Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...

    If I were to try and teach my students about a favorite hobby of mine, I would probably choose to paint. The thing about painting is that it can be so personalized to each person. We could paint hats, or plates, or paper, or canvas. I think for a classroom in the intermediate elementary age range the idea of a "feelings painting" would be something that could be used for the Window/Mirror concept within teaching. By using this idea of "feelings paintings", I feel like the students could look through the window into me and see that maybe my life and since of self can be bright fun but also a little messy. When they use the paints to do their own paintings, the choices of colors and movements of the paint can really help them see a mirror into their own world while also giving me as the teacher, a window into my students. 

    One thing with children is that they all feel that they are not as good at something as someone else might be. With this activity there is no good or bad because it is just a representation of your feelings and maybe just a release. For some it might be just an easy, time consuming passer of time but for others this project might open a reality for the student that might encourage them to do more art and express themselves through art, even if not painting.