Lesson
Kids will learn that being mindful will help them to notice their feelings and emotions, which in-turn, helps them to manage stress, control impulses, and motivate themselves to make healthy choices.
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. Print the Mindful Moments cards and fitFlow yoga cards to practice mindfulness with your students.
Ask kids to share a time and place when they were mindful (paused to focus on the present moment).
To use this with your students click here.
Mindful
Present the slides to students. Ask them to identify if the scenario 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 (body scan and breathing exercise). 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 you can pause for a mindful moment and do a breathing exercise or body scan.
Grade: K-2
Time: 20 Minutes
Empower kids to be mindful by teaching them to pause and focus on the present moment.
See UnitIntroduce healthy behaviors as choices we make. When kids have a framework for thinking about healthy choices, it empowers them.
See UnitLearn what a fit-check is and how this tool can help kids make healthy choices. Kids will also learn how to be mindful about their choices.
See UnitUse this unit to teach students to recognize their feelings and emotions and learn to manage their moods.
See UnitKids will learn the four parts of fit—recharge, mood, food, and move—and how having the right mindset will help them be healthy. They will also be introduced to ways kids' emotions impact their health.
See UnitKids will learn how to motivate their mood by exploring ways to change their thinking.
See Unit