Happy new year everyone! This month's theme is all about Vegas! and of course the new year!
Enjoy these art tasks and please feel free to share your own art therapy techniques you used this month or any other ideas.
New Years Hopes and Wishes
Population: Children, Adults, Geriatrics
Media: 18" x 24" construction paper with the year printed largely in the center with bubble numbers, markers, glitter, sequins, craft pom-poms, craft decorations etc.
Directions: Begin by discussing with the group the idea of resolutions. Has anyone in the group made resolutions in the past and stuck with it or dropped it mid year? Have resolutions changed over the years? Discuss positive resolutions versus negative ones (to start a new habit versus dropping a bad one). Might there be a wish or a hope for the self in the new year? the group? the world? As group members begin to shout out wishes/hopes/resolutions write them into the year numerals on the construction paper. Once everyone has added something decorate the sign as a group. Pass the construction paper around or everyone work together at the same time. Use the team decorated sign as motivation throughout the new year.
Changing Something Old into Something New
Population: Children, Adults, Geriatric
Media: Spin Art toy, white paper cut to fit appropriately to the toy, acrylic paints, scissors, glue stick, 8 1/2" x 11" white or colored paper.
Directions: Begin by having the group take turns using the Spin Art tool to make paintings. Have fun and enjoy the creative process! Once every individual has a painting ask the group to either tear or cute the painting into smaller pieces. Take the smaller pieces and rearrange them into brand new paintings. Follow up with the group by discussing what it felt like to cut up a painting. Is the new one better or worse than the original? How does this relate to the new year and potential resolutions or other changes made throughout life?
Silver Lining
Population: Geriatric, Adults
Media: 4" x 4" white paper, markers (the bright colors work best), black acrylic or poster paint, small sponge brushes or large paint brushes, and popsicle sticks.
Directions: Begin by discussing the idea of a "silver lining", what does it mean? can anyone think of a silver lining experience in their life? Now have each member chose 3 colors that represent an experience in their life where something did not go as planned or was a negative event. Have the group fill up their 4" x 4" white paper with color only, no imagery, to express that event.
As the group finishes coloring, have everyone paint over the colors with black acrylic paint. While the paint is being applied and/or drying, ask the group to think about a silver lining to their negative experience. Using the popsicle sticks, scrape away the black paint to reveal the colors underneath in order to create a new image that represents the "silver lining".
Once everyone has finished, have each member share their initial negative experience, and the silver lining they were able to find in that event. *It is perfectly fine if some individuals do not want to share their negative event, or if they are unable to follow the instructions and instead choose to just create!
Incomplete Deck of Cards
Population: Geriatric, Adults, Children
Media: A deck of cards (incomplete or full, just be prepared to cut them up), scissors, 11" x 14" paper, glue, markers are optional.
Directions: Hand each member of the group 5 cards (more or less, whatever works for your group), a pair of scissors and a piece of paper. Tell the group you want them to cut up their cards into varying shapes and sizes. Gauge the reaction, older adults tend to think you are nuts, children and adults might be more inclined to jump right in. Discuss and process any negative reactions to cutting up the cards. Using the new shapes, have the group create an image using the card pieces. Members can use markers to clarify or add color to their image. Once everyone has glued all of his/her pieces, have the group take turns sharing the image. Have each participant tell a story about their picture or title the image.
Vegas Show Girl Feather Fan
Population: Geriatric (including Dementia and Alzheimer's)
Media: Small fold-up fan (or a paper folded into accordion shape), feathers of all different sizes and colors, Elmer's glue, a small dish, jewels and sequins are optional.
Directions: Prepare for the group by putting glue into small dishes for members to share. Each member of the group is given a fan. Show the group how to adhere the feathers to the fan by either 1) dipping feathers into the glue and placing onto the fan, OR 2) squeeze glue onto the fan instead of putting into a dish and place feathers onto the fan. Encourage group members to be creative, add gems and sequins, use different colors of feathers or only a single color for drama. Reminisce with the group about past vacations to Las Vegas. Why is it called "Sin City", what did you do while in Vegas? What musicians used to perform in Las Vegas? Can any one in the group sing a song from one of those singers such as Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin? Have fun with the fans once they have dried such as coming up with a show girl dance.
What art therapy techniques did you do this month?
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Thursday, December 17, 2009
December Art Therapy techniques
Happy Holidays everyone! This month we are celebrating "Trekking through the Arctic" and as it is winter time, these tasks revolve around snow!
Unique as a Snowflake
Population: Geriatric, children, adolescents
Medium: White, blue, or gray construction paper, scissors, markers.
