Classroom management has changed dramatically over the past decade and teachers are shifting the focus to productive management rather than one grounded in punishment and reward. Using Zentangle patterns as a meditative experience to focus students' minds and get them to unleash their creative spirits.
What is Zentangle art for beginners?
What are the benefits of creating Zentangle patterns?
Creating Zentangle patterns unlocks students' creative abilities and relaxes them as they focus on the task at hand. Creating these repetitive patterns aids students in anger management and it can serve as a nonverbal way of journaling.
They might be simple patterns but zentangles can improve hand/eye coordination and increase the attention span of students as they concentrate. In an abstract way, it fosters problem-solving skills as students need to think of a way to finish a pattern even if they made a mistake.
How Different are Zentangle Patterns Over Mandalas and Doodles?
Mandalas have a spiritual connection and it is not an easy art form for beginners to learn. They are concentric diagrams and take skill and patients to master. Doodles on the other hand are not structured patterns and can take on any shape. They are associated with boredom and used as a distraction. Zantangles only need basic skills but are still a constructive way to spend time.
What Supplies Do I Need for Zentangle?
For these beautiful patterns, students only need very basic supplies. It is created on a white piece of paper with a black pen. Some students might want to use a ruler to create the border lines as it is best to not use lined paper. It might be tempting to use lined paper for their straight lines but the lines inside them will interfere with the students' freehand drawing method.
What are the Steps to Creating a Zentangle Pattern?
There are a few ways to go about starting students on Zentangles but they all start with a sheet of paper. This art form is practiced with a pen as it forces you to commit to a pattern and adapt as you draw. Students might be nervous at first and there is nothing that stops you from letting them draw with a graphite pencil. Try to graduate them to pens quickly as they will try and erase any wrong drawing they make. It is important that students make deliberate strokes and use problem-solving if they do feel like they made a mistake.
There are also basic outlines available online where students can get printed out squares or a more fun shape that they can fill with abstract patterns. Starting them on a structured drawing will give them some confidence to create more elaborate patterns of their own down the line.
How are Zentangles used in the classroom?
This meditative art form can effortlessly be incorporated into a classroom routine in several ways. It can form art lessons but considering the multitude of benefits it has as a standalone activity you can add it to the daily routine.
Students can keep their papers close and continue with their patterns at the end of a task to clear their minds. There can also be designated drawing time during the day where students can work on their focus.
Zentangles should not feel like a task that students are forced to complete but rather a creative outlet during their downtime. At first, you will need to give them some guidance but they will soon fall in love with the practice and enjoy its benefits.
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