Yesterday we had the privilege and pleasure to share Zentangle with our grandson's second grade class. What an amazing experience! We learned so much and were happy to have been proved wrong in so many of our assumptions and preconceptions.
We used to think that 3rd or 4th grades was about as early as someone could really enjoy and appreciate Zentangle. Well, yesterday changed that idea! This class was full of exuberance, enjoyment and creative talent. We made Zentangles for almost 2 hours at the end of their day and only stopped because school was over. As we were packing our things and buses were arriving there were still students scattered around the classroom focused in creating their Zentangles.
Their relaxed focus, insightful comments and easy confidence in trying something new on their own was wonderful to see.
After creating our first Zentangle together, with their teachers joining right in, we put them all together in a mosaic. (We love this part. Which ones are the teachers'? Which ones are the students'? Each one is different, yet they all "fit" together.)
We asked if they wanted to do another, "YES!" came an enthusiastic reply, so we began another Zentangle.
Their teacher was amazed at their continued ongoing focus - for well over an hour and a half.
For this class we cut and round-cornered some 5 inch square tiles. We used a Sakura Pigma Micron 08 instead of our regular 01 because an 08's tip, while a bit larger, is more sturdy. We gave them eight tiles, a pen and a pencil in a small box with their names written on their boxes.
You can click any image for a larger view.
Thanks again to our grandson Wyatt, his classmates and his teachers for a wonderful day!