|
Storytelling & Activities: Bringing It All Together"Have you ever noticed how eager young children are to learn about everything? And how they are constantly moving while doing so? Whether they are painting at an easel, stirring cake batter, or building blocks, their whole body is involved. And learning occurs during this movement." |
Many of the titles listed in Yoga for Children & Teens have a wonderful selection of crafts, art projects, stories and activities that tie in perfectly with the authors' curriculum. If you are planning a class from scratch here are a few ideas to help tie it all together and keep your students engaged from start to finish!
|
The concept of using a Buddha Board during children's yoga classes was first introduced to me by Leah Kalish during my Yoga Playground's Teacher Training. These portable little boards are great tools for teaching growing minds and hands about impermanence, mark-making, liquid, and fine motor skills. The special paper on the board absorbs water and when it slowly evaporates so does your picture - poof! Magic! You can also use a hair-dryer to speed up the process, but that takes away from the lesson in patience! This board has provided hours of fun in my classes and at home and I highly advise investing in a couple of them for your library. The water makes for an easy clean up and the kids love them. For those who are more digitally inclined, Boogie Boards make for a less messy (but also less tactile and battery-operated) experience. |
|
Hanh, Thich Nhat. Planting Seeds: Practicing Mindfulness with Children. Berkeley, CA: Parallax Press, 2011. ISBN 978-1-935209-80-5; Paperback with Audio CD; US $32.95.
This delightful and important book offers a wonderful selection of practices to promote mindfulness in your library programs, including breathing exercises, pebble meditations, cooperative games, mindful eating, connecting with nature, engaging the senses, and learning how to embrace all our emotions. Specifically designed to use with children, a number of these practices are also applicable for adults and teens. There are answers to difficult questions, such as why we die and what to do with feelings like shame and hate. The best part of this book (and it is all lovely) are Thay's (his preferred name) stories which can be easily woven into our own teachings. For example, Thay was serving a group of children organic apple juice. One little girl didn't want to drink it because of all the pulp. She went out to play and came back an hour later asking for water. He pointed to the class of juice and said, "Why don't you drink that? It's very delicious." She saw that after sitting for an hour all the pulp had sunk to the bottom and the juice was now clear. Nhat used this as a teaching moment to explain how sitting meditation, by putting yourself in a stable physical position, breathing in and out, helps you, after a time, to become peaceful and unclouded. Audio CD of guided meditations also included.
This delightful and important book offers a wonderful selection of practices to promote mindfulness in your library programs, including breathing exercises, pebble meditations, cooperative games, mindful eating, connecting with nature, engaging the senses, and learning how to embrace all our emotions. Specifically designed to use with children, a number of these practices are also applicable for adults and teens. There are answers to difficult questions, such as why we die and what to do with feelings like shame and hate. The best part of this book (and it is all lovely) are Thay's (his preferred name) stories which can be easily woven into our own teachings. For example, Thay was serving a group of children organic apple juice. One little girl didn't want to drink it because of all the pulp. She went out to play and came back an hour later asking for water. He pointed to the class of juice and said, "Why don't you drink that? It's very delicious." She saw that after sitting for an hour all the pulp had sunk to the bottom and the juice was now clear. Nhat used this as a teaching moment to explain how sitting meditation, by putting yourself in a stable physical position, breathing in and out, helps you, after a time, to become peaceful and unclouded. Audio CD of guided meditations also included.
Khalsa, Hari Kirin Kaur. Art & Yoga: Kundalini Awakening in Everyday Life. Santa Cruz, NM: Kundalini Research Institute, 2011. ISBN 978-1-934532-67-6; Paperback; US $29.95.
In the foreword to Art & Yoga, Thomas Moore (author, therapist, former monk and Khalsa's husband) makes the point that in our age obsessed with science, technology, and economics we don't really know what to do with our emotive, intuitive artists and creators, we either ignore them or place them on a pedestal ("Forward," iii). We also don't know the value of objects of art, we judge them on the basis of their financial worth not their intrinsic importance as expressions of the human soul. By upholding commercially successful artists we dishonor the potential of everyone to be vibrant and imaginative. In this book, Hari Kirin Kuar Khalsa (formerly known as artist Joan Hanley before taking Sikh vows in 2007) encourages us to move away from yoga as "gymnastics", competitive and individualistic, and instead to encourage community and awareness. We, as librarians and volunteers, are in the perfect position to make this happen in our open, everyone-invited, non-profit spaces. She argues that art is a place where we can become spiritually bilingual, where we can speak "the languages of both rational analysis and creative intuition" ("Introduction," vii). The book presents a number of ingenious practices for combining yoga poses and meditation with creative exploration with special sections for group practices, collaboration, working with children and teens and incorporating nature. There is also an Appendix with timelines and designs for classes, workshops and group practices for up to twelve meetings, which will offer perfect program planning for the librarian, staff member or volunteer who isn't sure where to start. Don't fret, the whole message of Khalsa's wonderful book is acceptance of uncertainty: "Your efforts will not be perfect, and they don't have to be. Human life is a complicated mixture of things" (116).
