I keep a stack of unembellished Angel Snake patterns on a shelf behind my desk. Any student who asks gets one. Markers sit in boxes on a table in the far corner. Students come in and borrow them regularly. In a free moment before class or after a test, students carefully decorate the patterns. A day or two later, I may find the cut out Angel Snake on my desk.
The assembly of freshly painted Angel Snakes is growing. Now and then a student will take one to his or her seat to help help with the day's work. Two girls in my first period have begun to use journal time to write Angel Snake stories. Katelyn, a former student, comes by regularly to get patterns and drop off her latest creations.
Last year I caught a group of girls with their coloring books and crayons coloring away. One of the girls said coloring relaxed her. I might add that these are all ninth and tenth graders I am talking about, both boys and girls.
I have decided that they just still like to color within the lines. It's safe, with room for self-expression. The Angel Snakes are small; you don't need to make a big commitment in time or energy to give one fresh body paint.
And when you are finished, you have a new friend.
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