“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” —Thomas Merton
At Elevated Earth, our programs bring children, teens, and families together in spaces where creativity is both the method and the goal. These activities aren’t about making “perfect” art. They’re about process: the cutting, weaving, layering, building, and sharing that gives kids new ways to regulate stress, voice emotions, and connect with peers and adults.
What follows are five complete lesson plans, each written in a step-by-step, facilitator-friendly format. These can be run as single sessions or integrated into a semester-long program. Each plan includes setup notes, trauma-informed considerations, detailed steps with facilitator language, reflection questions, cross-curricular links, and an “Example Case” to show the activity in action.
If you’d like to see how these lessons connect into a full multi-age program, explore our extended framework here or email us directly at elevatedearth.org@gmail.com.
1) Leaf and Fabric Collage: Layers of My Inner Landscape
Snapshot
Ages: 4–14
Group size: 1–20
Time: 40–60 minutes
Setting: Classroom, counseling office, library, or outdoor tables
Learning and Wellness Goals
- Translate emotions into color, shape, and texture
- Strengthen decision-making and creative agency
- Build emotional language by sharing stories of collage choices
Materials
- Fabric scraps, patterned paper, tissue paper, magazines
- Pressed leaves or natural objects
- Glue sticks or Mod Podge, brushes, scissors
- Cardstock or wood panels as backing
- Markers or oil pastels
Setup and Accessibility
- Arrange materials by type and color in baskets or trays
- Provide pre-cut shapes for younger participants
- Use glue sticks for children sensitive to messy textures
- Create quiet zones where children can step out if overwhelmed
Trauma-Informed Notes
- Normalize not wanting to share everything. “You can share only a title if that feels right.”
- Offer a choice between guided collage and free exploration.
- Model calm pacing and deep breaths if energy escalates.
Step by Step with Facilitator Language
- Arrival and Regulation (3 minutes)
Invite children to take two deep breaths. Say: “Today we’ll make a collage of how our inside world feels. Colors and textures can show feelings in ways words sometimes can’t.” - Prompt (2 minutes)
“Imagine your feelings as colors or fabrics. If today felt like a color or pattern, which would it be?” - Select Materials (5–7 minutes)
Encourage children to move slowly and test textures. “See what happens when you place two pieces side by side. Does one feel more like you?” - Create Background (10 minutes)
“Choose one big piece for your base. This is the ground of your inner world.” - Add Layers (15 minutes)
Guide them to build on the base. “Add two or three shapes that show what matters most today.” - Add Details or Words (5–10 minutes)
“You can draw or write one word, symbol, or line that feels like a voice for your collage.” - Share (10 minutes)
Children may title their collage or share one part. “You may say just the name or point to one area that matters to you.”
Reflection Questions
- Which texture or color surprised you?
- Did something change as you layered pieces?
- If your collage could talk, what would it say?
Cross-Curricular Links
- Literacy: Write a short poem or paragraph about the collage.
- Science: Identify and label the leaves or textiles by origin.
- SEL: Use collages to design “calm corners” for classrooms.
Example Case: Sophia, Age 8
Sophia chooses deep blue fabric and presses leaves around it. “This is my quiet,” she says. She adds a thin gold ribbon. “This is hope.” During sharing, she names her collage After the Storm. She doesn’t explain further, but her smile suggests relief.
