Self-expression with items from nature, using sight, touch and smell.

I wrote this plan for children a few years ago. We all love being connected with nature, even in the classroom. To be able to smell a flower, touch a pebble or admire the shape of a leaf creates all sorts of feelings. To be able to express this on paper is, I have found without exception calming for children. Even better – take the group of young people outside in nature to do this activity. This is just a flexible outline to develop as you wish. Have fun!

Kirsty

(Lesson plan, including a number of mindful activities)

Time – Duration is 10 minutes. This can be lengthened or shortened according to need.

Helps – This activity helps with concentration and focus, individually and within a group.

Aim – To create an awareness of sound, smell, touch and visualisation. Be aware of feelings within the body.

Resources – Calm background music, resonating musical instrument and fabric or attractive surface with either flowers, leaves, grasses, stones, feathers or other objects from nature placed on top. Spots for children to sit on or chairs scattered around the room.

Visual aids – simple A3 posters on the wall/ easel in front of the session , with the words smell, touch, look, listen, breathe in gently and blow out slowly.

Paper and coloured pencils for the children.

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• Prepare the room with calm background music, spots/ chairs for the children to sit on, paper and pens for the children and place nature objects at the front of the room.
• Ask the children to walk into the room calmly and quietly and choose a place to sit. Dimming the lights is optional.

• Explain to the children what to expect throughout the session:
• Resonating sound – Diminuendo to silence. The children should put their pencils down when they hear the sound and listen carefully until the end of the sound. If this is the first time that the children have experienced resonating sound, have a little practise.
• Breathe in gently, blow out slowly.

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• Choose a child and indicate to them by winking or pointing that it is their turn to walk to the front and select an object on display. They can quietly take it back to their place.
• The children must look at the object, be aware of the smell of the object and touch it.
• Ask them to think about how they would describe the object. How does it make them feel? Ask the children to choose; they can draw, colour, write words, poems or a mini story about the object. Alternatively just sit, look at, touch and smell the object.
• During the session use the resonation sound exercise (as explained to the children at the beginning of class). After the sound take one or two quiet breaths before moving on.
• Calm background music can continue to play. Turn down the volume for resonating sound and then let the music continue.
• At the end of the session tap, point or wink at each individual child to signal the end. They can then calmly put their pencils down and line up at the door.

*This mindful self-expression plan can be delivered with or without ‘resonating sound’.

*The children can take or leave their creations. The creations on paper are a result of their awareness of smell, touch and sight. The awareness is the focus.