Lesson
Kids will learn that being mindful will help them to notice their feelings and emotions, and motivate themselves to make healthy choices.
The lessons in this unit help kids understand and practice mindfulness. 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. You can vary the ways your students practice being mindful each day. Some of the many fit resources available for daily mindfulness practice include:
Ask kids to share a time and places when they can be mindful (when they paused to focus on the present moment). Encourage kids to share examples of times and places when they paused to be mindful.
To use this with your students click here.
Being Mindful
Present the slides to students. Ask them to identify which choice describes a person being mindful (paying attention on purpose) or not being mindful.
Benefits of Being Mindful
Explain that being mindful helps a child recognize their feelings and emotions, which in-turn, helps them make healthy choices. Being mindful also supports self-control and helps manage stress.
Check for Understanding: What are the benefits of being mindful? (Answers may vary to include: manage stress, control impulses, and motivate themselves to make healthy choices.)
Relax
Present the two mindful moment activities (relaxation and breathing exercises) from the slideshow. Pause and allow students time to independently complete the activity of their choice. If time allows, do both!
Today we learned that when you are mindful you are doing good things for your body and brain. Name a time when you can pause for a mindful moment and do a tense and release relaxation activity or a breathing exercise.
Grade: 3-5
Time: 20 Minutes
Teach kids to think about making healthy choices and the importance of doing so.
Start LessonEncourage kids to stop and think about their moods and energy levels. This leads to healthier decision-making.
Start LessonTaking time to think about choices is important, we call this a choice-check.
Start LessonTeach kids to think about how their energy and mood affect their food and move choices.
Start LessonMaking healthy choices happens throughout our day. Teach kids to recognize these moments.
Start LessonShow kids how making healthy choices can cause a chain reaction of feeling good and making more healthy choices.
Start Lesson