‘Everybody is sick and there won’t be a cure’: The Power of Privileging U.S. Student Voices through COVID-19 Drawings

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown was particularly challenging for elementary students who experienced disruptions in almost all aspects of their daily activities. Our study addressed a dearth of U.S. studies documenting the adverse effects the pandemic created and continues to have for children by analyzing their drawings. This study was conducted post-lockdown after students resumed normal school operations. The Mosaic Approach framed this case study research that was conducted using drawings created by sixteen students in grades prekindergarten through fifth grade (ages 4 to 10 years old). Students drew what came to mind when thinking of COVID-19. We conducted a content analysis of the data and determined four dominant themes: (1) symptoms related to COVID-19, (2) evidence of psychological or emotional responses, (3) health and safety precautions, and (4) depictions of the virus cell. We assert children’s drawings as a useful tool for educators to create opportunities to connect with students and potentially reduce their anxieties about issues, including those beyond the pandemic. This will be of interest to educators who may not have considered the power of children’s drawings as a means to provide voice about current issues. It will also add to the global knowledge base about children’s perceptions of COVID-19 and the resulting lockdown.