Arts and crafts help young people express their creativity and imagination while providing an entertaining way for them to develop life skills. By providing a safe space in which they can explore their feelings and concerns, art also supports students with developmental, emotional, and behavioural challenges.
These are the ideas behind a pilot project that sees Art Carts introduced to First Nations classrooms. The Art Carts contain numerous craft supplies and can be deployed in the classroom to support teachers in connecting with students, maintaining order, and providing an outlet for students with learning or behavioural challenges.
Angeline Peterson, a Student Support facilitator at the Resource Centre, developed the idea of the Art Carts and collected the materials to put them together.
“The concept for Art Carts arose when I began working in First Nations schools and saw a pressing need for life-promoting interventions for students, but space and resources were limited,” Peterson says. “I believe that creating art is an act of self-realization that helps students better understand their feelings on what they see around them, their reaction to their life experiences, what they like or don’t like, and, ultimately, themselves.”
When used in an educational setting, each session with an Art Cart begins with a chime to alert students, who are then informed about the upcoming lesson. Sessions encompass activities such as painting, sketching, clay modelling, origami, and literary arts like writing poetry, short stories, and journaling. Each session lasts a minimum of 45 minutes.
Peterson says that students have responded enthusiastically to the Art Cart programming.
“They really show a lot of excitement and curiosity. They are eager at the start of each session. Teachers appreciate having access to art resources without sacrificing classroom space. During a visit to a school using the Art Cart, I walked through corridors adorned with vibrant paintings. In one classroom, after the session ended, a student washing their paint brushes remarked, ‘I feel so much calmer now.’ So, the Art Carts can be an amazing tool for learning, but also behavioural adjustments.”
The Art Cart focuses on four therapeutic modalities drawn from expressive arts therapies: expression, imagination, active participation, and mind-body connection.
One of the greatest strengths of Art Cart programming is its adaptability to meet the unique needs of each school and student. Designed to be accessible, it encourages active participation among students with diverse abilities. Every school faces unique challenges regarding student mental health, and its Art Cart can be tailored accordingly.
Peterson explains that humans have engaged in expressive arts since the Paleolithic period, using art not only for communication but also for healing and self-expression. She adds that while studies have confirmed art’s benefit for mental health, First Nations cultures have intuitively understood this for generations.
“As a Student Support facilitator, witnessing students engage in healthy self-expression, adaptive coping skills, and confidence-building is incredibly rewarding. Students are the heart of my work, and their happiness brings me immense joy.”
