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Mindful Movement

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Lesson Plan

Mindful Movement

Dance with mindfulness

This lesson combines gentle dance moves with mindfulness exercises to help students engage in physical activity while also learning to relax and focus. The activities are designed to promote both physical and emotional well-being.

Audience

PK-4 Students

Time

30 Minutes

Approach

Dance with mindfulness

Materials

Music player with calm background music, Open space for movement, and Video: Mindful Minutes: Tree Meditation for Children

Step 1

Introduction

5 mins

  • Gather students in a circle.
  • Explain that today, they'll be moving their bodies gently and mindfully.
  • Briefly discuss what mindfulness means—paying attention to our thoughts and movements.

Step 2

Warm-Up

5 mins

  • Start with light stretching: reach up high, touch toes, gentle twists.
  • Play calm background music to set a peaceful atmosphere.

Step 3

Mindful Dance

10 mins

  • Demonstrate simple, slow dance moves (e.g., moving arms like tree branches, gliding like a bird).
  • Encourage students to follow along and focus on their movements.
  • Emphasize breathing in sync with movements.

Step 4

Stretching Exercises

5 mins

  • Lead students through a series of gentle stretches (e.g., child's pose, sitting butterfly stretch).
  • Encourage them to take deep breaths and relax into each stretch.

Step 5

Mindfulness Activity

5 mins

Step 6

Closure

2 mins

  • Gather students back into a circle.
  • Ask them how they feel after the activities.
  • Encourage them to remember these movements and mindfulness techniques for when they need to relax.
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Discussion

Mindfulness Discussion

Discuss with students what they learned about mindfulness and how they felt during the activities.

What did you notice about your body when you moved slowly and mindfully?

Encourage students to talk about sensations, emotions, and any relaxation they felt.







How did the meditation make you feel?

Guide students to share their feelings of calmness, focus, or any other emotions they experienced.







When could you use these mindfulness techniques outside of class?

Discuss situations like feeling anxious, needing to calm down, or preparing for a nap.







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