Tiny but Mighty

What helps us get through scary or difficult times? In her book The Gifts of Imperfection (Hazelden Publishing, 2022), Brené Brown identifies five attributes that resilient people share: They are (1) resourceful and have good problem-solving skills; (2) more likely to seek help; (3) believe they can do something to help them manage their feelings and cope; (4) have access to social support; and (5) are connected with others, such as family or friends.

How can art teachers strengthen resilience in young learners? The following lesson was taught in a public elementary school to help young students learn basic ceramic techniques as well as resilience. Integrating children’s literature provided an example of how a nest of baby sea turtles used their resources, social supports, and problem-solving skills to survive.

Starting with a Book
The lesson began with the instructor reading the book Chase the Moon, Tiny Turtle: A Hatchling’s Daring Race to the Sea by Kelly Jordan (Page Street Kids, 2021). Next, the class discussed how the sea turtle hatchlings in the story followed the moon to overcome dangerous obstacles and reach the ocean safely. Among the predators were hungry crabs, swooping owls, and foxes.

In the end, one tiny turtle used its protective shell to ride the ocean waves to reach a calm clearing and rejoin the group. To elicit active participation, the instructor asked questions such as, What was the turtle’s journey like? How do you think the turtle was feeling? What challenges did the turtle face along the way? and What helped the turtles safely reach their home?

Assets that helped the turtles overcome obstacles included their ability to move quickly, the light of the moon helping them stay on course, strength in numbers, and using their shells to catch the waves once they reached their destination.

After reading and discussing the story, students shared things that helped them make it past their own scary or challenging times. Examples included holding their parents’ hands, comfort from their pets, and personal objects such as their favorite blanket.

Moving to Clay and Beyond
The art teacher demonstrated the basic clay techniques students would use to create their own baby sea turtle. The turtles were bisque-fired before being painted with tempera. Afterwards, students watched a short Disney Junior educational video about sea turtles (see Resource) and reflected on what surrounds the sea turtle in its environment.

After another teacher demonstration, students created their own triorama environments out of construction paper and crayons for their turtles. Student assessment was based on their understanding and application of the coil rolling and “scratch and attach” techniques, their ability to create a variety of tactile and visual textures, and their ability to articulate things that helped them get through challenging times.

Resilience through Art
Resilience, the ability to cope with adversity, is gaining attention in schools and communities. To be resilient means we are able to maintain our well-being and recover from the negative effects of stressful events.

By focusing on resilience, teachers can address artistic and academic growth while helping learners cope with life’s challenges. This lesson used an asset-based approach to help learners recognize their own resources, engage in creative problem-solving, and focus on maintaining a sense of community. The story of the resilient turtles provided authentic connections to assets that helped the turtles survive.

This art lesson allowed students to find their voice and explore the concept of resilience while it helped them navigate obstacles through material and process experimentation. This will teach them how to recognize and utilize their own resources and assets in order to contribute to a safe environment in their own lives.