Mindful Art Emotions

Overview

This 60-minute lesson for Year 0-2 students in New Zealand focuses on exploring emotions through mindful watercolor painting. It is the final lesson (lesson 5 of 5) in the unit "Strengthening Our Wellbeing Whare." Students will reflect on their experiences in the ngahere (forest) and express their feelings through colours, linking to the Whare Tapa Whā model of wellbeing.

The lesson incorporates learning objectives and principles aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh, specifically from the Health and Physical Education learning area and integrates key competencies and values to develop students' wellbeing and emotional literacy in culturally responsive ways.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

Explore how colours can represent emotions and personal experiences (Health and Physical Education - Emotional Wellbeing: Recognise and describe a range of emotions in themselves and others) .
Use mindfulness techniques to slow down, observe feelings, and express them creatively through art (Health Curriculum Principle: Learning to Learn; Key Competency: Managing Self) .
Reflect on their experiences in the ngahere and connect these reflections to aspects of the Whare Tapa Whā wellbeing model (Taha Hinengaro - mental and emotional wellbeing) .
Demonstrate collaboration and respectful sharing of their artwork and feelings with peers (Key Competency: Relating to Others; Participating and Contributing) .
Develop vocabulary related to emotions and colours to articulate their feelings better (English curriculum, Years 0-2 vocabulary development) .

Curriculum Links

Learning Area: Health and Physical Education
Strand: Personal Health and Physical Development (Emotional Wellbeing)
Level: Level 1 (Year 0-2)
Key Competencies: Managing Self, Relating to Others, Participating and Contributing
Principles: Inclusion, Learning to Learn, Cultural Diversity (incorporating Whare Tapa Whā, a Māori wellbeing framework)
Values: Respect, Empathy, Diversity

Materials Needed

Watercolour paints and brushes (washable, non-toxic)
Water containers, paper towels
Watercolour paper sheets (one per student)
Visual aids of Whare Tapa Whā model with simple explanations/pictures
Emotion flashcards or picture prompts showing different feelings (happy, sad, calm, excited, scared, etc.)
Cushions or mats for comfortable seated mindfulness
Quiet background music (optional, calming or nature sounds)
Chart paper or whiteboard for group reflection
Wet wipes and aprons/smocks for painting
Recording sheets or vocabulary cards for emotions and colours

Lesson Structure and Timing

Time	Activity	Details
0-10 min	Welcome and Mindful Breathing	Gather students on mats or cushions. Begin with a short guided mindfulness activity focusing on deep breathing and noticing how their bodies feel. This sets a calm environment and helps with emotional awareness (whakawhanaungatanga).
10-20 min	Discussion: Emotions and Colours	Show emotion flashcards and link each to a colour (e.g., blue = calm or sad, red = excited or angry, yellow = happy). Discuss briefly how colours can show how we feel. Connect this with their experiences in the ngahere during the unit. Introduce the Whare Tapa Whā framework simply, focusing on emotional wellbeing (Taha Hinengaro).
20-45 min	Mindful Watercolour Painting	Students create their own paintings using colours that represent their feelings about the ngahere and the week’s experiences. Encourage slow, careful strokes, paying attention to how colours make them feel as they paint. Teacher and aides circulate to support emotional language use and encourage positive self-talk. Provide vocabulary cards for emotions and colours to assist expression. Play calming nature sounds in the background to enhance mindfulness.
45-55 min	Sharing and Reflection	Students share their artwork in small groups or pairs using ‘I feel... because...’ sentence stems. Teacher facilitates respectful sharing and acknowledges diverse feelings. Connect back to Whare Tapa Whā briefly by highlighting the importance of emotions and sharing for wellbeing.
55-60 min	Closure and Clean-up	Wrap up with a positive affirmation about expressing feelings and taking care of oneself. Students help tidy materials while reflecting quietly on the day’s learning.

Assessment and Feedback

Formative Assessment

Observation of participation in mindfulness and painting activities to gauge engagement and emotional awareness.
Listening for use of emotion-related vocabulary during sharing.
Informal check for understanding of the link between colours and emotions through student discussions and art choices.

Teacher Reflection and Evidence Collection

Collect samples of student paintings to document emotional expression.
Take anecdotal notes on students’ ability to articulate their feelings and relate to previous unit experiences.
Reflect on group dynamics during sharing to inform future wellbeing teaching strategies.

Teaching Considerations and Differentiation

Use clear, simple language and visual supports for all instructions.
Provide extra scaffolding and vocabulary prompts for students needing language support.
Ensure cultural responsiveness by including Māori concepts (such as Whare Tapa Whā) and supporting students to connect with their own cultural expressions of wellbeing.
Adapt mindfulness length and activities for attention spans typical of Year 0-2 students.
Offer choice of colours and freedom of expression to accommodate diverse emotional states and creativity.

Reflection Prompts for Students (Verbal or Visual)

What colours did you use and why?
How does your painting show how you felt in the ngahere?
How did the breathing/mindfulness help you today?
Can you tell me one word to describe your feelings?

This lesson enriches students' understanding of emotional wellbeing through creative expression and mindful practice, firmly grounded in New Zealand’s culturally responsive national curriculum and promoting holistic wellbeing as per Whare Tapa Whā.

Note: This plan balances explicit learning objectives from the Health and Physical Education curriculum with teaching strategies informed by the Principles and Key Competencies of The New Zealand Curriculum Refresh, integrating Te Ao Māori perspectives through Whare Tapa Whā to ensure relevance for Aotearoa schools .

Teaching Instructions