2) Shadow Storytelling: Light, Shape, and the Stories We Tell
Snapshot
Ages: 5–14
Group size: 1–15
Time: 45–70 minutes
Setting: Any room with lamp, flashlight, or natural light
Learning and Wellness Goals
- Build narrative skills and symbolic thinking
- Practice reframing experiences into empowering stories
- Strengthen confidence in public speaking and sharing
Materials
- Lamp or flashlight, or sunlight through windows
- Paper taped to wall or on clipboards
- Pencils, markers, crayons
- Objects for shadow-making: toys, blocks, plants
Setup and Accessibility
- Create two or three “shadow stations” with paper already taped to the wall
- Provide trays of objects for tracing
- Offer dictation for children who prefer oral storytelling
Trauma-Informed Notes
- Allow metaphorical stories without pushing for real-life explanation
- Encourage alternate endings to model agency
Step by Step with Facilitator Language
- Warm-Up (5 minutes)
Shine the light on an object to show how shadows stretch. Ask: “What do you see in this shadow? Could it be a character?” - Trace Shadows (10 minutes)
“Place your object so the shadow touches your paper. Trace quickly—it doesn’t have to be exact. Shadows wobble, and that’s part of the fun.” - Transform Shapes (15 minutes)
“Turn your outline into something new. Add details to make it a character or setting.” - Build a Story (15–20 minutes)
Scaffold story-building: “Somebody—Wanted—But—So—Then.” Write or dictate. - Share (10 minutes)
Invite children to read or tell their story. Sharing can be optional.
Reflection Questions
- How did your story change from the shadow to the finished version?
- What did your character learn by the end?
- What ending felt best to you?
Cross-Curricular Links
- Language Arts: Turn stories into books or comics
- Science: Experiment with angles and light sources
- SEL: Reflect on helpers and obstacles in the story
Example Case: Malik, Age 10
Malik traces a spiky leaf and decides it’s a dragon. He draws a storm around it and writes: The dragon was afraid of the storm until he asked the trees to help. At the end, Malik reads: “Storms don’t last forever.” Several classmates nod in agreement, and one whispers, “That’s true.”
3) Yarn Weaving Circles: What Supports Me, I Weave
Snapshot
Ages: 5–14
Group size: 1–20
Time: 45–75 minutes
Setting: Tables or mats with calm background music
Learning and Wellness Goals
- Build focus and calm through repetitive, rhythmic action
- Explore metaphor: weaving as community, support, and strength
- Develop fine-motor coordination and patience
Materials
- Cardboard circles or embroidery hoops
- Yarn, ribbon, or fabric strips in different textures and colors
- Beads, buttons, shells for accents
- Scissors, tape, optional plastic needles
Setup and Accessibility
- Pre-cut cardboard circles and tape yarn for younger children
- Provide thicker yarn and larger needles for easier weaving
- Offer alternative standing stations for children with high energy
Trauma-Informed Notes
- Normalize stopping for breaks when frustration rises
- Emphasize meaning in colors and materials chosen
Step by Step with Facilitator Language
- Grounding (3 minutes)
“Feel your feet on the floor. Breathe in slowly, out slowly. Let weaving match your breathing.” - Warp the Circle (5–10 minutes)
Show how to tape yarn on the back and wrap across to form spokes. “This is like the sun’s rays—your circle’s foundation.” - Begin Weaving (15–20 minutes)
Demonstrate under-over pattern. “If you miss one, weaving forgives. Keep going.” - Add Color and Beads (10 minutes)
“Choose colors that stand for people or strengths that support you. Add beads for moments of joy or gratitude.” - Title and Display (10 minutes)
Invite naming the circle. “What would you call your weaving?” Display together on a wall as a community web.
Reflection Questions
- Which color or bead meant the most to you?
- How did your body feel while weaving?
- What support in your life feels like yarn holding the circle together?
Cross-Curricular Links
- Math: Symmetry and patterns
- Cultural Studies: Explore weaving traditions globally
- SEL: Map support systems visually
Example Case: Hannah, Age 12
Hannah weaves greens and browns, saying they remind her of her grandparents. She adds a bright pink yarn loop: “This is soccer.” When sharing, she says quietly, “I didn’t realize I had so many supports.”
