Theme of the session: Trying something new in the drawing session.
Therapeutic Goals for today: Creative thinking, Abstract reasoning
Space and Material Preparation:
Collect clear pages from newspapers without any pictures or bold letters. Use black markers, black sketch pens, or black watercolor/ink for the activity. Ensure the newspapers are stuck on cardboard before painting.
For example:
Warm up and Topic Introduction:
First, introduce the art activity to the group. Then, ask the group to close their eyes and visualize what they want to draw on the newspaper board, using black color to create something visually striking. Be ready with one art sample.
Creation:
If the group is completely new to such activities, the facilitator should prepare one newspaper beforehand to demonstrate how beautiful it can look after painting.
The facilitator can choose a specific theme such as nature, communication, or urban areas, and explain it thoroughly. Participants should be given freedom to draw within the chosen theme.
It’s generally advised to avoid detailed nature themes where children might feel constrained by a specific type of picture. Instead, the facilitator can suggest focusing on particular elements of nature like birds, creepers, or trees.
Background music can be played softly to help participants widen their imagination.
For example, during a session at Dongri Observation Home, where the boys were new to this activity and found it challenging to imagine what to draw, a sample art piece was created beforehand to help them understand. However, in a session with girls, despite them and the staff being new to the task, the girls enthusiastically embraced the activity and created beautiful designs, eager to learn something new.
Closure:
After completing their newspaper artworks, gather all of them together in the center of the classroom or in a circle.
Ensure the room is cleaned up.
Appreciate each other for trying something new and close the session on a positive note.