Lesson Plan
Mindful Me: Sensory Awareness & Focus Lesson Plan
Students will learn to pay attention to their breath and five senses, fostering a sense of calm and improved focus.
Mindfulness helps young children develop emotional regulation, reduce stress, and improve concentration, which are crucial skills for both academic success and overall well-being. These foundational skills are essential for navigating daily challenges and promoting positive social-emotional development.
Audience
Pre-K through 1st Grade Students
Time
30-45 minutes
Approach
Simple, hands-on exercises make abstract concepts concrete and relatable for young learners.
Materials
Whiteboard or chart paper, Markers, Mindful Me Slide Deck, Sensory Scavenger Hunt Activity, Mindful Moment Worksheet, Various sensory objects (e.g., a soft feather, a smooth stone, a fragrant flower, a bell, a piece of fruit), and Optional: Calming music
Prep
Prepare Materials
15 minutes
- Review the Mindful Me Slide Deck and ensure all slides are ready.
* Print copies of the Sensory Scavenger Hunt Activity and Mindful Moment Worksheet.
* Gather various sensory objects (e.g., a soft feather, a smooth stone, a fragrant flower, a bell, a piece of fruit).
* Set up a comfortable space for students, free from distractions.
* Optional: Prepare calming music to play during certain activities.
Step 1
Introduction: What is Mindfulness?
5 minutes
- Begin by asking students: "What does it mean to pay attention?" Allow for a few responses.
* Introduce the concept of mindfulness using simple language. "Mindfulness means paying attention on purpose, to what's happening right now, with kindness."
* Show the first few slides of the Mindful Me Slide Deck to introduce the topic.
* Teacher Script: Refer to Mindful Me Script for detailed talking points and questions to guide this introduction.
Step 2
Mindful Breathing: "Balloon Breath"
7 minutes
- Guide students through a simple breathing exercise. "Let's try something called 'Balloon Breath'. Put one hand on your belly. Imagine your belly is a balloon. When you breathe in through your nose, your balloon fills up and gets big! When you breathe out through your mouth, your balloon gets small."
* Lead students for 3-5 slow breaths.
* Discuss how their bodies feel after the breathing exercise.
* Teacher Script: Refer to Mindful Me Script for detailed talking points and questions.
Step 3
Sensory Exploration: "I Spy with My Senses"
15 minutes
- Introduce the five senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste) using the Mindful Me Slide Deck.
* Divide students into small groups or pairs.
* Distribute the Sensory Scavenger Hunt Activity worksheet.
* Explain that they will use their five senses to explore the classroom or specific objects.
* Provide a few sensory objects (e.g., a soft feather, a smooth stone, a fragrant flower). Guide them to gently touch, smell, look, and (if appropriate and safe) taste the objects. For hearing, ring a small bell and ask them to listen carefully.
* Circulate and facilitate, encouraging students to describe what they experience using their senses.
* Teacher Script: Refer to Mindful Me Script for detailed talking points and questions.
Step 4
Reflection and Wrap-up: "Mindful Moment"
8 minutes
- Bring the class back together.
* Distribute the Mindful Moment Worksheet.
* Ask students to draw or write one thing they noticed using their senses, or how they felt during the breathing exercise.
* Have a brief sharing session where a few students can share their mindful moment.
* Conclude by reinforcing the idea that they can practice mindfulness anytime, anywhere.
* Teacher Script: Refer to Mindful Me Script for detailed talking points and questions.
Slide Deck
Mindful Me: Focus Fun!
What does it mean to PAY ATTENTION?
Mindfulness: Paying attention on purpose, to what's happening right now, with kindness.
Welcome students and begin by asking them what 'paying attention' means. Introduce the concept of mindfulness in a very simple way, focusing on 'paying attention on purpose' and 'now'.
Breathe Like a Balloon!
Put your hand on your belly.
Breathe in: Your belly gets BIG like a balloon!
Breathe out: Your belly gets SMALL.
Feel your breath.
Explain 'Balloon Breath'. Have students place a hand on their belly and visualize it expanding like a balloon when they inhale and deflating when they exhale. Guide them through 3-5 slow breaths.
We have 5 amazing senses!
- Sight: What do you SEE?
- Hearing: What do you HEAR?
- Smell: What do you SMELL?
- Touch: What do you FEEL?
- Taste: What do you TASTE?
Introduce the five senses one by one, giving simple examples for each. This slide serves as a visual reminder of the senses they will use.
You Can Be Mindful Too!
You can use your senses and your breath to help you focus and feel calm.
Practice being mindful everyday!
Prompt students to think about why it's important to be mindful and aware of their senses. Conclude by reiterating that they can use these simple techniques anytime they need to calm down or focus.
