Tools to use TIP in Classrooms, Groups, and with Individuals

Using The Imagine Project in your Classroom, School, Individual, or Group:

My Imagine Journal™ is an interactive 7-step expressive writing activity that gives kids and teens (and adults) the opportunity to write about an old story that might be holding them back, let it go, and Imagine a new story in it’s place. It’s a powerful tool that brings increased self-awareness, builds resilience, helps with stress management, and it giving kids a positive direction in their lives–supporting emotional and Mental Health—all while getting kids to happily write!

Below is all the information you will need to bring The Imagine Project to your students/child including lessons plans, videos, and suggestions for music to play while writing (keep scrolling).  The Imagine Project writing activity can be added to your literacy curriculum, wellness activity, mindfulness unit, social emotional support, multi-cultural units, autobiography, or other areas it might work best to support the emotional wellness of your students using writing. The Imagine Project teaches kids a lifelong tool to support themselves emotionally. Good luck, you will love the power of this project!

Using The Imagine Project in with individuals, groups, classrooms, school or youth program:

Teachers, counselors, admin, parents, etc. can download and print off the journals for each child as a part of a writing activity at school (there are also digital and Spanish versions available). All journals are free. The Imagine Project writing process can be done one time during the school year, but we encourage using it weekly, monthly, or whenever students are struggling with something emotionally. What a great opportunity for students to talk about and process any issues that might be distracting or holding them back from moving forward in school and life!

Journals

There are 4 journals: Kids (2nd-5th), Teen (6th-12th) and Adult versions, all available in English and Spanish and can be typed on digitally or printed.

The writing process can take anywhere from 1 day to a few weeks. The younger the student, the more time it will take. For younger students (K-4th grade) we recommend doing steps 1 and 2 together, step 3 separate or together with step 4, and then 5 and 6 together, and of course take a few minutes every day for 30 days for step 7. As students get older you can do steps 1-4 together or even all the steps in a 60 minute period of time. You can play one song for steps 1 and 2 (see below for music recommendations). Then play 2-4 songs for step 3 and 1-2 songs for steps 4-7. We encourage time for students to read their stories out loud after either step 3 and/or step 4. Don’t stop at step 3, make sure kids always get at least to step 4!

Tools for Teachers (and parents, counselors, and individuals):

New Webinar! We have created a free webinar for teachers, counselors, admin, nurses, etc. to watch to learn more about guiding their students, etc. through The Imagine Project. There are two ways to access the Webinar. 1. Go to www.SADD.org (Students Against Destructive Decisions), register for a free accountOnce you register go to My SADD and under the drop down you can navigate My Courses where you will find the Imagine Project webinar (along with other courses you might be interested in watching). 2. Another type of access to the webinar just send an email requesting access to Dianne at dianne@theimagineproject.com. 

K-2: Kinde Journal, (the Kinde journal follows the book, Bryon the Caterpillar who Loved to Imagine).

  • Click here for a video taped version of a teacher reading Byron in English. Click here for Spanish.
  • Watch Lauren Zuiker teaching her 2nd graders how to write their Imagine story using the book “Corduroy” as an example.
  • Lesson plan 
  • Ideas for infusing The Imagine Project into your classroom.
  • Download a powerpoint created by Todd Daubert
  • Feelings Wheel (Created by Bret Stein)
  • The Imagine Project is a perfect way to begin the school year. Here is a letter you can send home to parents so they can participate and learn about The Imagine Project. Then when there are any emotional bumps in the road for students or in the classroom, students are already familiar with the Imagine writing process and can write another Imagine story in their Imagine spirals! Attaching the Feelings Wheel to the back of the spiral is very helpful in writing about emotions.

