Creative Expression: A Powerful Tool for Self-Discovery and Change

Creative expression is a powerful tool for students to communicate their experiences, insights, and dreams. In Youth Equity Stewardship, students use art, music, poetry, and other forms of expression to share their stories and advocate for change. This approach allows students to express themselves while serving as a catalyst for dialogue and action within the school community.

Here are five learning experiences to empower students to creatively express their vision of belonging and equity in the educational space.

1. Create a Vision Board:

Students use magazine cutouts, drawings, and words to represent their ideal school environments is an excellent way to encourage creative expression in the classroom. This can be done individually or in a group.

2. Design and Paint a Collaborative Mural Project:

As a class, students design and paint a mural that communicates their ideal school environment. The collaborative design will inevitably represent the different voices and perspectives that unite to make their unique school culture.

3. Host a Poetry Slam or Spoken Word to Facilitate Creative Expression:

Students use verse, word choice, and grammar to convey their thoughts and feelings regarding belonging and inclusion. They write and perform original poems or spoken word pieces to explore and communicate their vision of equity.

4. Create Digital Stories:

Students highlight obstacles to equity and inclusion in their current school systems. Video allows students to capture the barriers experienced by themselves and peers in a format that can be shared and understood by a wide and diverse audience.

5. Another form of Creative Expression is to Act Out Role-Playing Scenarios:

In small groups, students role-play various scenarios to demonstrate what equity looks and feels like and to practice problem-solving in a low-risk setting. These scenarios prompt discussions concerning solutions and viable change.

Use these activities to encourage students to creatively express themselves and think critically about what it means to have a school environment where everyone feels they belong. Students must take an active role in the learning environment to be truly equitable.

Find out more about how you can build meaningful, impactful intergenerational partnerships with Youth Equity Stewardship (YES).