip into the hole and rotate the pencil slowly while keeping the sharpener steady. Do not push the pencil too hard. If the sharpener has a lid or container, open it to empty the shavings when it is full. Do not try to sharpen very thin or broken pencil pieces that can get stuck.
Care and good practice
Empty the shavings into a dustbin so desks remain clean. Keep your sharpener in a pencil box to protect the blade and to stop it from getting lost. Do not put fingers inside the sharpener because the blade can cut. If a sharpener gets dull, ask an adult for a new one so your pencils can be sharpened properly.
What is a ruler?
A ruler is a flat measuring tool shown with small marks and numbers. It helps us measure length and draw straight lines. Most school rulers show centimetres with small lines for each millimetre. Some rulers also show inches. Rulers are made of plastic, wood or metal and are useful for both writing and drawing work in class.
How to measure and draw with a ruler
Place the ruler on the paper so the zero mark lines up where you want to start. Hold the ruler steady with one hand and draw a line along the edge with your pencil. Read the number at the point where the line ends to know the length. For small objects, read the centimetre and the extra millimetre mark for a closer measure.
Care and neatness
Keep the ruler clean so the numbers are easy to read. Do not bend plastic rulers because they may become warped and give wrong measurements. Store rulers flat in your bag or box to stop them from breaking. Use a ruler gently when drawing so the paper does not tear at the edge. Teachers often ask for straight lines in assignments, so practice using the ruler to make neat work.
What are scissors?
Scissors are a hand tool with two sharp blades joined by a screw or pin. They cut paper, cloth, ribbon and thin materials. The blades open and close when we move the handles. Children use scissors for art and craft activities under teacher supervision. Scissors come in different sizes and some have rounded tips for safety.
How to use scissors safely
Put your thumb in the small hole and your fingers in the larger hole to hold the scissors comfortably. Cut slowly and follow the drawn line. Keep your other hand away from the blades and hold the paper a little away from where you cut. Always walk with scissors closed and point them downwards. Never run with scissors in your hand.
Care and classroom rules
Do not use scissors to cut hard materials like metal or thick cardboard as this harms the blades. Clean scissors if glue or sticky tape gets on them. Keep scissors in a safe place in your pencil box when not in use. Use safety scissors with rounded tips for young children. Follow your teacher’s rules about when and how to use scissors during craft time.
What is glue?
Glue is a sticky substance used to join paper, light cardboard and small craft items. There are liquid glues in bottles and solid glue sticks that are easy to use. Glue helps to stick cut-outs, pictures and decorations to cards and sheets. It is helpful in art projects and when making small models for class.
How to use glue properly
For a liquid glue, put a small drop or a thin line on the paper where you want to stick something. For a glue stick, rub the stick over the area to be pasted. Press the two pieces together and hold for a few seconds until they stick. Use only a little glue; too much will make the paper wet and wrinkled. If glue gets on your fingers, wash it off with water and soap.
Care and safety
Always close the cap of glue after use so it does not dry out. Keep glue away from eyes and mouth; if it touches the skin, wash it quickly. Do not taste glue. Store glue in your pencil box and ask an adult if you need help using strong adhesives. Teachers will tell you which glue to use for different craft tasks to keep work neat and safe.
What are notebooks and paper?
Notebooks are books made of many pages that we use for writing lessons, practising letters and drawing. Paper is the thin sheet inside a notebook or loose sheets used for drawing and craft. Notebooks can be ruled with lines for writing, or plain for drawing. Each page gives space to practice handwriting and keep school work tidy.
How to use notebooks well
Write the date and the subject on the top line so your teacher and you can find the work later. Keep your writing inside the lines and leave a margin if your teacher asks. Turn the pages carefully from the corner so you do not tear them. If you paste drawings, use little glue and press them flat so the page remains neat.
Care and organisation
Keep notebooks dry and do not leave them in wet places. Do not tear out pages unless the teacher says so. Keep different subjects in separate notebooks and label the cover with your name and subject to avoid mix-up. Store notebooks flat in your bag to prevent folding. Good care keeps your notes clear and helps you review lessons easily.
What are colouring tools?
Colouring tools such as crayons, colour pencils and markers help make drawings bright and attractive. Crayons are thick wax sticks that lay down smooth colour. Colour pencils look like pencils but have a coloured core for shading and fine work. Markers have a felt tip with liquid ink and give bold, strong colour lines. Each tool is useful in different parts of art work.
How to use them correctly
Choose the right tool for the effect you want. Use crayons for large areas of colour and press lightly for even shading. Use colour pencils for detailed work and for making light and dark shades by pressing more or less. Use markers for bold outlines and colouring small areas, and always replace the cap so they do not dry. Colour inside the lines and blend colours gently for a neat picture.
Care and safety
Keep colouring tools in a box and sharpen colour pencils carefully to avoid breaking the tip. Do not put crayons, pencils or markers in your mouth. Keep marker caps closed after use. If ink or wax gets on clothes, ask an adult for help to remove it. Organise colours in your box so they are easy to find during class and art periods.