Grades 3-5: Kids Journal 

Grades 6-12: Journal

  • Lesson plan
  • Ideas for infusing The Imagine Project into your classroom
  • Download a powerpoint created by Todd Daubert (was created for K-5, you may have to adapt it for your classroom/grade).
  • The Imagine Project is a perfect way to begin the school year. Here is a letter you can send home to parents so they can participate and learn about The Imagine Project. Then when there are any emotional bumps in the road for students or in the classroom, students are already familiar with the Imagine writing process and can write another Imagine story in their Imagine spirals! Attaching the Feelings Wheel to the back of the spiral is very helpful in writing about emotions.
  • Videos for teens (some are intense and may not work for younger teens, watch them first):

More Helpful Tools:

Download a Parent Letter you can use to send to parents before doing the project (if you’d like).

Accommodations and Scaffold Ideas for kids with varying strengths.

Videos: Here are various videos you can use throughout your lesson planning, while working with the students doing The Imagine Project, or for a greater understanding of The Imagine Project:

  • Click here to watch a short video on how The Imagine Project works.
  • Watch this video of teachers and counselors talking about how they’ve used The Imagine Project with their students.
  • Dr. Jerry Yager, Clinical Psychologist/ChildTrauma Expert talking about The Imagine Project.
  • Listen to Todd Daubert, a 31 year teaching veteran talks about using The Imagine Project weekly.
  • Click here to have your child/student watch the video of Dianne leading teens through the writing process. For Middle and High School age teens.
  • Use this video as an introduction to the project: Imagine Project Intro video

An inspiring video that will help the kids when they are getting ready to write about new possibilities in their lives: Greatness Within ft Motivational Video with Les Brown.

An awesome Beyonce video that I sometimes use at the end to inspire the kids to make a mark on the world: I was here.

Music Suggestions:

Writing stirs emotions. Different music creates different emotions. Here are some suggestions for music to use while the kids are writing:

Step One: “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera

Step Two: “Story of my Life” One Direction

Step Three: “Into Dust” by Mazzy Star, “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers, “Renegades” by X Ambassadors, and/or “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley

Step Four: “Just Imagine It” by MKTO and “Rise Up” by Audra Day

Step Five: “Brave” by Sara Bareilles

Step Six: “This is my Fight Song” by Outfit Studios

Other music suggestions: “Roar” by Katy Perry, “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus, “Life is Worth Living” by Justin Bieber, “Fly” by Maddie and Tae, “I Love this Life” by Locash, “Imagine” by John Lennon, “Humble and Kind” by Tim McGraw, “Roll up Your Sleeves” by Meg Mac, “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers, “Sideways” by Travis Meadows, “Be Yourself” by Seth Alley, “Fly” by Maddie and Tae.

Do’s and Don’ts:

Do:

  • Have students read their stories together in a group (this is optional).
  • Clap after each student reads their stories.
  • Teach compassion, respect, attention, and even have other students visualize wrapping the reader in love (especially with the little ones).
  • Have students pick a positive power word that goes along with their story. This is helpful in supporting them believe in themselves.
  • See them without their story. They need a positive role model to believe in them. If you aren’t sure you can handle being with their emotions, ask a counselor to be in the room with you. Here is a blog to help you help kids who are feeling emotional.
  • See their resilience and how amazing they are!!
  • Send home the parent letter before you do the project so parents are aware of what the kids are doing.

Don’t:

  • Read the student’s story if you’ve told them you’re not going to read it (we suggest telling the kids no one needs to read their stories if they don’t want anyone to).
  • Send them home on a Friday after reading their story from step 3.
  • Try to fix them, it’s okay if they cry, let them feel their emotion, care for them through it. In the words of Brene` Brown, hold the energy of, “I am here with you.” You aren’t doing therapy with them, you are just giving them a place to be heard.

For more information you can read The Imagine Project: Empowering Kids to Rise Above, Drama, Trauma, and Stress (Yampa Valley Publishing, 2018) by Dianne Maroney, RN, MSN

 

Enjoy! Email me with any questions, Dianne dianne@theimagineproject.com

 


Click here to download our Journals (also available in Spanish).

Kindergarten Journal
My Imagine Journal™
for kindergarteners

Kids Journal
My Imagine Journal™
for ages 6-12

Teen Journal
My Imagine Journal™
for ages 13-17

Adult Journal
My Imagine Journal™
for ages 18+

Please think of The Imagine Project during the giving season. Donate Here