OSP Social & Emotional Learning Art Curriculum for Schools©
Through partnerships with community organizations, Evanston Township High School is providing students with multiple opportunities to get support and engage in mindfulness practices.
Open Studio Project provides a welcoming environment to create art for personal growth, social emotional learning (SEL), and community wellbeing. Their SEL Art Curriculum is available to ETHS students and staff throughout the school year in response to the COVID pandemic.
“Students learn to manage feelings of stress and impulse control, be more fully present, and be reflective problem solvers,” said Sarah Laing, executive director of Open Studio Project. “The pandemic has been overwhelming on many levels. This art space gives them a chance to address social justice issues, fear and anxiety, grief and sadness, among other complex feelings.”
The Open Studio Project program is available on campus during the lunch hour multiple days a week, as well as after school on Mondays and at Wildkit Academy. Teaching artists and art therapists are on hand to help students gain a sense of belonging and connection through creative expression.
“This program provides a good way to vent creative thoughts,” said freshman Connor Hill. “The school day can be stressful, especially for students who may not know a lot of others. And it’s nice to have a place to go with no pressure.”
Social & Emotional Learning Art Curriculum for Schools
Open Studio Project has developed a process-oriented approach for creative arts education aligned with Illinois SEL and visual arts standards which support student social and emotional development. OSP is one of the first art-based organizations in Illinois to develop an evidence-based curriculum incorporating a creative methodology and SEL and visual arts goals for all students, including those with communication disorders, autism, and special needs.
During 12 weeks of art project lessons facilitated by OSP’s trained instructors, students explore and develop stronger skills in creative art expression while learning the skills for self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship-building and responsible decision-making.
The Curriculum Includes:
- Two trained Open Studio Project Facilitators
- All Art Materials, Including Drop Mats & Smocks
- Staff Professional Development Opportunities
Each Lesson includes:
- A Teacher’s Guide
- SEL & Art Objectives
- SEL & Art Vocabulary
- Project Instructions
- Emotion Faces, Calming Activity
- SEL Learning Prompts
- SEL & Art Inquiry & Reflections
Why SEL?
- Relationships provide a foundation for learning.
- Emotions affect how and what we learn.
- Social and emotional skills can be taught.
- SEL has a positive impact on academic outcomes, health, relationships, student voice & citizenship.
- SEL reduces classroom management
- SEL coordinates a framework to avoid fragmentation of prevention and positive youth development programs, addresses equity from trauma (SEEL).
- SEL skills and attitudes are demanded by employers.
- There is a proven 17-20% increase in positive social behaviors post our SEL Curriculum
The Lessons
OSP’s SEL Art Curriculum lessons meet Illinois SEL and visual arts standards, and are sequenced to reflect both the artistic, creative learning process and the SEL skills instructional sequence.
| Lesson #1 | Art Animals | SEL Skill: Self-Awareness |
| Lesson #2 | The Shape of Me | SEL Skill: Self-Awareness |
| Lesson #3 | Food Fest | SEL Skill: Self-Awareness |
| Lesson #4 | Under the Ocean | SEL Skill: Self Awareness & Self-Management |
| Lesson #5 | Into the Woods | SEL Skill: Self-Awareness & Self-Management |
| Lesson #6 | Outer Space | SEL Skill: Responsible Decision Making |
| Lesson #7 | Metamorphosis | SEL Skill: Self-Management |
| Lesson #8 | Treasure Box | SEL Skill: Social Awareness & Relationship Skills |
| Lesson #9 | Thank You Banners | SEL Skill: Relationship Skills |
| Lesson #10 | Marvelous Machines | SEL Skill: Relationship Skills |
| Lesson #11 | Art Garden | SEL Skill: Responsible Decision Making |
| Lesson #12 | My Town | SEL Skill: Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, & Responsible Decision Making |
Social Emotional Learning Art Curriculum Training
Learn about our new evidence based social-emotional learning art curriculum. Train directly with the curriculum authors, practitioners, and art therapists working in Chicago-area schools.
In-person includes all art supplies and studio use. Virtuals will be given a supply list (for out-of-towners only).
This workshop will include some lecture and hands-on lesson examples.
SEL & Art Goals:
Learners:
- Gain confidence in their creative abilities
- Experience joy in creative expression
- Gain tools to understand emotions and manage stress
- Learn skills to control impulses and be fully engaged
- Gain a greater respect for others and their work
- Become a more reflective problem solver
History of OSP and SEL
Even before Illinois became one of the first states to implement Social and Emotional Learning instruction in schools (2003), OSP saw a need we knew we could fill. In the 1990s our instructors began facilitating OSP’s individualized, process-oriented creative arts projects and incorporating social and emotional skills learning for youth.
In 2016 we decided to put the lessons into a formal SEL and Art Curriculum for schools. The initial instructional pilot for our SEL and Art Curriculum program in 2017 was in local Evanston District 65 schools, K-6. Our pre-and-post SEL learning assessment surveys showed an 18% average gain in student social and emotional skills after participating in the program.
In early 2019, OSP began collaborating with Evanston Cradle to Career to bring a new PreK version of the SEL & Art Curriculum to preschools throughout South Evanston, including Reba Early Learning Center, Childcare Network of Evanston, and Learning Bridge Early Education Center. OSP also has continued to partner with District 65 schools and educators. We continue to pilot the Curriculum and student SEL learning assessment survey in K-8 schools to strengthen the evidence-base.
We are currently partnering with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to bring the SEL and Art Curriculum to 4th & 5th graders at Seward Academy, 6th Graders at Ruben-Salazar and a blended class of K-5th diverse learners at Irving School. We also have provided professional development programs for CPS educators and school counselors.
If you are interested in more information about our SEL and Art Curriculum or partnering with Open Studio Project to bring the lessons to your school, please contact sarah@openstudioproject.org
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