Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) & the Arts

Nothing taps into our individuality as the arts do.  They are the epitome of our capacity for feeling: the ultimate aesthetic experience.  These experiences can be in myriad forms.  Have you listened to music and gotten goosebumps?  Have you been emotionally moved by a theatrical work, dance, or a visual art form?  The arts are what make people human.  

While most of our work involves professional development to help teachers learn best practices for arts integration with core content,  we are also seeing increasing interest and success with integrating the arts with SEL.  

Collaborative Art

These four grade-level projects give students practice using the six steps of collaboration to create increasingly challenging art projects in teams.

Mindfulness

These exercises build stronger awareness and connections between the elements of visual art & emotions.

Reading Art & Empathy

These art-reading exercises emphasize awareness of physical sensations, thereby strengthening perspective-taking and empathy with the subjects in the artworks.

Drawing with Mr. J

Jonathan Juravich is an elementary Art teacher and Ohio 2018 Teacher of the Year.  He has given a TED talk and webinar on teaching emotions and empathy through art.  Drawing with Mr. J is a series of short drawing lessons, professionally produced by WOSU, that teach emotional intelligence.  The "Fruit Dance Party" drawing starts the discussion of recognizing emotions through Episode 6 "Dragon Breathing Something Other Than Fire" which examines how our first impressions of a person may not always be who they really are.  Be sure to click on the "Video Companion" for each lesson for curricular connections and extension ideas.