34 Masks
Preparation time: Ten minutes
Materials: Construction paper, crayons or permanent markers, glue sticks, art supplies. To add variety you can gather natural materials like moss, seeds or bark
Procedure:
(1) Instruct students to make a two sided mask. The first side represents the side they show to the world. The second side shows their true or higher self which they keep hidden.
(2) Give participants about five minutes per side.
(3) I find you may want to set a time limit for each side. More artistic students may want to get involved with the artistic aspects of this project.
(4) When they are finished have students share their mask.......
Alternatives:
(1) To simplify and speed up this activity you can use paper plates and crayons.
(2) You can also provide strings so they can actually wear the mask.
(3) To up it a notch have students swap masks and share what that is like.
Notes: I have found this activity to be subtly powerful in some situations. Participants may reveal information you were unaware of and you may want to make sure you have time later on for individual follow up.
Activity Credit: Inspired by Lynn Duus
35 Shields
Preparation time: Five minutes
Materials:
(1) Colored Markers
(2) 5x7 cards
(3) It's good to have several examples of shields from different cultures.
(4) With older audiences I show the McAlpin Crest. It has the severed head of Kenneth McAlpin, the first king of Scotland, with the words: “Remember the death of McAlpin.” Talk about your family baggage!
Procedure:
(1) Explain to participants that they are going to make a shield which represents their emotional self.
(2) Ask students to think of symbols and values that are important to them.
(3) Ask students to use the colored markers to create a shield which represents how they feel most of the time. Ie what is their dominant feeling state? Neutral, mischievous, sad, happy-go-lucky?
Alternatives: What people put in front of them (their shields and defenses) can be quite revealing. This activity can easily take up the whole group.
Notes: Shields have a long and ancient history across all cultures. With the advent of gunpowder and the rifle they ceased to have value in the field. They remained a fixture in many homes. Walk into any proud Scottish home and you will find the shield with a family crest. Some indigenous people here on turtle island retain shields from other days. In those days shields functioned as a sort of ID. You could look at a shield and know which clan or tribe that person came from.
Activity Credit: Inspired by Lynn Duus
NATURE CONCEPT
36 LEAVES
Preparation Time: 5-10 minutes
Materials Needed: A variety of leaves. They can be from many different trees or shrubs.
Procedure:
1) This activity is best done outside and can be a seasonal transition activity*
2) This activity is best done outside or on an outing.
3) “Pick one leaf for what your hike was like today.”
Notes: *I often do transitional check ins and check outs when the seasons shift. They provide concrete anchoring points. “Pick one leaf for what your fall was like and one leaf for what you'd like your winter to be like.”
37 WEATHER
Preparation Time: 5 minutes to 1 hour
Materials Needed: None or cards you make yourself
Procedure:
1) Ask the students if they were weather today what kind of weather would they be? Verbal prompts are recommended: Are you sunny, overcast or cloudy?
Alternatives:
Advanced Outdoor Option:
(an older science class or outdoor trip perhaps). Have students describe their mood on a continuum of weather along with the specific type of cloud. Here is a quick list for reference points.
(1) Cirrus
(2) Contrail
(3) Altostratus
(4) Altocumulus
(5) Nimbostratus
(6) Stratocumulus
(7) Stratus
(8) Cumulus
Notes: This is a quickie, back pocket type of check- in. You may, however, want to help students explore the subtleties and nuances of their check-in. A student may be cloudy but the clouds will be passing soon. You might point out that clouds bring rain which is necessary for flowers and other living things. Little moments like this can help you teach students the value of processing emotions of all shades.
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