Description: Begin by discussing the amazing fact that every snowflake that falls from the sky is unique. Explain that the group will be making their own snowflakes. Fold up your paper as small as possible but still able to cut, cut out triangle and hills out of all 4 sides of the paper. Open up paper and show off your unique snowflake. Once everyone has created their own snowflake discuss what makes each person special and unique in their own way. Have each individual write at least one unique fact about themselves onto their snowflake. Finally, ask everyone to share what they have written with the group and process.
Shaving Cream Snowman
Population: Geriatric, children
Medium: Mens shaving cream, Elmer's glue, glitter, small black and multicolored pom-poms, small container like styrofoam cups, popsicle sticks, and 8" x 10" construction paper.
Description: This task is just fun! Fill up a cup for each participant with shaving cream and pour glue on top. Have everyone lightly mix the shaving cream and glue together (be careful not to stir too roughly or you might loose the fluffyness of the shaving cream). Add glitter as desired. Next, use the popsicle stick to move the shaving cream mixture from the cup onto the paper and construct a raised 2-D snowman. Once the snowman has been shaped use pom-poms to create the snowmans eyes, nose, mouth, and buttons. Finally, add some shaving cream to the bottom to create a ground and dot around the page to make snow! Have fun with this task.
Candy Cane door-hang
Population: Low functioning children or geriatrics
Medium: Pre-cut candy cane cut out from 11" x 14" heavy white paper, red paint, paintbrushes, magnet tape.
Description: Pass out the pre-cut candy cane shapes to the group. Be an example by showing the group how to use the paint brush to paint red lines onto the candy cane. Help other individuals by doing hand- over- hand painting. Reminisce with the group about Christmas ornaments and traditions. Once the paint has dried, place 2 magnetic rectangles onto the back of the candy cane so participants can hang their decoration of the refridgerator or door.
Unique as a Snowflake
Population: Geriatric, children, adolescents
Medium: White, blue, or gray construction paper, scissors, markers.
Description: Begin by discussing the amazing fact that every snowflake that falls from the sky is unique. Explain that the group will be making their own snowflakes. Fold up your paper as small as possible but still able to cut, cut out triangle and hills out of all 4 sides of the paper. Open up paper and show off your unique snowflake. Once everyone has created their own snowflake discuss what makes each person special and unique in their own way. Have each individual write at least one unique fact about themselves onto their snowflake. Finally, ask everyone to share what they have written with the group and process.
Shaving Cream Snowman
Population: Geriatric, children
Medium: Mens shaving cream, Elmer's glue, glitter, small black and multicolored pom-poms, small container like styrofoam cups, popsicle sticks, and 8" x 10" construction paper.
Description: This task is just fun! Fill up a cup for each participant with shaving cream and pour glue on top. Have everyone lightly mix the shaving cream and glue together (be careful not to stir too roughly or you might loose the fluffyness of the shaving cream). Add glitter as desired. Next, use the popsicle stick to move the shaving cream mixture from the cup onto the paper and construct a raised 2-D snowman. Once the snowman has been shaped use pom-poms to create the snowmans eyes, nose, mouth, and buttons. Finally, add some shaving cream to the bottom to create a ground and dot around the page to make snow! Have fun with this task.
Candy Cane door-hang
Population: Low functioning children or geriatrics
Medium: Pre-cut candy cane cut out from 11" x 14" heavy white paper, red paint, paintbrushes, magnet tape.
Description: Pass out the pre-cut candy cane shapes to the group. Be an example by showing the group how to use the paint brush to paint red lines onto the candy cane. Help other individuals by doing hand- over- hand painting. Reminisce with the group about Christmas ornaments and traditions. Once the paint has dried, place 2 magnetic rectangles onto the back of the candy cane so participants can hang their decoration of the refridgerator or door.
November Art Therapy tasks
Hello All! It has been a little while since I last updated so I decided to wrote up all of Novembers tasks in one post. FYI the theme for November was "Explore America".
Veteran's Day American Flag
Population: Geriatric, Children, Adolescents, Adults
Materials: One piece of 18" x 24" construction paper, one blue square 5" x 5" or so, 6 strips of 24" white paper, 7 strips of 24" red paper, white glitter, markers, glue sticks.
Description: Each individual in the group gets at least one strip of paper. On the paper have the group write down what it means to them to be an American. Discuss the answers that come up. Collect the strips of paper and paste onto the flag. Complete by pasting the blue square in the upper left corner and adding glitter to represent the stars in the flag.
Explore America
Population: Geriatric, Children, Adolescent, Adults
Materials: Two pieces of paper for each individual; one white paper with the outline of an airplane and one piece with the outline of luggage.
