On this page
Our pencil case coloring page looks down on a school desk at the start of the day. A fat zipper pouch lies open on a lined notebook, and eight supplies have tumbled out. There are three pencils, a pen, a long ruler, an eraser, a sharpener and a little pair of scissors.
The pouch has a small face stitched on the front and a star on its zipper pull. A few paper clips and shavings are scattered around, for kids who like to find small things. Ages 4 to 10 can finish it in about 20 minutes.
Pack the pencil case coloring page like a real one
This page is a good warm up for the first day. Lay your child's real supplies beside the sheet. Then go through them one at a time. Do you have the same things? Which ones are in the drawing but missing from your bag? Which ones are not on the list at all? Parents get a quick shopping check, and kids feel ready.
Each item also gives you a small talk about how to use it. Pencils need sharp points, erasers should stay clean, and scissors should always be passed handle first.
Picking a pouch your child would carry
Ask your child to design the pouch they wish they owned. Purple with gold stars? Rainbow stripes? Plain black with a bright zipper? The stitched face makes it feel like a small pet, so it's fun to give it a name.
Once that's done, color the supplies in strong, simple colors. Classic yellow pencils with pink erasers and a silver band always look great. Use a bright blue for the pen. The ruler can be clear blue, wood brown or yellow, with its small number marks left alone.
Scissors should have bright handles. The sharpener could be silver gray with a small dot of blue, and the notebook lines can stay pale blue, with a thin red line down the side as on real paper.
Four tricks for tiny parts
- Sharpen your pencils first. This one is full of narrow shapes.
- Color each pencil from the tip to the eraser, in long even strokes.
- Do one side of the zipper at a time, and keep your wrist still.
- Leave the paper clips gray, so they stand out against the notebook.
The story of the zipper
Before zippers, people used hooks, buttons and laces for almost everything. A Swedish American engineer named Gideon Sundback worked out a much better fastener, and it went on sale in 1913. His design used rows of small teeth that lock together when the slider moves up. The same basic idea is still in use on the pouch in this drawing. You can learn more in this article on the zipper.
Pencil lead is a funny one. There's no lead in it at all. It is a mix of graphite and clay, and the old name stuck. Tell that to your kids, and they'll probably go on to tell their whole class.
Make a pencil case from a cereal box
Cut the top off an empty cereal box, leaving it tall enough to hold a pencil. Then cover it with your finished pencil case coloring page and some tape or glue. Trim the sides and fold over the edges. It looks fun, costs nothing and gives a child a place for supplies on a home desk.
Another idea is a homework caddy. Decorate a plastic bin with the same drawing, then fill it with sharp pencils, an eraser and a ruler. Having everything in one place cuts down the nightly search, and that alone is worth an afternoon of crafting.
Practice measuring
The ruler in the picture is a good reason to get out a real one. Have your child measure the pouch on the page, then each pencil. Which one is the longest? Which is the shortest? Write the inches next to each object. This is a nice first measuring task for kids in first or second grade.
Finish your school bag
Next, pack everything into our backpack coloring page. If you want a cuter set, try the kawaii school supplies. All the rest are in our back to school coloring pages.
Questions
What supplies are in the drawing?
Three pencils, a pen, a ruler, an eraser, a sharpener and a small pair of scissors.
Is it hard to color the zipper?
The small teeth take care. You can color the whole strip in one gray to keep it simple.
Can this help with getting ready for school?
Yes. Use it as a checklist, and have your child tick off what they have packed.
