Life Notes
The world can be a confusing place sometimes, especially with the global pandemic that students have struggled with in unprecedented ways. This unit focuses on Courage, Problem Solving, and Self-Reflection. Each day you'll find a new story, a journal entry, and an activity to help you feel more empowered to face the challenges you may be dealing with through art and creativity.
"When You Are Brave"
April 6
Story by Pat Zietlow Miller
Illustrated by Eliza Wheeler
As you listen to the story, think about these questions:
1. What happens in this story that requires the main character to be brave?
2. What examples does she use that require bravery?
3. What does she do to help herself feel brave?
Creating a Bravery Book
Like the girl in the story, we can reflect on times that we've been worried or afraid and remind ourselves of how we overcame our fears.
Follow these simple steps to create a notebook that you can use through all of the lessons in this unit. Be sure to include at least 10 pieces of paper (5 pieces of type paper cut in half).
Use your first pages of the book to draw pictures of something that made you afraid and how you faced it being brave.
"Because once you find your courage, it's easy to use again and again."
"Courage"
April 7
Story and Illustrations by Bernard Waber
As you listen to the story, think about what kinds of courage you have experienced. What kinds do you think you might like to try? Which ones seem funny or amusing?
Write about three kinds of courage that you have felt and illustrate one of them in your notebook.
Creating a Magic Wand
Most books that we love to read contain tales of heroes and heroines who have faced their fears and done something courageous. What are some of your favorite stories?
One of my favorites is Harry Potter. He found a way to be brave and have courage through all sorts of challenges. Having a tool like a magic wand can help you remember that you can do hard things too.
"There are many kinds of courage. Awesome kinds. And everyday kinds. Still, courage is courage--whatever kind."
A Few Sample Wands
I always hope that you will use your imagination and create something even more amazing, personalized, and very much YOU with the few suggestions and ideas I throw out in my demos. Still, it does sometimes help to see a project finished, and I didn't really spend time working on any one thing to give you more time to create instead of observe.
The wand at the bottom was not in the video, but I thought you'd like to see how nice these can become when you spend a little thoughtful time with it. It was made by my teenage daughter several years ago for a Hermione costume she wore for Halloween. It is of similar construction to the one just above it, except she used a larger dowel and sanded the top to a point. She glued a TP tube around a clear rock and tapered it to the dowel width to make a handle. Then she painted it and wrapped it in craft wire instead of decorating it with hot glue.
There is no limit to what you can create with a little imagination and some careful craftsmanship!
"Sheila Rae, The Brave"
April 8
Story and Illustrations by Kevin Henkes
Sheila Rae isn't afraid of anything and calls her little sister Louise a scaredy-cat. But being brave doesn't have to be about doing things that everyone can see. Sometimes it's about paying attention and being smart.
There are people in our lives who can help us to feel brave. Think about the people that help you. Also consider what other places or even ideas can make you feel safe.
Your Bravery Shield
When we feel safe and protected, it's easier to feel brave. Use the doodles you made in your notebook and turn them into a shield of protection.
Cutting the front, back, and one side off of a cereal box, decorate one large piece with your best ideas. I'll show you how to assemble the pieces to make your own shield.
"Sheila Rae wasn't afraid of anything."
"The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh"
April 9
Story by Supriya Kelkar
Illustrations by Alea Marley
Harpreet wears a different color for every occasion, but when he has to move and face new challenges, all he wears is white.
Have you ever thought about how color affects your mood? Or the way you think and react to the world around you. As we consider the power of color, think about what colors mean something important to you.
A Chain of Color
We may feel many different emotions on any given day. We may also experience a variety of feelings on any given day. If you were to record your feelings in color, what would they be?
People can see and experience color in lots of different ways. For example, maybe you think of blue as a peaceful color that's calming like the ocean. Someone else may think of it as a sad color. There are no right or wrong answers, but being sensitive to how colors make you feel can be important in expressing yourself. As you create a chain of colors to reflect your days, you'll learn more about yourself and the kinds of emotions you experience in the things that you do.
"Harpreet Singh loved his colors. He had one for every occasion."
"What Do You Do With a Problem?"
April 10
Story by Kobi Yamada
Illustrations by Mae Besom
Everybody has problems. Some are big and some are small, but none of us escapes having problems in life. But the important thing to remember is that we only grow when we face them because every problem has a secret...
After listing a few problems you've been thinking about, large or small, color over them with something that problem can help you to learn or do.
Hidden Opportunities
Pouring salt on a watercolor painting might look like a big problem. You may even think you've ruined it! But give it a little time. Let it settle and dry and it will become something more surprising and exciting that it would have been without creating a "problem" with your painting.
Remember the artist rule of "turning mistakes into masterpieces"? This project always has a fun element of surprise.
“So even though I didn’t want to, even though I was really afraid, I got ready and I tackled my problem!”