Description: Begin the group with a discussion of places in America where the group has visited or wish to visit. What is intriguing about the places? Have the group draw on the paper with an airplane the one place in America where they would most like to visit, either decorate inside of the plane or around it. Next have a discussion of what you would need to bring with you. What is the most important item and why? What might you be able to live without?
Cornucopia
Population: Alzheimer's or dementia geriatrics, small children
Materials: Pre-cut cornucopia, 8" x 10" construction paper, 3" circles cut from yellow, blue, purple, and red paper, glue sticks.
Description: Begin by showing a sample finished image of the cornucopia and ask if anyone recognizes the image or what a cornucopia (horn of plenty) means. Give each person a sheet of paper and the pre-cut cornucopia shape to glue down. Next, pass out one circle of each color. As individuals are gluing, ask what fruit or vegetable might be yellow, red, blue, or purple (one color at a time in order to limit confusion). Finally, discuss family Thanksgiving traditional food and other traditions celebrated amongst the group.
Veteran's Day American Flag
Population: Geriatric, Children, Adolescents, Adults
Materials: One piece of 18" x 24" construction paper, one blue square 5" x 5" or so, 6 strips of 24" white paper, 7 strips of 24" red paper, white glitter, markers, glue sticks.
Description: Each individual in the group gets at least one strip of paper. On the paper have the group write down what it means to them to be an American. Discuss the answers that come up. Collect the strips of paper and paste onto the flag. Complete by pasting the blue square in the upper left corner and adding glitter to represent the stars in the flag.
Explore America
Population: Geriatric, Children, Adolescent, Adults
Materials: Two pieces of paper for each individual; one white paper with the outline of an airplane and one piece with the outline of luggage.
Description: Begin the group with a discussion of places in America where the group has visited or wish to visit. What is intriguing about the places? Have the group draw on the paper with an airplane the one place in America where they would most like to visit, either decorate inside of the plane or around it. Next have a discussion of what you would need to bring with you. What is the most important item and why? What might you be able to live without?
Cornucopia
Population: Alzheimer's or dementia geriatrics, small children
Materials: Pre-cut cornucopia, 8" x 10" construction paper, 3" circles cut from yellow, blue, purple, and red paper, glue sticks.
Description: Begin by showing a sample finished image of the cornucopia and ask if anyone recognizes the image or what a cornucopia (horn of plenty) means. Give each person a sheet of paper and the pre-cut cornucopia shape to glue down. Next, pass out one circle of each color. As individuals are gluing, ask what fruit or vegetable might be yellow, red, blue, or purple (one color at a time in order to limit confusion). Finally, discuss family Thanksgiving traditional food and other traditions celebrated amongst the group.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
10/12 Art Therapy Technique
For the Birds
Population: Geriatric
Art Technique: For the project you will need pine cones, twine, scissors, peanut butter, spoons, bird seed, 8"x 10" white paper, markers and news paper. Cover the table with news paper before you begin as this will be a messy project. Each person should get a pine cone, a spoon, and a spoonful of peanut butter (on the news paper in front of the participant is fine). Twine should be tied to the top of the pine cone leaving a large enough loop on top so the finished product can be hung in a tree outdoors. Ask each member to begin by covering his or her pine cone in peanut butter. Once finished, the pine cones should be rolled in bird seed.
Set the bird feeders aside and begin a discussion with the group members about their favorite birds and why they like those birds. Then ask each participant to create an image of what kind of bird they would be. Would they have a long tail and wings to help fly long distances? Would they be very colorful or not? Would they go south for the winter or would the stick it out? Process with the group the images and the members description of his or her bird.
What art techniques did you do this week?
Population: Geriatric
Art Technique: For the project you will need pine cones, twine, scissors, peanut butter, spoons, bird seed, 8"x 10" white paper, markers and news paper. Cover the table with news paper before you begin as this will be a messy project. Each person should get a pine cone, a spoon, and a spoonful of peanut butter (on the news paper in front of the participant is fine). Twine should be tied to the top of the pine cone leaving a large enough loop on top so the finished product can be hung in a tree outdoors. Ask each member to begin by covering his or her pine cone in peanut butter. Once finished, the pine cones should be rolled in bird seed.
Set the bird feeders aside and begin a discussion with the group members about their favorite birds and why they like those birds. Then ask each participant to create an image of what kind of bird they would be. Would they have a long tail and wings to help fly long distances? Would they be very colorful or not? Would they go south for the winter or would the stick it out? Process with the group the images and the members description of his or her bird.
What art techniques did you do this week?
