What it Means to Be Mindful

This unit helps a child to understand and practice mindfulness. To practice mindfulness is to purposefully pay attention to your breathing, feelings, senses, or actions in the present moment. When a child is mindful, they increase their ability to regulate emotions, manage stress, and self-motivate.

Turn off the lights. Have students close their eyes and listen to the sounds around them. After 30 seconds, ask students, "What did you hear?"

To use this with your students click here.

Listen Closely

Ask students if they noticed any new sounds during the listening activity?  Then begin the slideshow, and ask them to reflect on their day, focusing on their breakfast and their travel to school.

Mindful Moments

Explain that mindful moments are when you pause and focus on the present moment.  When you pause and focus on what you are tasting or what you see on the way to school, you are being mindful. When you are mindful, you notice many things, like your breathing, how you feel, and what you see, smell, hear, taste, and touch.

Check for Understanding: What is a mindful moment?

Look Closely

Practice being mindful with your students by having them choose an object near them and pay attention to how it looks and feels. 

With students, choose a time later in your school day to pause for a mindful moment. Repeat the 30 second listening activity or do another mindful activity of your choice.