Lesson Plan
Mindfulness Matters Lesson Plan
Students will be able to identify what mindfulness is and practice a simple mindful breathing exercise.
Mindfulness helps students learn to pay attention to the present moment, which can reduce stress and improve focus in daily life and learning.
Audience
Elementary School Students (8 students with intellectual disabilities)
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion and a guided breathing exercise.
Materials
Whiteboard or chart paper, Markers, Mindfulness Matters Slide Deck, and Mindful Breathing Script
Prep
Review Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Mindfulness Matters Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content.
- Read through the Mindful Breathing Script to practice the guided exercise.
- Ensure whiteboard or chart paper and markers are accessible.
Step 1
Introduction: What is Mindfulness?
5 minutes
- Greet students and introduce the lesson with the question: 'What does it mean to pay attention?'
- Use the Mindfulness Matters Slide Deck (Slide 1-2) to explain mindfulness in simple terms: paying attention to the present moment, our feelings, and our surroundings without judgment.
- Ask students for examples of paying attention (e.g., listening to music, eating a snack).
Step 2
Mindful Breathing Activity
15 minutes
- Transition to a mindful breathing exercise (Slide 3-4).
- Explain that we can practice mindfulness by focusing on our breath.
- Guide students through the exercise using the Mindful Breathing Script, focusing on slow, deep breaths.
- Encourage students to notice how their bodies feel as they breathe.
- After the exercise, ask students to share how they feel (e.g., calm, relaxed).
Step 3
Discussion and Wrap-up
10 minutes
- Lead a short discussion (Slide 5-6) about when students can use mindfulness in their daily lives (e.g., when they feel worried, before a test, to help them focus).
- Reiterate that mindfulness is a tool to help them feel calm and focused.
- Distribute a simple drawing or coloring activity related to calm feelings (if available, otherwise use free draw).
- Conclude the lesson by thanking students for participating.
use Lenny to create lessons.
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Slide Deck
Mindfulness Matters!
What does it mean to pay attention?
It means being present right now!
Welcome students and ask them what it means to 'pay attention.' Listen to their responses and connect them to the idea of being present.
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is about paying attention to:
- Your feelings
- Your body
- The world around you
...right now, in this moment!
It's about noticing things without saying if they are 'good' or 'bad.'
Explain mindfulness in simple, relatable terms. Use examples like really tasting food, listening to music, or feeling the sun.
Let's Breathe Mindfully!
We can use our breath to help us be mindful.
Our breath is always with us, a quiet friend.
Introduce the idea of using breath to be mindful. Emphasize that it's a simple tool everyone can use.
Mindful Breathing Exercise
Let's take a few deep breaths together.
- Breathe in slowly through your nose.
- Feel your tummy rise.
- Breathe out slowly through your mouth.
- Feel your tummy fall.
Notice how your body feels.
Guide students through a simple breathing exercise. Encourage them to close their eyes if comfortable, or focus on a spot. Refer to the Mindful Breathing Script.
When Can We Be Mindful?
You can be mindful:
- When you feel worried or upset.
- When you need to focus on something important.
- When you want to feel calm and peaceful.
Discuss when students can use mindfulness in their daily lives. Prompt them with scenarios like feeling upset, needing to focus, or wanting to appreciate something.
Mindfulness is a Superpower!
Being mindful helps you:
- Feel calm.
- Focus better.
- Understand your feelings.
Practice your mindful breathing, it's a great tool!
Conclude by reminding them that mindfulness is a helpful tool. Encourage them to try mindful breathing when they need it.
Script
Mindful Breathing Script
(Teacher): "Hello everyone! Today, we're going to try a special way to help our bodies and minds feel calm and focused. It's called mindful breathing. All it means is paying attention to our breath, like it's a quiet friend always with us."
(Teacher): "First, let's find a comfortable position. You can sit up tall in your chair, or if you prefer, you can gently rest your head on your desk. Make sure your feet are flat on the floor if you're sitting, and your hands can rest gently in your lap or on the table."
(Teacher): "Now, if you feel comfortable, you can gently close your eyes. If not, that's perfectly fine! You can just look down at your hands or your desk. The most important thing is that you feel safe and relaxed."
(Teacher): "Let's take a big, gentle breath in through our nose. Feel your tummy get a little bigger, like a balloon filling with air. (Pause for 3-4 seconds)
"
(Teacher): "Now, slowly let that air out through your mouth, like you're blowing out a soft candle. Feel your tummy get smaller again. (Pause for 3-4 seconds)
"
(Teacher): "Let's do that again. Breathe in slowly through your nose... (Pause for 3-4 seconds) and breathe out slowly through your mouth. (Pause for 3-4 seconds)
"
(Teacher): "Keep breathing like this at your own pace. Just notice the air coming in and going out. Notice how your body feels as you breathe. Maybe you feel your chest move, or your shoulders relax. If your mind starts to think about other things, that's okay! Just gently bring your attention back to your breath."
(Teacher): "Let's take three more mindful breaths together. Breathe in... (Pause) and breathe out... (Pause). Breathe in... (Pause) and breathe out... (Pause). Last one, breathe in... (Pause) and breathe out. (Pause)
"
(Teacher): "When you're ready, you can gently open your eyes. How does everyone feel? You can share one word about how you feel right now."
Warm Up
Mindfulness Warm Up: How Do You Feel?
Instructions: When students enter the classroom, invite them to pick up a marker and draw a simple emoji or symbol on the whiteboard (or a large piece of chart paper) that shows how they are feeling right now. There are no right or wrong answers, just what they are experiencing in this moment.
- Happy? Draw a smiley face!
- Calm? Draw a gentle wave!
- Worry? Draw a little cloud!
- Energetic? Draw a star!
This helps students check in with their emotions and sets the stage for thinking about their inner experience.
Cool Down
Mindfulness Cool Down: My Mindful Moment
Instructions: Before students leave, ask them to reflect on one thing they noticed during the mindful breathing exercise or during the lesson.
They can share their answer by:
- Saying one word.
- Drawing a quick picture on a small sticky note or piece of paper.
- Pointing to an emotion on an emotion chart.
Prompt: "Think about our mindful breathing today. What is one thing you noticed? Maybe you noticed your breath, a sound, or a feeling in your body. What was your mindful moment?"