Art with Friends
In collaboration with the guidance counselor at Mitnick, I developed a program for Title 1 students dealing with trauma and emotional/social hardships. On Mondays, I meet with these students in small groups (2-5 students) where we work together on art projects in order to promote collaboration and social/emotional skills. We also practice mindfulness techniques, such a breathing exercises and meditation. We use art as a tool to calm the mind and to let out emotions in a healthy and safe way. These skills are extremely important for young kids to acquire. Most of the activities we do together are very hands on, and fun for the kids. They learn to open up and how to express their feelings appropriately.
Hands-on Activites
In Art with Friends, we aren't afraid of trying new things! We have used materials such as shaving cream, liquid watercolors, chalk, and even SNOW to create beautiful art and enjoy a relaxing, hands-on experience.
Collaboration
Collaboration is an extremely important aspect of Art with Friends. We learn how to work together and communicate with others. We also learn how to share out artwork with others locally, and even nationally! This year, we participated in a Christmas Ornament exchange with students in Ocean City High School. My creative friends made ornaments out of model magic, and the high school students made beautiful weavings for us. We love to share our artwork! My friends also got to add their artwork into a traveling sketchbook, which travelled to many different places across the United States, including Tennessee and Nevada! Take a look at the pictures below to see both of these wonderful projects!
Saving the World with Art
In Art with Friends, we also talk about real-world problems and discuss ways in which we can help to solve them. This is a great strategy to helps students learn how to problem solve and talk through situations that may be difficult to grasp and understand. My friends helped me create a PBL project that I had to conduct with a 2nd grade class. We brainstormed issues that occur locally, nationally, and globally. We decided upon a local problem since we could potentially play a major role in solving this issue. I taught this lesson to the 2nd grade class, and my friends also assisted in the creation process. We collected empty plastic water bottles from students, teachers, and families over the course of a few months. The students then decorated the water bottles with colored sharpies. We created a glass-like sculpture inspired by Dale Chihuly out of these water bottles. Rather then these plastic bottles ending up in the ocean, they were turned into a beautiful piece of art to decorate our school!
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is important for every child and adult. It is important to take time to calm the mind and learn how to be present in the moment. Coloring is a great way to create a sense of calm for students and adults of any age. Rather then create a bulletin board display outside of my classroom, I use a sharpie to make a GIANT coloring page! This coloring page serves as a mindfulness tool for students, and teachers alike. Whenever a student needs a brain break, then can be taken to the coloring wall. I also leave crayons outside of my room for them to color with. During Art with Friends, we use this wall a lot in order to practice slowing down and being in the moment.