I love that there is a scientific principle that can be observed in this art technique. Salt crystals absorb water, extracting it out of the colors and leaving places with less pigment and others with more saturation. On the left are closeups from the demo pieces in the video, done with school-grade watercolors. If you ever get a chance to work with watercolors that you squeeze from a tube into a palette, their chemical compositions are more varied and concentration of pigment are a lot denser, which makes this technique even more interesting depending on the colors you use and how they separate when salt is applied. On the right is a piece I did a number of years ago when I first learned to use the salt technique (a coarse kosher salt was used in this piece). Notice that it was only used on the walls and ground. If there are areas of your painting that you don't want affected by salt, paint them first and let them dry completely so the salt will just brush right off of it. In this way, painting can be a lot like assembling a puzzle, which is another kind of problem-solving. :)
"Nightsong"
April 13
Story by Ari Berk
Illustrations by Loren Long
The name Chiro was inspired by the Greek root "chiroptera" (hand-wing), which is the order name for bats. They are the only mammals that can fly. They are remarkable creatures capable of echolocation, which is a natural ability that inspired our sonar and radar systems.
Chiro doesn't understand his abilities at first, but when he listens to his mother's advice and tries something new on his own, he learns to see better than he ever could before. In what ways would you like to learn to see things more clearly?
Sending Out Your Song
If you've never tried using oil pastels, you may find them a bit intimidating at first, much like Chiro going into the dark on his own. But they are a delightful addition to any set of artist tools and aren't very expensive.
The beauty of them is the unique work you can do on dark paper as well as making 'shadow' drawings from the colors left on your stencils and hands. This project is an artistic representation of sending your song into the world and letting it come back to you as you learn how to see in new ways.
For an explanation of how echolocation works, watch the video link HERE.
"Sense is the song you sing out into the world, and the song the world sings back to you."
The original idea for this project came from the website Projects with Kids. She uses chalk pastels, which have a different look and texture (they tend to be a bit messier), but they are also fun to try. I've found that crayons can work too, but they are typically less opaque and some colors won't stand out as well against a dark background.
"Max and Marla"
April 14
Story and Illustrations by Alexandra Boiger
These two would-be Olympians face many challenges in their training preparations. Together, they deal with technical difficulties, windstorms, sickness, and other unexpected circumstances.
Eventually, "obstacles are turned into victories" ~ or in artist terms, mistakes are made into masterpieces. Think about the people who help you face challenges and how you can accomplish greater things through teamwork. Decide what goals you want to achieve and make a list of your future achievements.
For You and a Friend
Making a gift for a friend or family member is a great way to show them how much they are appreciated.
With a few basic origami folds, you'll have the base of a bookmark that you can decorate and embellish in any way you choose. Be creative! And have fun preparing something special for you and a friend.
"Preparation really is THE key."
The original idea for this project came from the website It's Always Autumn.
She has printable templates for forest animals, but it's also really fun to dream up your own.
Positive & Negative Space
We often associate 'positive' with good things and 'negative' with bad. But in art, we refer to solid objects as being 'positive space' and the area around it as 'negative space.' It takes both to make an interesting art piece (just as positive and negative experiences together make for an interesting life).
Try reversing the way you see positive and negative space by shading in your page completely with pencil and using your eraser to draw.
"When we embrace imperfection,
we embrace the unknown,
opening ourselves up to the world."
~ Max Amato
"Here We Are"
April 16
Story and Illustrations by
Oliver Jeffers
The subtitle of this book is "Notes for Living on Planet Earth." It's a fun overview of all the beautiful things we can enjoy observing and learning about in the world we live in.
Most important to remember is to take care of the earth, to respect our fellow earthlings, and to use our time well. How will you make your time and work here the best that it can be?
String Earth Art
This project may require a bit more adult help, but it makes a fun sculpture that has many possibilities. Using string, glue, and a balloon frame, you can make your own version of an earth to care. As always, using your imagination to create something as unique as you.
"Perfect"
April 15
Story and Illustrations by
Max Amado
Pencil and Eraser have very different ideas of what is perfect. Eventually, they are able to come together to discover what a new perfect world means for them.
Think about what you consider perfect. Can your day still be perfect even if everything in it is not? Write and illustrate your ideas in your journal.
"The Big Umbrella"
April 17
Story and Illustrations by
Amy June Bates
Cowritten with Juniper Bates
This simple story written by a mother and her teenage daughter is a beautiful tale of inclusion, acceptance, and protection.
Think about how you can be like the "big, friendly umbrella" and take everyone into your heart who needs a place to belong.
"You're never alone on Earth."
Your Small, Friendly Umbrella
With a few simple materials (paper, tape, and a straw) you can make an umbrella that represents inclusion in whatever way that means to you. Keep one as a reminder to shelter others with care or give one to a friend.
These can be as unique as the artwork you create from. It's also a lovely way to turn a 'mistake' art piece that you couldn't quite figure out how to fix into something entirely new.
"It loves to gather people in."
The original inspiration for the umbrella craft was found on One Little Project.
Thanks for taking this journey of self-reflection and discovery together with me!
