Artist Zen Lesson Plan Artist Zen Lesson Plan
Breathe & Create • 4th Grade
30 Minutes
OBJECTIVE
Students will learn and practice a simple breathing technique to calm themselves, then apply this calm state to create art that reflects their feelings, fostering emotional regulation and creative expression.
WHY IT MATTERS
Learning to manage emotions through breathing is a vital life skill. This lesson provides a tangible way for students to practice mindfulness and express complex feelings through art, building resilience.
PREPARATION
• Review Slide Deck, Script, and Activity Guides.
• Gather paper, crayons, markers, or colored pencils for each student.
• Set up classroom for both instruction and art creation.
• Time: 15 minutes prep time.
MATERIALS
Breathe & Create Slides
Creative Calm Script
Belly Ball Warm-Up Guide
Inner Landscape Canvas (Worksheet)
Calm Creator Reflection
INSTRUCTIONAL FLOW
5m
Introduction & Warm-Up
Use Belly Ball Warm-Up to introduce conscious breathing. Reference Slides 1-2 .
5m
Understanding Coping Skills
Discuss managing big feelings. Introduce breathing as a "toolkit" item. Reference Slides 3-4 .
10m
Box Breathing & Transition
Guided practice of Box Breathing (Slide 5). Hand out art supplies and explain the Inner Landscape Activity .
7m
Art Creation
Students create art inspired by their calm state. Circulate and provide gentle breathing reminders. Reference Slide 6 .
3m
Cool-Down & Reflection
Share art and complete Calm Creator Reflection . Reinforce breathing as a portable tool. Reference Slide 7 .
"Encourage students to use colors and abstract shapes rather than trying to draw a 'perfect' picture. The focus is on the feeling, not the final product."
Breathe & Create Slides Breathe & Create!
Finding calm through art and breath.
Slide 1
Your Breathing Superpower
Did you know you have a superpower inside you?
It's your breath! We breathe all the time, but when we focus on it, it helps us in many ways.
Mind-Body Link
Think back to our warm-up!
What are Coping Skills?
Coping skills are tools we use to deal with big feelings like:
Anger
Sadness
Worry
They help us feel calm and in control!
Breathing: Your Go-To Skill
Your breath is always with you.
It's free, quiet, and works anywhere .
Taking deep breaths can:
Help you feel calmer
Help you think clearly
Get you ready to create!
Let's Practice: Box Breathing
INHALE (4)
HOLD (4)
EXHALE (4)
HOLD (4)
"Imagine drawing a square box in the air with your breath..."
Repeat 3-4 Times
Breathe into Your Art!
Now that you're feeling calm and focused, let's create!
Use colors, shapes, and lines to show:
How CALM feels
How an EMOTION looks
Your SUPERPOWER breath
There is no right or wrong way – just express yourself!
Reflect & Share
How did deep breaths help your art?
When else can you use this superpower?
Share your amazing creations!
Creative Calm Script Creative Calm: Facilitation Script
Breathe & Create • 30 Minute Session
SLIDES 1-2
Introduction & Warm-Up (5m)
[Slide 1] "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going on an exciting journey where we'll discover a superpower we all have, and then we'll use it to create some amazing art!"
[Slide 2] "Think about our Belly Ball Warm-Up we just did. How did it feel to really pay attention to your breath? Did anyone notice anything different about how their body felt?"
Wait for a few student responses. Affirm observations about heart rate, relaxation, or tingling feelings.
"That's right! Your breath is always with you, and it's a bit like a superpower. We breathe all the time without even thinking about it, but when we choose to pay attention to our breath, it can help us in some really cool ways."
SLIDE 3
Understanding Coping Skills (5m)
"Sometimes, we have big feelings, right? Like when we're super excited, really mad, a little sad, or very worried. These feelings are normal, but sometimes they can feel a bit overwhelming."
"That's where coping skills come in! Can anyone guess what a coping skill might be, just from the name?"
Allow responses. Guide them: "Cope" means to deal with or manage something difficult.
"Exactly! Coping skills are things we do to help us deal with those big feelings. They help us manage our emotions so we can feel calmer and more in control. It's like having a toolkit for your feelings! What are some things you already do when you have big feelings?"
SLIDES 4-5
Breathing Practice (10m)
[Slide 4] "Today, we're adding a new, portable tool to our toolkit: breathing! It's always with you. Taking deep breaths helps you think clearly and gets you ready to create."
[Slide 5] "Let's try Box Breathing . Imagine drawing a box. You can close your eyes or focus on the screen."
"Ready? Inhale through your nose... 1... 2... 3... 4... (Top line)
Repeat 3-4 times in a calm, rhythmic voice.
SLIDE 6
Art Creation (7m)
"Now that you're feeling calm and focused, it's time to put that peaceful energy into art! I'm handing out your Inner Landscape Canvas ."
"Your task: Create a piece that shows how calm feels, or maybe how a big emotion looks. Use colors, shapes, and lines. There is no right or wrong way. If you feel stuck, take a 'superpower breath' and let the calm guide your hands."
Belly Ball Guide Belly Ball Warm-Up
Activity Guide for Teachers
OBJECTIVE
Students will gently introduce themselves to mindful breathing by noticing their breath and how it affects their bodies.
DURATION
Approximately 5 minutes at the start of the lesson.
1
Find Your Space
Ask students to sit comfortably in their chairs. Encourage them to place both feet flat on the floor if possible, and sit up tall but relaxed.
2
"Hand on Belly"
"Gently place one hand on your belly, right around your belly button."
3
Imagine a Ball
"Imagine there’s a small, soft ball resting inside your belly, right under your hand. When you breathe in, fill your belly with air, making that ball gently push your hand out. When you breathe out, the ball gets smaller, and your hand moves back in."
4
Gentle Breaths
"Take a slow, gentle breath in through your nose, feeling your belly and hand rise... Now, slowly let the air out through your mouth, feeling your belly and hand fall."
5
Notice and Repeat
"Notice how your hand moves. Is it moving up and down? Does it feel warm? Cold? Just observe it. We'll do this for 1 minute."
Stay quiet during this minute to let them focus.
"Don't try to change your breath, just watch it like a friend."
Inner Landscape Canvas My Inner Landscape
Artistic Expression Activity
Name:
Date:
The Canvas of Your Feelings
Colors
Pick colors that match your feeling. Calm might be soft blue; excitement might be bright yellow.
Lines & Shapes
Does your feeling have sharp lines or soft wavy ones? Is it a big circle or a tiny dot?
Breathe
If you feel stuck or frustrated, take a slow Box Breath . Let the calm flow into your hand!
Calm Creator Reflection Reflection Cool-Down
Superpower Moment Reflection
1
"Look at your artwork. What feeling or experience did you try to show today?"
2
"How did taking deep breaths help you with your art or your feelings today?"
3
"When is a good time to use your breathing superpower outside of art class?"
Before a test or big project
If I'm feeling mad or frustrated
When I'm about to try something new
When I need help falling asleep
"Your breath is always with you."
Keep using your superpower!
