Issue #22 - August 26, 2025.

Hi there, .

Looking for a simple way to build classroom connection and creativity?

This week’s strategy, Take What You Need, puts an arts-integrated twist on the classic “get-to-know-you” circle.

And before you pass this off as being only for young learners, I've seen this used in high school classrooms (modified slightly for older ages) and the end results have been incredible.

This Week's Strategy: Take What You Need

• STEP 1: Set the Circle
  Gather students in a circle. Pass around a container filled with an artistic material of your choice—paintbrushes, markers, rhythm sticks, mallets, chalk, etc. Make sure there’s more than enough for everyone.

• STEP 2: Let Them Choose
  Tell students:
  “Take as many as you think you’ll need—but make sure there’s enough for the group.”

• STEP 3: Share By Number
  However many items they take, that’s how many things they share about themselves. 
  
  For example, 3 items = 3 facts. What they share is completely up to them—favorite snack, something they did this summer, a hobby, or a dream.

• STEP 4: Create Something Personal
  Once everyone has had a turn, students then use their chosen objects to create a composition.  
  
  For example, the student who took 3 brushes must create a sculpture using each of those brushes in a different way.  If they chose 4 mallets, they need to play 4 different rhythms on a xylophone.

Why This Works:

🤝 Builds community in a non-intimidating way
🎨 Connects self-expression to artistic choice
🧠 Encourages decision-making and reflection
🎯 Adapts easily for any age or content focus

Ways to Make Connections:

You can use this strategy to:

• ELA - Students write a short piece using only the number of sentences that match their items, each sentence revealing something about them.

• Math - Use pattern blocks or shapes to share facts, then build symmetrical or repeating designs.

• Social Studies - Take items to represent personal or cultural values, then create collages or symbols of identity.

• Science - Use natural materials (leaves, stones, cotton balls) to share facts, then build a model representing themselves as part of a system.

Happy creating and connecting,

Susan