Project aims:
The Zines and Emotional Literacy project (ZELP) investigated the use of zine workshops as a strategy for improving emotional literacy and wellbeing in primary schools.
To develop the programme, we worked with experts to create mental health focused zine-making workshops, with the aim to increase self-esteem, self-efficacy and wellbeing.
The first stage included:
- questionnaires and interviews with members of the zine community
- working alongside young people, education psychologists, clinicians and teachers to develop lesson topics and plans
- collecting and creating resources that were suitable to introduce year 4 and year 5 students to zines and encourage them to create their own, such as:
- child-friendly zines
- comic pages and activities by Jarett Lerner
The second stage involved facilitating zine-making sessions to approximately 180 Birmingham-based year 4 and year 5 students. These sessions were delivered to the whole classroom, with parent/guardians being given the opportunity to opt their student out of the activities. The full breakdown of pilot sessions can be found below.
These lesson packs (including resources) are available for use from the Resource section below.
If you have any queries about the project or would like further information, we look forward to hearing from you at bwc.zelp1@nhs.net.
zelp.project
Project background:
Over half of mental health disorders emerge by age 15. Risk factors include low wellbeing and poor self-esteem. It has been shown that focusing on building self-esteem and self-efficacy contributes to an increase in wellbeing (SCIE, 2018). Developing preventative approaches is considered important in improving strong self-esteem and self-efficacy and promoting wellbeing in children and young people.
Involvement in art-based activities is associated with fewer socio-emotional difficulties, higher levels of academic self-confidence and improved mood (Mak & Fancourt, 2019). Also, visual arts such as drawing, painting and crafting are associated with higher levels of self-esteem in children and young people (Rosseau, 2005). Overall, art-based workshops contribute to positive mental wellbeing in children and young people (Zarobe & Bungay, 2017). Creating narratives about personal experiences increases emotional resilience and decreases unhealthy symptoms (anxiety) and behaviours (Pennebaker, 1997 & 1999).
Zines (“zeens”) are independent or self-published booklets or print-works (The Bindery, 2021 & FlipsnackBlog, 2022) and can provide a versatile medium for expression and engagement with a topic. Primarily fashioned with images and/or words and a ‘do-it-yourself’ ethos, and using a variety of techniques, formats and methods, zines can be created by anyone no matter their ability. It focuses on what the maker can do, and in turn builds self-efficacy. Zine-making workshops facilitated with the guidance of a zine artist are common at fairs or other stand alone events, but more recently, the medium has been used in education settings to explore diverse themes.
