Exercises in Art Therapy

 

Art is an amazing tool for therapeutic practices, and it can be used to help people feel better. Art is a form of expression, and art does not exist without emotion; this being said it is natural that art is used as therapy. We all have emotions that we need to get out sometimes, and I recommend using art as the tool to do so. This article will discuss an art therapy exercise that I often enjoy.

Watercolor paint is a great way to express your emotions because it is so vivid and alive itself. Watercolors blend and blur in ways that are very representative of emotions. For this project you will need watercolor paints, paint brushes, a cup of water, paper towels, and a calm place where you can relax. I also suggest that you have a cd player or a way of listening to music to help you get in the mood.

Put on some music and get comfortable. It is important to have music that helps you touch the emotions you are feeling. Do not try to hide or push away your emotions; embrace your emotions. Sometimes you need to feel emotions that you do not necessarily want to feel, and putting these emotions into art is a productive and positive way to use your negative emotions.

Now start by wetting your paper; wet the entire piece of paper because this will help the colors blend. Add water to the paints to get them ready to use, and pick a color that feels right. Now start by making a brushstroke on the paper, and watch how the colors move. Make some more brush strokes and shapes, and use other colors as well. Keep adding colors and different lines and patterns until the entire paper is colored. While you are adding these colors think about your emotions, and think about why you are upset. Put these feelings onto the paper through the use of the colors.

Now while the paper is still wet you are going to take away these vivid and intense colors. While doing this I want you to imagine letting go of these feelings. I want you to visualize washing these feelings away. Now use the paper towel to blot different areas of your picture. This will remove most of the colors. You can even add more water to the area of the paper that you want to remove more color from. Keep removing the colors until you feel relaxed and pleased with this piece.

The visualization techniques in this exercise are important to help you release your pent up emotions. This article will help you use art to feel better.

Having it All

Ok so as some of you may noticed. I have been posting a lot of planner ideas and other organization inspired links. There is a method to this madness. I promise.

I have been thinking lately that I needed something, a new step, an idea, some sort of change. I mean was I happy? I love my bf and my family and I run my own art business from my home so everything should be awesome right? I am blessed, I will never say I am not, but still there are areas I am lacking.

I work constantly and have little time for other things. My house is like a bomb went off. Constantly. I don't take care of my mental, emotional, physical self as much as I really should.  So yes I am happy, but also according to my nature I want more. A lot more.

I want to have a thriving business, but still have time to eat right, maintain my home,  and spend time with the people I love. I want to work on extensive  awe inspiring creative projects that allow me to really showcase my talents. I want to have time to relax and time to help people who are less fortunate than me. I want all of these things and I want to look good, feel good, and make other people feel good doing it!

So here I am tasked with the delightful idea that I can have it all. It is intimidating, and I honestly I did not think it was even possible until recently, but if I hadn't gotten to the point where I felt it was impossible I might not be attempting it.

I may be crazy, but I don't care. Raise a glass because, here is to the start of my one woman journey to Have It All! Are you with me?

Stay tuned for a peek at my daily planner and binder, some new recipes I have been working on, and my unique strategy for getting this disaster area of a home in order. 

How to Plan Age-Appropriate Math Lessons Using Classroom Items

Math is one of the subjects a person either loves or hates when they are in school. Math classes can be really boring or really interesting. It is important to make math classes interactive and fun if you want your students to find math interesting. It is also important to take the age level of a student into consideration when designing instructional lesson plans for math classes. If both of these factors are taken into consideration math classes can be exciting and educational.

Teaching strategies and instructional methods in the mathematics classroom should be age appropriate. In order to teach the mathematical concept of measurement to students in a lower elementary grade there are
certain methods that should be used.

The concept of measurement in lower grades can be explained by using wooden blocks. Kids can be asked to compare the blocks to see the difference in sizes. They can figure out which are bigger or smaller. They can also observe the height differences and the differences in width.

Rulers are also necessary tools for children in lower elementary grades, and they can be used in many mathematical lesson plans. The kids can use the ruler to measure the amount of a difference between the blocks. Students do not have to be limited to using the blocks and the ruler.

It would also be fun to use other objects found around the classroom in order to complete this assignment. Students can look around and pick different toys and objects in the classroom that can be compared and measured. Any objects the student find they can measure, and that helps get the students involved.

In middle school measurement is more complex, but rulers are still an essential. As students move into middle school they can learn about measuring as well. Now that they already understand size differences they can learn how to add and subtract measurements as well. As a project that illustrates this point the kids can all pick different items and measure them.

The students can than practice adding the lengths together; they can also subtract them apart as well. This lesson can help work students into learning about volume and mass which is an important lesson for middle school children. Letting the students use their own abilities to determine the size, volume, and mass of objects can keep the students involved and interested.

When teaching mathematical concepts to children in is key to keep in mind the education level of the students. It is also important to construct activities that help get the students to participate. Using simple tools that you can find around the classroom is easy and beneficial and should be applied to all math classes.

written by Sarah Ganly