Mindful Clay Creations
Improve focus and detailed reflection
This lesson combines a teacher-led mindfulness exercise with a hands-on clay activity to help a second-grade boy on the autism spectrum improve his focus and ability to reflect with more detail. The mindfulness exercise will set a calming tone, while the clay activity will encourage creativity and detailed reflection, making the lesson both engaging and beneficial for developing focus and reflection skills.
Second-grade boy on autism spectrum
Project-Based Learning, Active Learning
Clay, and Discussion Questions
- Greet the student warmly and explain the day's activities.
- Introduce the concept of mindfulness and how it can help us focus and feel calm.
- Briefly explain the clay activity and how it will follow the mindfulness exercise.
Step 2
Mindfulness Exercise
5 mins
- Lead the student through a short mindfulness exercise.
- Encourage the student to imagine being a tree, feeling the sun and wind, and staying grounded and calm.
- Guide the student to take deep breaths and visualize strength and calmness.
Step 3
Clay Activity
15 mins
- Provide the student with clay and ask him to create something inspired by the mindfulness exercise (e.g., a tree, the sun, or the wind).
- Encourage him to focus on the details of his creation, using the mindfulness techniques to stay calm and focused.
- Ask guiding questions to help him reflect on his creation process and the details he included.
- Discuss the clay creation and the experience of the mindfulness exercise.
- Ask the student to share how he felt during the activities and what he learned about focus and reflection.
- Praise his efforts and creativity, reinforcing the skills practiced during the lesson.
