Using Watercolors to Teach Mood and Tone

When students approach abstract concepts through hands-on activities like painting, their literary analysis skills improve—and their writing does, too. One of St. Marys Area Middle School ELA teacher Danielle Brody's (and her students’) favorite activities is called Painted Reflections, an idea she first encountered in a Harvard Project Zero webinar. The activity involves using watercolor paints to better understand abstract concepts. And while Painted Reflections can be adapted for teaching a variety of concepts, Brody finds it especially helpful when tackling a topic like mood and tone in literature, which some students find hard to grasp. For more strategies on arts integration, visit: https://www.edutopia.org/topic/arts-i... Join the Edutopia community today to get articles, videos, and more delivered via email every Wednesday—all tailored to you and your unique role: https://edut.to/3wEVHUh Follow us here: Official Website: https://edutopia.org  YouTube:    / edutopia   Facebook:   / edutopia   Instagram:   / edutopia   BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/edutopia.org #artintegration #creativity #teachingstrategies #englishlanguagearts © 2026 George Lucas Educational Foundation