Mindful Moments: Finding Calm in Chaos

Victoria Wallace

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Mindful Moments: Finding Calm in Chaos

Introduce mindfulness techniques

This lesson introduces 3rd-grade students to mindfulness techniques to help them manage stress and emotions. Through interactive activities, students will learn to find calmness and focus in their everyday lives. This lesson is important as it equips students with tools to handle stress, enhances their emotional regulation, and improves their focus and concentration.

Audience

3rd Grade Students

Time

30 mins

Approach

Introduce mindfulness techniques

Materials

Post-it notes, Pens, Mindfulness Activity Worksheet, and Discussion Questions

Step 1

Introduction

5 mins

Begin with a brief discussion on what stress and emotions are.
Ask students if they have ever felt stressed or overwhelmed and how they dealt with it.
Introduce the concept of mindfulness as a tool to help manage these feelings.

Step 2

Mindfulness Breathing Exercise

5 mins

Guide students through a simple breathing exercise.
Instruct them to sit comfortably, close their eyes, and take deep breaths in and out.
Encourage them to focus on their breath and notice how it feels.

Step 3

Interactive Activity: Mindful Listening

10 mins

Hand out the Mindfulness Activity Worksheet.
Play a short, calming sound (like ocean waves or birds chirping).
Ask students to listen carefully and write down what they hear on their worksheet.
Discuss how focusing on sounds can help calm the mind.

Step 4

Discussion

5 mins

Use the Discussion Questions to facilitate a conversation about how students felt during the exercises.
Encourage them to share any changes they noticed in their mood or focus.

Step 5

Closure

5 mins

Recap the mindfulness techniques learned today.
Encourage students to practice these techniques at home or whenever they feel stressed.
Thank students for their participation and openness.

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Worksheet

Mindfulness Activity Worksheet

This worksheet guides students through a mindful listening activity, helping them focus on sounds and reflect on their experience.

List the sounds you heard during the mindful listening exercise.

Think about the different types of sounds, like nature or music.

How did focusing on the sounds make you feel?

Can you think of other times when you could use mindful listening?

Discussion

Mindfulness Discussion Questions

These questions are designed to facilitate a discussion about the mindfulness exercises and their effects on students' emotions and focus.

How did you feel before and after the breathing exercise?

Encourage students to think about any changes in their mood or stress levels.

What was your favorite part of the mindfulness activities?

Guide students to reflect on which activity they found most calming or enjoyable.

How can you use mindfulness techniques in your daily life?

Help students brainstorm situations where mindfulness could be helpful, like before a test or when feeling upset.