They can ask questions in their journal using visual images. They can draw their dreams, events that have meaning to them, people, made-up stories, etc. The idea is to get students used to expressing themselves in and responding to visual language. When teaching other subject areas, give students the option of using visual language rather than written language to record personal thoughts. By the times students are in grade four or five, many of them want to draw realistically.
Students often try to draw realistically from memory, and then become frustrated with the results.
Point out to them that artists who draw very realistically use models, photographs, real objects, etc. Encourage students to do the same. Encourage the student to use observation rather than memory if they want to draw realistically. Appendix B at the end of the visual art guide contains ideas for helping students learn to draw. Guide the students in their art-making.