Art as Therapy (Easy English Course)

Description

Art can help people communicate beyond words. In the classroom, creative activities can help support inclusion, self-expression, emotional awareness, and a positive learning atmosphere.

This is especially true when students have different language levels, learning needs, or difficulties expressing themselves verbally.

This Easy English course is specifically designed for teachers who are eager to explore art-based activities for wellbeing and inclusion without needing advanced English or even any previous artistic experience.

The focus will not be on becoming an artist or an “art therapist”, but on using simple creative practices to help students feel seen, involved and able to express thoughts and emotions in different ways.

Participants will explore accessible techniques such as drawing, collage, painting, photography, art journaling, movement, music and theatre activities.

They will learn how these practices can support classroom relationships, creativity, resilience, self-awareness and emotional expression among their students.

In order to be as practical, effective, and realistic as possible (while remaining applicable across different school contexts) the course will combine short theoretical input with hands-on workshops, reflection and collaborative activities.

Participants will experience the activities first as learners, then reflect on how to adapt them to different age groups, language levels and educational needs, including students with special educational needs, migrant or refugee students, and learners who find verbal expression challenging.

Particular attention will also be given to teacher wellbeing. Participants will reflect on how creative routines can support calm, attention and self-care, helping prevent stress and burnout in everyday school life.

By the end of the course, participants will have created a set of practical art-based activities and a simple wellbeing plan to adapt to their own classrooms or schools.

The course will be delivered in Easy English, using art, creativity and humour to support communication throughout the week.

Concept by Marta Mandolini

Learning outcomes

The course will help participants to:

• Learn how the use of Art as Therapy is an easy successful way to create an inclusive and positive atmosphere in the classroom;
• Use simple creative techniques to create a positive and welcoming classroom atmosphere;
• Adapt drawing, collage, painting, photography, movement, music and theatre activities to different learners;
• Support students with special educational needs, limited language skills or difficulties expressing themselves verbally;
• Design activities that help students recognise and express emotions in safe and creative ways;
• Use art journaling, mindful photography and visual thinking strategies in and outside the classroom;
• Create classroom routines that support creativity, resilience, self-awareness and participation;
• Reflect on how creative practices can also support teachers’ wellbeing and help prevent burnout;
• Design an art-based wellbeing plan for their own classroom or school context.

Tentative schedule

Day 1 – Introduction to the course

• Introduction to the course and the Academy;
• Introduction to the host city and the week’s cultural activities;
• Icebreaker activities;
• Presentations of the participants’ schools and institutions.

Art welcome

• Introduction to Art as Therapy for wellbeing, inclusion and self-expression;
• Individual activity “Your collaborative self portrait”;
• Reflection: how can art support communication in multilingual classrooms?.

Day 2 – Art and wellbeing

• Theoretical introduction on Art and Wellbeing: the creative brain;
• Collage and mixed media activity: “If I were an artwork I would be…”;
• Intuitive drawing activity: mindfulness meets the pencil;
• Using simple creative tasks to support attention, calm and participation;
• Tips for bringing art-based wellbeing activities into the classroom;
• Reflection: adapting activities for different age groups and language levels.

Day 3 – Art and emotions

• Creative warmups for your classroom inspired by dance and music;
• Creating a place for our emotions: the art journal. Prompts and inspiration to set up a meaningful art journal routine for the students, and the teacher;
• Colors and emotions: intuitive painting session;
• The importance of sharing the work: setting up of the art exhibition;
• Reflection time: design an Art as Therapy plan for your school.

Day 4 – Ways of seeing: mindful photography and visual thinking tools

• Introduction to mindful photography;
• Outdoor activity: activating the five senses through art;
• Observing details, places and emotions through images;
• Visual Thinking Strategies in and outside the classroom;
• Using photographs to encourage speaking, storytelling and reflection in Easy English;
• Workshop: designing a visual activity for participants’ own teaching contexts.

Day 5 – Sensory art, self-expression and special needs education

• Sensory art and non-verbal self-expression;
• Hands-on work: presentation of sensorial painting activities;
• Facilitating art as therapy with students with special educational needs;
• Art as a non-verbal language: teachers’ final Artwork;
• Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussions;
• Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance.

Day 6 – Structured cultural activities

• Structured cultural activity(ies) according to the hosting location;
• Learning journal: individual written reflection on the course experience;
• Course reflection: self-reflection and review of course materials and resources.

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