4) Found Object Sculptures: Reimagining What We’re Given
Snapshot
Ages: 6–14
Group size: 1–25
Time: 60–90 minutes
Setting: Indoor or outdoor space with trays or tarps
Learning and Wellness Goals
- Encourage problem-solving and creative flexibility
- Explore resilience by turning scraps into meaning
- Connect creativity with sustainability and ecology
Materials
- Clean recyclables (boxes, bottles, cardboard)
- Natural objects (sticks, rocks, shells)
- Tape, glue, string
- Labels or tags for titles
Setup and Accessibility
- Place materials in categories (plastic, cardboard, natural)
- Offer pre-started bases for children who struggle to begin
- Provide simple idea cards (bridge, tower, creature)
Trauma-Informed Notes
- Some may grow attached to items—honor their choices
- Emphasize experimenting rather than “right” answers
Step by Step with Facilitator Language
- Collect Materials (10 minutes)
“Pick three objects that catch your eye. Don’t worry why—just trust the spark.” - Imagine Possibilities (5 minutes)
“What could these become? Try turning them upside down or sideways.” - Build and Connect (20–30 minutes)
“Test different ways of attaching. If it falls, pause and think: what else could work?” - Title the Sculpture (5 minutes)
Invite naming the piece. “Titles can be funny, mysterious, or meaningful.” - Gallery Walk (10–15 minutes)
Display all works. “Notice one detail in each piece that inspires you.”
Reflection Questions
- Where did you change your plan?
- What does your sculpture represent about strength or change?
- How did it feel to build something new from discarded things?
Cross-Curricular Links
- STEM: Explore stability, balance, engineering
- Ecology: Discuss recycling, upcycling, habitats
- Language Arts: Write museum placards
Example Case: Daniel, Age 9
Daniel builds a leaning tower from cardboard tubes. When it falls, he ties string around the base and says, “Try again.” He names it The Trying Place. During the gallery walk, a peer says, “I like that it isn’t perfect but it still stands.” Daniel beams.
5) Gratitude Cards: Art as Appreciation and Connection
Snapshot
Ages: 4–14
Group size: 1–25
Time: 30–45 minutes
Setting: Tables with calming background music
Learning and Wellness Goals
- Cultivate gratitude and empathy
- Strengthen relationships through giving
- Build resilience through positive focus
Materials
- Cardstock or construction paper
- Markers, crayons, stickers, fabric scraps, pressed leaves
- Envelopes or a Gratitude Box
Setup and Accessibility
- Provide sentence starters and word banks
- Allow drawing-based gratitude for non-writers
- Offer private options for delivery
Trauma-Informed Notes
- Allow cards to be kept private or shared later
- Normalize gratitude for places, experiences, or self—not just people
Step by Step with Facilitator Language
- Reflection (3 minutes)
“Close your eyes. Think of a person, place, or moment that helped you recently.” - Design Card (10 minutes)
“Use shapes, colors, or patterns to show your thanks.” - Write or Dictate Message (10 minutes)
Provide sentence stems: “I’m thankful for…,” “You helped me when…” - Share or Deliver (5–10 minutes)
“You may put your card in the Gratitude Box, hand it to someone, or keep it safe for yourself.”
Reflection Questions
- How did your body feel while making this card?
- What do you hope the receiver feels when they get it?
- How does focusing on gratitude change your mood?
Cross-Curricular Links
- Literacy: Gratitude journals or books
- Community Service: Mail cards to elders, helpers, or community workers
- SEL: Weekly gratitude routines
Example Case: Olivia, Age 7
Olivia draws a tree with pressed leaves around it. She writes, “Thank you for shade and secrets.” She decides the card is for the big oak near her house. When closing, she whispers, “I didn’t know you could thank a place.”
Conclusion: Creativity Makes Space for the Whole Child
These five creative art activities offer far more than crafts. They are pathways into emotional wellness—grounded in counselor education principles, adaptable to classrooms, and deeply resonant in families and communities.
If you’d like to see how these lessons integrate into a complete multi-age curriculum with weekly guides, structured arcs, and facilitator notes, visit our program overview here or email us at elevatedearth.org@gmail.com.
With every collage layered, shadow story told, circle woven, sculpture built, or card given, children discover new ways to be brave, to connect, and to belong.