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Mindful Art Moments

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Lesson Plan

Mindful Art Moments

Students will learn and practice mindfulness techniques through coloring and sketching to promote relaxation and focus.

Practicing mindfulness through art helps students manage stress, improve concentration, and develop self-awareness, providing a valuable tool for their overall well-being.

Audience

7th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Direct instruction, guided practice, and reflection.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Pencils, Colored Pencils or Markers, Mindful Art Slides, Mindful Art Activity, and Mindful Art Cool Down

Prep

Preparation Steps

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction to Mindfulness and Art

5 minutes

  • Greet students and introduce the concept of mindfulness using the Mindful Art Slides.
  • Explain how art, specifically coloring and sketching, can be a form of mindfulness.
  • Discuss the benefits: stress reduction, improved focus, self-expression.

Step 2

Mindful Art Activity

20 minutes

  • Distribute the Mindful Art Activity pages along with pencils and coloring supplies.
  • Instruct students to choose a page and begin coloring or sketching, encouraging them to focus on the colors, lines, and textures.
  • Remind them to pay attention to their breath and how they feel as they create.
  • Circulate the room, offering gentle reminders to stay present and observe their artistic process without judgment.

Step 3

Reflection and Cool Down

5 minutes

  • Ask students to pause their art and prepare for a brief reflection.
  • Use the Mindful Art Cool Down to prompt students to share their experience.
  • Facilitate a short discussion about what they noticed during the activity and how mindfulness might be applied in other areas of their lives.
  • Thank students for their participation.
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Slide Deck

Mindful Art Moments: Color Your Way to Calm

Discovering Peace Through Creativity

Today, we'll explore how art can help us find focus and relax. Get ready to tap into your creative side and experience the power of mindfulness!

Welcome students and set a calm tone. Introduce the lesson title and what they can expect to do today.

What is Mindfulness?

Being Present, Being Aware

  • Mindfulness means paying attention to the present moment.
  • It's about noticing your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings without judgment.
  • It helps us calm our minds and reduce stress.

Think: When have you felt truly focused on one thing?

Explain what mindfulness is in simple terms. Emphasize paying attention to the present moment without judgment. Ask students for their initial thoughts or experiences with mindfulness.

Art + Mindfulness = Calm

Creative Focus

  • When you create art, you focus on colors, shapes, lines, and textures.
  • This focus helps quiet your mind from distractions.
  • It's like giving your brain a mini-vacation!

**How do you think art can help you feel calm?

Connect mindfulness to art. Explain that creating art can be a powerful way to practice mindfulness by focusing on sensory details.

Your Mindful Art Activity

Let's Get Creative!

  • You'll receive a special coloring or sketching page.
  • Choose the page that speaks to you.
  • Use pencils, colored pencils, or markers.

The Goal: To focus on the process, not just the finished product.

Introduce the activity. Explain that they will receive a coloring or sketching page. Encourage them to choose a page that resonates with them.

Time to Create Mindfully

Focus on the Journey

  • Choose your colors carefully. What feelings do they evoke?
  • Notice the lines and shapes as you fill them in or draw them.
  • Pay attention to your breath. How does it feel?
  • If your mind wanders, gently bring it back to your art.

No need for perfection, just presence.

Provide clear instructions for the activity. Remind them to pay attention to their senses and how they are feeling throughout the process. Circulate and observe, offering quiet encouragement.

Pause & Reflect

What Did You Notice?

  • As you finish up, take a moment to look at your work.
  • How do you feel after this mindful art session?
  • What did you observe about your mind and body?

Conclude the activity and transition to reflection. This slide will lead into the cool down activity.

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Activity

Mindful Art Activity: Color & Sketch Your Way to Calm

Instructions: Choose one of the prompts or designs below. Use your pencils, colored pencils, or markers to engage in mindful coloring or sketching. Focus on the process, the colors, the lines, and your breath. There is no right or wrong way to create – just be present.

Option 1: Geometric Flow

Mindful Coloring Page

Color the intricate patterns below. As you color, notice the shapes, how the colors interact, and the feeling of your hand moving the pencil across the paper. Let your mind settle on the present moment.















































(Imagine a complex geometric pattern with repetitive shapes and lines, suitable for detailed coloring.)

Option 2: Nature's Embrace

Mindful Sketching Prompt

Draw or sketch elements inspired by nature. You might draw a leaf, a tree branch, a flower, waves, or clouds. Focus on the organic shapes and textures. Observe the subtle details and allow your hand to follow your observations. What sounds or scents come to mind as you draw?















































Option 3: Emotion in Color

Mindful Abstract Expression

Choose colors that represent how you are feeling right now. Without trying to draw anything specific, let your hand move freely on the page, creating an abstract design using those colors. Explore different strokes and pressures. What emerges on the page when you let your emotions guide your art?















































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Cool Down

Mindful Art Cool Down: Reflecting on Your Experience

Instructions: Take a few moments to reflect on your mindful art activity. Answer the questions below, thinking about what you observed and how you felt during the process.

Reflection Questions

  1. What did you choose to color or sketch today (e.g., geometric pattern, nature element, abstract design)? Why did you choose it?






  2. What did you notice about your thoughts or feelings while you were creating your art? Did your mind wander, or did you feel focused?






  3. Describe any sensory details you focused on during the activity. (e.g., the texture of the paper, the sound of the pencil, the vibrancy of the colors).






  4. How do you feel physically and mentally now, compared to before you started the mindful art activity?






  5. Can you think of other times or situations where practicing mindfulness, like you did with art today, might be helpful in your daily life?






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