In the foreword to Art & Yoga, Thomas Moore (author, therapist, former monk and Khalsa's husband) makes the point that in our age obsessed with science, technology, and economics we don't really know what to do with our emotive, intuitive artists and creators, we either ignore them or place them on a pedestal ("Forward," iii). We also don't know the value of objects of art, we judge them on the basis of their financial worth not their intrinsic importance as expressions of the human soul. By upholding commercially successful artists we dishonor the potential of everyone to be vibrant and imaginative. In this book, Hari Kirin Kuar Khalsa (formerly known as artist Joan Hanley before taking Sikh vows in 2007) encourages us to move away from yoga as "gymnastics", competitive and individualistic, and instead to encourage community and awareness. We, as librarians and volunteers, are in the perfect position to make this happen in our open, everyone-invited, non-profit spaces. She argues that art is a place where we can become spiritually bilingual, where we can speak "the languages of both rational analysis and creative intuition" ("Introduction," vii). The book presents a number of ingenious practices for combining yoga poses and meditation with creative exploration with special sections for group practices, collaboration, working with children and teens and incorporating nature. There is also an Appendix with timelines and designs for classes, workshops and group practices for up to twelve meetings, which will offer perfect program planning for the librarian, staff member or volunteer who isn't sure where to start. Don't fret, the whole message of Khalsa's wonderful book is acceptance of uncertainty: "Your efforts will not be perfect, and they don't have to be. Human life is a complicated mixture of things" (116).
Greene, Ellin, and Negro J. Del. Storytelling: Art and Technique. Santa Barbara, Calif: Libraries Unlimited, 2010. ISBN 978-1-59158-600-5; Hardcover; CAN $68.50.
Every professional library collection worth its book jackets should have a copy of this classic, now in its fourth edition. I don't need to tell you how awesome it is, because you probably already know. I'm here to remind you to dust it off, re-read those storytelling techniques in Part I, and start figuring out a way to use all great stories in Part III and Storytelling to Young Children in your yoga programs. You've already got a captive audience of mini-yogis. Now use the stories as a way to thread the poses together, or else get the children to act out the stories using the poses. This book has so many great ideas on how to incorporate storytelling into your classes, crack it open and let it fire up your imagination all over again!
Every professional library collection worth its book jackets should have a copy of this classic, now in its fourth edition. I don't need to tell you how awesome it is, because you probably already know. I'm here to remind you to dust it off, re-read those storytelling techniques in Part I, and start figuring out a way to use all great stories in Part III and Storytelling to Young Children in your yoga programs. You've already got a captive audience of mini-yogis. Now use the stories as a way to thread the poses together, or else get the children to act out the stories using the poses. This book has so many great ideas on how to incorporate storytelling into your classes, crack it open and let it fire up your imagination all over again!
Neuburger, Emily K. Show Me a Story: 40 Craft Projects and Activities to Spark Children's Storytelling. Pownal, Vt: Storey, 2012. ISBN 978-1-60342-988-7; Paperback; US $16.95.
Looking to take your children's yoga programs to the next level? This book is bursting with great ideas for art activities that lead or link to storytelling. In every children's yoga class I teach (from preschool to middle school), I try to tell at least one story (or read from a book) and tie it into a craft at the end. It usually centers on the class' theme for the day (such as "telling the truth" or "being yourself" or "rainforest animals"). Older children could work together to build a Story Mat (66-67) at the end of class to illustrate the tale, younger children could make their own Storytelling Jars (68-71). This book is an excellent resource in your professional collection and will be sure to be a hit among teachers and parents looking for educational and entertaining ways to gets kids using their fertile imaginations and boost their literacy skills.
Looking to take your children's yoga programs to the next level? This book is bursting with great ideas for art activities that lead or link to storytelling. In every children's yoga class I teach (from preschool to middle school), I try to tell at least one story (or read from a book) and tie it into a craft at the end. It usually centers on the class' theme for the day (such as "telling the truth" or "being yourself" or "rainforest animals"). Older children could work together to build a Story Mat (66-67) at the end of class to illustrate the tale, younger children could make their own Storytelling Jars (68-71). This book is an excellent resource in your professional collection and will be sure to be a hit among teachers and parents looking for educational and entertaining ways to gets kids using their fertile imaginations and boost their literacy skills.
Mandala coloring books are a great way to get students of all ages focused and calm. By activating both sides of our brains (logic and creativity) we return to a balanced vibrational frequency. I will photocopy a stack of pages making sure I have a selection of three or four to choose from (too many and people, especially kids, can become indecisive). I will usually use them as a closing activity, tied in with our meditation for adults and older teens, or our story time for children. I put out crayons for kids, or markers and pencil crayons for adults, and let them stay as long as they wish finishing their page (unless the room is booked and then you can gently encourage them to finish at home). If it is a regularly occurring program, and you have the wall space, I highly recommend making a display of the arts and crafts created by the group. Not only does this foster confidence among your students but will draw the interest of other patrons and potential yoga practitioners. You could call the mini-gallery "The Calm Corner" or "The Art of Yoga." Visitors to your library will not only enjoy the colorful displays but become aware of the multifaceted programs that are happening in their community.
Many mandala coloring books can be found at bookstores or there are copyright-free images available to print by searching under "mandala coloring pages" online.
Many mandala coloring books can be found at bookstores or there are copyright-free images available to print by searching under "mandala coloring pages" online.
Copyright 2015 Jenn Carson