Script
Mindful Me: Sensory Awareness & Focus Script
Introduction: What is Mindfulness? (5 minutes)
Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Today we're going to learn about something super cool that can help us feel calm and focused. Before we start, can anyone tell me, what does it mean to pay attention?"
(Allow for a few student responses. Validate their ideas.)
Teacher: "Those are great answers! Paying attention is exactly what we're going to talk about. We're going to learn about something called mindfulness.
(Show Slide 1: Mindful Me: Focus Fun!)
Teacher: "Mindfulness might sound like a big word, but it just means paying attention on purpose, to what's happening right now, with kindness. It's like being a detective for your own body and the world around you! We'll use our eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and hands to notice things, and we'll learn to pay attention to our breath too."
Mindful Breathing: "Balloon Breath" (7 minutes)
Teacher: "Let's try our first mindful exercise, and it's called 'Balloon Breath'! This is a wonderful way to help our bodies feel calm and focused. Everyone, please find a comfortable spot to sit, either on the floor or in your chair. Make sure your feet are on the ground and your back is straight but relaxed."
(Show Slide 2: Breathe Like a Balloon!)
Teacher: "Now, I want everyone to put one hand on their belly. Can you feel your tummy right there? Great! Now, imagine your belly is a big, colorful balloon. When you breathe in slowly through your nose, your balloon fills up with air and gets big and round! And when you breathe out slowly through your mouth, your balloon gets small again, letting all the air out."
(Model the breath. Lead students for 3-5 slow breaths.)
Teacher: "Let's try it together! Breathe in... (pause) and breathe out... (pause). In through your nose, out through your mouth. Notice how your hand moves up and down with your breath."
(After a few breaths)
Teacher: "How did that feel? Did anyone notice their hand moving? Did you feel a little more calm, or a little more focused? That's what our breath can do for us! You can use 'Balloon Breath' anytime you need to feel calm."
Sensory Exploration: "I Spy with My Senses" (15 minutes)
Teacher: "Now that we know how to use our breath, let's explore our amazing senses! Who can tell me one of our five senses?"
(Call on students to name senses. Show Slide 3: Our Amazing Senses! as they name them or to introduce any they miss.)
Teacher: "That's right! We have sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste! We're going to be sensory detectives and use all five of them to explore our classroom!"
(Distribute Sensory Scavenger Hunt Activity worksheet and, if applicable, sensory objects.)
Teacher: "On your worksheet, you'll see a spot for each of our senses. I want you to look around quietly and notice things. What do you see? Is there a color you like? What do you hear? Maybe the hum of the lights, or a sound outside? What do you smell? Perhaps a flower, or a crayon? And what can you touch? Maybe something soft, or something smooth? We even have some special objects here for you to explore with your hands and nose!"
(If using taste, introduce a safe item like a small piece of fruit.)
Teacher: "Remember to use your senses gently and respectfully. Take your time to really notice. We'll spend about 10 minutes being sensory detectives. I'll walk around to see what amazing things you discover!"
(Circulate, offering prompts like: "What does that feel like in your hands?" "Tell me about the color of that object." "What sounds are you hearing right now?")
Reflection and Wrap-up: "Mindful Moment" (8 minutes)
Teacher: "Alright, sensory detectives, let's come back together! I saw so many of you really paying attention with your senses. That was wonderful!"
(Show Slide 4: You Can Be Mindful Too!)
Teacher: "Now, I'm going to give you one more worksheet, the Mindful Moment Worksheet. On this sheet, I want you to draw or write about one thing you noticed today using your senses, or how you felt when we did our 'Balloon Breath'. It's your special mindful moment from our lesson."
(Distribute Mindful Moment Worksheet. Allow 3-4 minutes for drawing/writing.)
Teacher: "Would anyone like to share their mindful moment with the class? What did you notice, or how did you feel?"
(Allow a few students to share.)
Teacher: "You all did such a great job being mindful today! Remember, you can use your 'Balloon Breath' and your amazing senses anytime, anywhere. When you pay attention on purpose, with kindness, you can help yourself feel calm and focused, ready to learn and play! Great job, everyone!"
Activity
Sensory Scavenger Hunt
Let's use our amazing senses to explore! What can you find?
I See...
Draw or write something interesting you see in the classroom.
I Hear...
Draw or write a sound you hear in the classroom.
I Smell...
Draw or write something you can smell (be gentle!)
I Touch...
Draw or write something you can feel (is it soft, smooth, bumpy, rough?)
I Taste... (Optional)
Draw or write something you can safely taste (if provided by teacher).
Worksheet
My Mindful Moment
What did you notice today with your senses, or how did you feel during our "Balloon Breath"?
Draw a picture or write about your mindful moment below.
My Mindful Moment Is: