Stress levels are increasing (even among children), and art is often used as a form of stress reliever. These facts along with discovering that our Southwark class loves drawing and coloring activities inspired us to introduce mandalas.
The middle schoolers got to choose between coloring a detailed printout or making their very own mandala. They were able to let their creativity flow while making these mandalas and they got to experience just how calming making art can be. We took a vote in the end, and most agreed that this activity helped reduce their stress levels.
With our younger class, we decided to celebrate Valentine’s Day. We gave them each a piece of paper and asked them to draw and decorate a heart. After a few minutes, they all passed their papers to the left, and their neighbors continued their heart drawing. By the end, they got their original drawings back and were able to see how their friends added to their art. I think this was a really fun project for them because this was a class-inclusive activity, and they were able to have a piece of art that all their friends had a part in. We also made paper chain hearts. They wrote on each heart what they loved or what love meant to them. This was interesting because you could see how important family and friends are to every child’s life.
