Paint to Music This is one of the simplest ways to bring a moment of calm into the classroom. Put on a short piece of instrumental music—anything from a gentle piano track to a slow jazz tune—and paint or draw freely while they listen. The idea isn’t to create something beautiful or to “match” the music. It’s about slowing down, tuning in, and letting sound guide the process. Color Your Feelings Some students find it hard to talk about how they feel, especially in the middle of a busy school day. Giving them the chance to show emotions through color and shape can be much more approachable. Ask them to fill a page with lines, marks, or blocks of color that match how they’re feeling in that moment. It doesn’t need to look like anything—it’s just a way to get feelings out of the body and onto the page. Self-portraits don’t have to be about getting faces right. In fact, they’re often more meaningful when students are invited to represent who they are using symbols, colors, or words. Instead of focusing on likeness, you can ask them to fill a silhouette with things they love, values they hold, or patterns that match their mood. Some might draw their actual face; others might create something entirely abstract—and that’s the point. Journaling Keeping an art journal or diary in the classroom gives students a private space to return to when they need a pause. These journals don’t have to follow a strict format—they can be filled with drawings, color swatches, notes, lists, scraps, or even quick mood check-ins. What matters is that they’re consistent and accessible. Ideally, each student keeps theirs in the classroom and knows they can pick it up when they need a moment to themselves. Doodling Doodling is often seen as a distraction, but for many students, it’s a natural way to decompress or even concentrate. Giving kids permission to doodle—without judgment or correction—can help them self-regulate in quiet, subtle ways. Keep a small stack of scrap paper and a few pens or markers available in a shared spot, so students know they can grab one when they need a break. Emotion Wheel The emotion wheel helps students name and reflect on how they’re feeling using color and shape instead of conversation. Start with a circle divided into slices, and let each student decide which emotions to include and how to represent them. They might label each section with a feeling, or just use color to show intensity or change. Draw in Sand A tray of fine sand or salt can be part of a calm corner or mindfulness setup. Students can use a brush, stick, or their fingers to draw simple shapes, patterns, or lines. The marks can be smoothed out and redone, which makes the activity useful for students who need a short break without pressure to produce or finish something.