Tangle your page, untangle your mind.

Author:Simon Peters

Licence: Free for commercial use

from http://all-free-download.com/

It's not December yet, but it's ok to admit, here, just between us, if you're already feeling a wee bit Grinch-y round the edges.

What do you do need a little brain-break but need something to do with your hands?
Try tangle patterns. (Maybe you know them as Zentangles®. It's a registered trademark, use it respectfully!) Almost as addictive as coffee or chocolate, but way better for you. And NO, you don't need to be an artist and you don't even need to be able to draw a straight line. TANGLE patterns, for a reason. So that's the lame excuses binned!

Start small, doodle some lines and swirls and see where they take you. There are no mistakes, just variations in pattern. If you really need some ideas, knock yourself out with Google Images, Pinterest and YouTube. Type in "Christmas Zentangles" and lose yourself for a while. But don't just look, pick up a pen (OK, a pencil, if you've lost too many points on your Pen License) and have a go. Search "Zentangle for Beginners" and start to fill a small shape. (Sticky notes are great. I love sticky notes! Carry them everywhere. With a nice smooth pen, they are the ultimate multi-tasking organisational and de-stressing accessory!)

My most recent tangle, 

see it doesn't need to be perfect. 

And my sticky note stash (well, some of it!)

Kids love tangle patterns too. You can almost see the creative neurones sparking as they become engaged with them. Our students (and families) also need some de-stressing, mind-quietening opportunities at this time of year, just as much as we do. So start your Christmas art activities with this Elements of (Christmas) Art: Line lesson and you'll set your class up for a peaceful, creative December. Not an year-end time filler, a Visual Arts which lesson reviews and explores the artistic element of Line before engaging the students in the tangle pattern activity. A suggested learning intention, success criteria and assessment rubric is included in the lesson pack, as well as suggestions for adaptation and extension.  The possibilities are endless. Have fun with it!

EDITED TO ADD: Buy this weekend, (November 24-26) for a 10% discount from TES and the opportunity to enter win 27 top teaching gadgets! Santa might come early! Yes, there ARE sticky notes! (and some nice higher tech jobbies too, so do yourself a favour!)