10/5 Art Therapy Task
Kind Words for Strangers
Population: Geriatric
Task: The theme for the month of October is "Up, Up and Away" and the party we are having at the end of the month is a balloon launch! Each balloon let go will be tagged with the facilities name and phone number and a message asking for who ever finds the tag to please call and say where the balloon was found.
So, the task was centered around the soon to be released balloons. For the project you will need strips of paper approx. 2" x 6", a hole punch, markers, scissors, and ribbon. Each person in the group got at least two tags. Before giving the directions, a discussion was had about the nice things people have said to others or have been said to them and the feelings associated with such kind words. Once we had some ideas, the group was told to write onto the tag something nice for the stranger who may find the balloon. Encourage serious and silly responses, "You are having a nice hair day" is perfectly acceptable for this project!
Once all of the tags have been written on, punch a hole at the end of each tag, and have each participant thread some ribbon through the hole to later tie onto the balloons.
What art therapy projects did you do this week?
Population: Geriatric
Task: The theme for the month of October is "Up, Up and Away" and the party we are having at the end of the month is a balloon launch! Each balloon let go will be tagged with the facilities name and phone number and a message asking for who ever finds the tag to please call and say where the balloon was found.
So, the task was centered around the soon to be released balloons. For the project you will need strips of paper approx. 2" x 6", a hole punch, markers, scissors, and ribbon. Each person in the group got at least two tags. Before giving the directions, a discussion was had about the nice things people have said to others or have been said to them and the feelings associated with such kind words. Once we had some ideas, the group was told to write onto the tag something nice for the stranger who may find the balloon. Encourage serious and silly responses, "You are having a nice hair day" is perfectly acceptable for this project!
Once all of the tags have been written on, punch a hole at the end of each tag, and have each participant thread some ribbon through the hole to later tie onto the balloons.
What art therapy projects did you do this week?
Sunday, October 4, 2009
9/28 art therapy technique
Group Fall Tree
Population: Geriatric
Technique: For this art therapy task you will need a large piece of white or gray construction paper (18" x 24"), large brown marker, yellow, red, and orange acrylic paint, large leaf stencils, and sponges (or scrunched plastic bags in a pinch).
Have each member of the group take turns filling in leaf stencils using the sponges and paint. Encourage mixing the fall colors to create unique leaves. Once each member has added his or her own leaf, the group facilitator should use a brown marker and create a tree in the center that encompasses all of the members leaves. Next, write down each persons name near their leaf. Discuss the placement of the leaves and the meaning behind who's leaf is next to who's, if anyone would want to move their leaf, if anyone wants to add or subtract leaves, and the idea of a family tree and what that means for this group.
What art therapy techniques did you do this week?
Population: Geriatric
Technique: For this art therapy task you will need a large piece of white or gray construction paper (18" x 24"), large brown marker, yellow, red, and orange acrylic paint, large leaf stencils, and sponges (or scrunched plastic bags in a pinch).
Have each member of the group take turns filling in leaf stencils using the sponges and paint. Encourage mixing the fall colors to create unique leaves. Once each member has added his or her own leaf, the group facilitator should use a brown marker and create a tree in the center that encompasses all of the members leaves. Next, write down each persons name near their leaf. Discuss the placement of the leaves and the meaning behind who's leaf is next to who's, if anyone would want to move their leaf, if anyone wants to add or subtract leaves, and the idea of a family tree and what that means for this group.
What art therapy techniques did you do this week?
Monday, September 21, 2009
9/21/09 art therapy technique
Wish Upon a Star
Materials: Pre- cut star shapes apprx 3" wide, silver or white ribbon, hole punch, and markers
Population: geriatric
Technique: Begin by discussing the idea of "wishing upon a star", what does that mean? has anyone ever wished upon a star? maybe even sing some star themed songs. Also discuss what some of the group participants wishes might be.
Hand out two stars to every participant. Ask the group to write a wish on each star, feel free to hand out more stars as necessary. Finally, use the hole punch to create a hole on the right and left angle of the star. Connect all of the stars together using ribbon to tie them. Hang around the room and have each member share what they wished for.
What art therapy techniques did you do this week?
Materials: Pre- cut star shapes apprx 3" wide, silver or white ribbon, hole punch, and markers
Population: geriatric
Technique: Begin by discussing the idea of "wishing upon a star", what does that mean? has anyone ever wished upon a star? maybe even sing some star themed songs. Also discuss what some of the group participants wishes might be.
Hand out two stars to every participant. Ask the group to write a wish on each star, feel free to hand out more stars as necessary. Finally, use the hole punch to create a hole on the right and left angle of the star. Connect all of the stars together using ribbon to tie them. Hang around the room and have each member share what they wished for.
What art therapy techniques did you do this week?
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