Another Great Youth Class

I had my second youth class last week, with close to ten children ages 8-11.  I've settled on my lesson plan for Youth 101, starting with a breath meditation, then doing a Z-string with four beginning tangles (usually crescent moon, hollibaugh, then pokeroot or leaf and flukes or florz), and finally a monotangle (bales, fassett, etc.)  We do class mosaics for each tile and I pass out a recommended resources list at the end.

I always practice the tile a few times before the class; it refreshes my mind and my practice, takes me back to the beginning, to the Zen beginner's mind.  And this time, I also made a canvas Z-string with basic tangles, for display.


Can't wait for the next one!

Youth Zentangle 101

Last week, I taught my first public Youth Zentangle Class 101--and we had a great time!


Each child got a kit with a bag, pigma pen, pencil, tortillon, sharpener, five tiles,  Zentangle steps bookmark, and my Yankee Tangler postcard.  I had a few things on display, including a small presentation board with some of the tangles we'd be doing.  I also had a few of my Art Drop Rocks--next time, we should tangle one of those with metallic sharpies!

I followed my school curriculum, basically, with a discussion of feelings and emotions, a breath meditation, and then two tiles.  The first one was the basic Z-string, with crescent moon, hollibaugh, cubine, and pokeroot, which my son demonstrated.  Look how well everyone did!

We did a monotangle, or single pattern, next--fassett, which they chose.  I think it was everyone's favorite tangle.

I've gotten a few emails from parents that the kids really enjoyed the class--one even tangled his own bookmarks at home!  I'll be doing another youth class on Thursday, August 25, 3:30-5:00 p.m. and now plan on scheduling a Family Zentangle class in the fall.