Option A
Select and read a book of your choice. You may choose a book from your shelf that you haven’t had time to read. You can read something recommended by a friend, relative, or teacher. You might choose to read the book version of a movie you love. The genre is your choice, too! You can read science fiction, poetry anthologies, nonfiction, graphic novels, etc. Find something you will enjoy reading. Please use discretion when considering what is appropriate for discussion in school.
Complete the journal entries. The journal entries must be connected to the book content. (See the description below.)
Creative Journal / Artist Notebook
In addition to reading one of the choice books, you will work to complete a creative journal with at least 20 entries. You will probably want to purchase a blank artist sketchbook for this. You should work to complete the journals throughout the summer and spend a minimum of 30 minutes on each one. Ideally, you use this as a way of exploring your own creativity in both mediums you are comfortable with and with ones that you are not. In other words, if you are comfortable writing poems--great, write poetry! But also work to complete tasks that challenge you. For example, you may choose prompt #10 that asks you to draw the same subject over and over.
Unleash your creativity and see where it takes you!
Spend one week completing Morning Pages. Morning Pages are 2-3 pages of stream of consciousness writing that is done first thing in the morning. The intention of this practice is that you allow anything or everything that crosses your mind to come to the page. Don’t overthink these, just let them happen.
Collect 4-5 favorite quotes. Write them and even respond to them in a way that is visually pleasing. Maybe a quote or two comes from your choice book.
Try a blind contour drawing. This is a drawing where you draw the contour (outline) of a subject without looking. Do this for 3-4 items.
Use a page in your notebook to compile words, quotes, and collaged images to show the person you want to become. Write 4-5 sentences to explain if it feels necessary.
Draw a mandala. In their most basic forms, mandalas are circles contained within a square and arranged into sections that are all organized around a single, central point. They are usually intricately designed and visually pleasing. You could also take a more personal approach and follow these guidelines for creating one: https://www.soul-flower.com/blog/how-to-draw-a-personalized-mandala/
Make a list and illustrate all the things for which you are grateful.
Paste in a found photograph or picture of people from a magazine and write a fictional story of 2-3 pages about the people in the photo.
Create a self-care list for yourself. What are all the things that you can do to make you feel happy, healthy, and comfortable? Also, pick one, do it, and reflect on the experience in 8-10 sentences.
Write a letter/a poem to your 10-year old self. What would you want to tell your younger self? What advice would you give?
Pick a subject and draw that thing over and over again. For example, birds:
Jot down things you hear people say throughout the day and then create a found poem using some/all of what you hear. You could use texts if you get desperate.
Draw a comic to something that has happened to you recently.
Answer and expand on these 30 questions: https://www.lavendaire.com/journaling-ideas/
Look through old magazines and make a collage. Allow yourself to use images you are attracted to (and even repulsed by) without overthinking what you pick. Be mindful and careful when cutting, arranging, and gluing images.
Write a 1-2 page letter to someone you love, saying all the things you’ve been meaning to say for years.
Research and make a list of free, low-cost, and/or pandemic safe things in your city/area you’d like to do. Try to have at least 20 items.
Make an illustrated list of firsts: Your first friend, your first memory, your first job, your first drive, your first teacher, your first concert, the first thing you do in the morning, etc.
Visually and/or in writing, respond to a challenge you personally face and/or society faces. The example below examines bullying, however, you could think about body image, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, climate change, etc.
Pick a song you like and visually represent it in your notebook. What you create could be a literal interpretation of the song or it could be more associative.
Pick a fictional character that you admire. “Fictional” includes someone from a novel, movie, TV/Netflix/Hulu show, etc. What do you admire about them? How are they similar to you? How are they different? You can write about this or visually represent your thoughts.
Leave your journal by your bed. Record and/or illustrate your dreams first thing in the morning. Even if you do not remember the full dream, record what you do.
Grab your summer reading book and randomly open it to any page. Read the first paragraph on that page and illustrate it.
Write down some of your life mantras such as, “Choose love. Follow your heart. Live in the moment.” Write them over and over again on your journal page, but use different lettering styles each time.
Write yourself a series of permission slips to stop doing things that you think you’re supposed to do, but you don’t want to do. For example, “You have permission to stop reading a book that you’re not enjoying.