The Vision Within: Creative Visualization for the Primary Classroom

Title page

The Vision Within

A Practical Introduction to Creative Visualization for use in the Primary Classroom

Catherine Caldwell

Publisher’s information

Published by Brilliant Publications

Unit 10,

Sparrow Hall Farm,

Edlesborough,

Dunstable,

Bedfordshire,

LU6 2ES

Website: www.brilliantpublications.co.uk

General information enquiries:

Tel: 01525 222292

Fax: 01525 222720

Email: [email protected]

The name ‘Brilliant Publications’ and the logo are registered trade marks.

Written by Catherine Caldwell

Illustrated by Brilliant Publications

Cover illustration by Caroline Ewen

© 2010 Catherine Caldwell (text); Brilliant Publications (design and layout)

First published 2010

2013 digital version by Andrews UK Limited

The right of Catherine Caldwell to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by herself in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988.

The material in this book may not be reproduced in any form or for any other purpose without the prior permission of the publisher.

Preface

I am passionate about the value of visualization techniques in calming and expanding the mind. My work with primary-aged children over the past decade has taught me that, whilst it is important to equip children with academia, life skills are the lasting impression we should and will impart. The stressful society in which most of us now live and work confronts our future adults with the challenge of balancing mind, home and work. My hope is that teachers can support this task and journey by providing the art of meditation into their pupils repertoire of life skills.

I would like to thank Brenda Golding; holistic therapist and creative meditation specialist, for giving me the inspiration and self-belief to write this book.

Introduction

Reasons for incorporating ‘visualizations’ into classroom teaching

There has been much research and development within education in recent years, on the importance of stimulating and motivating the brain and the body to achieve optimum learning. Whether this be through widespread daily classroom brain exercises, drinking more water, employing accelerated learning techniques or physical aerobic activities to balance and coordinate the senses. However, I purport that meditation-based activities are equally important. Calming meditative activities that relax the body and, in turn, stimulate the imaginative aspects of the brain can wake up the creative potential of our brains. The visualization activities in this book provide ideas for such relaxation and meditation work within the classroom environment.

Visualization can be used on many different levels to develop the individual child and enhance the curriculum. Visualization techniques and journeys of the mind allow children to expand and explore their creative minds and therefore extend imaginative and creative thinking processes; as now identified by the DfE as a key aspect of learning within education. Visualization affords the opportunities to teach children how to relax and reflect on their own thoughts rather than simply relying on external stimuli to relax. This, in turn, will undoubtedly provide a valuable long term life skill of being able to individually relax when required, reflect and self regulate, as children develop into adults in our ever increasingly stressful world.

Exploring visualizations and understanding how to relax the body and mind can be extremely powerful. We all have the ability to