Get Out Your Crayons!

by Joan Waites
In my last blog post, I outlined an art and writing activity based on the classic children’s book, Harold And The Purple Crayon.  Instead of using just one purple crayon (as per the exercise and the book), now it’s time to get out the whole pack!
It’s hard miss the relatively new adult coloring book craze when you walk into a book store. Coloring books are displayed at every turn.  From simple scenes to intricate patterns, lush florals, and whimsical animals, there is something for every age and interest.

The new “queen” of coloring books, UK illustrator Johanna Basford, has even topped the recent best-seller lists with the following titles:

Coloring provides a great way to relax and de-stress, while at the same time trains the brain to focus and work on fine motor skills. Using crayons, markers, or colored pencils, a coloring session is not only fun, but therapeutic for adults and kids alike.
To add a writing exercise that can be used with a coloring page, ask your students to create a story based on the illustration they are coloring. Below is a sample of a page I created last year for a coloring book used by patients at Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Print the page on 81/2 X 11 paper and color. 
Created by Joan Waites
Ask your students to imagine the story happening in the picture. Where is the girl going? What are the elephants doing? Who is the bird? The monkey? Where does this story take place?
Enjoy some coloring time, and enjoy these last weeks of summer!
www.joanwaites.com