Lesson
Help kids learn what it means to be mindful by guiding them to pause and focus on the present moment.
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:
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 choose a Mindful Moment activity card.
Grade: K-2
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