Mindfulness Activities

This page offers resources and tools to help you establish your own personal practice of mindfulness as well as resources and tools to implement mindfulness in the classroom.

Personal Practice:

Pausing - by Claire Stanley. A short article about the importance and benefit of "pausing", primarily to breathe, during the course of a day for teachers. Think during transitions or other breaks.

Insight Timer app - Timiny loves this app! A great way to begin getting into guided and unguided meditation. Set the timer for as little or as long as you would like, choose your background sound, and your timer bell.

Chi Kung (also spelt "Qigong") - This is a gentle exercise using movement to build energy and mental clarity. Below is a not-so-short video that provides a great example. It really works!

Mindfulness in the Classroom:

GoNoodle - More than 150 free, guided activities to do with your class. Specifically, there is a Mindfulness category with many short, ready to go activities.

Exercises for Grounding, Emotional Regulation, and Relaxation - For both adults and kids, these are some of our favorite found activities for use in the classroom. Some are able to be done as a transition with little planning.

Other Favorites:

• Elevator or Raise Energy - Press Downward - Form "elevator" with palms up and near belly button. Raise hands while inhaling. Stop "elevator" , turn palms over and push down while exhaling. (note- up/inhale should be shorter than down exhale).
• Storm Breath - A storm is coming (inhale) and the wind starts with blowing softly (exhale). The storm is getting closer (inhale deeper) and the wind is blowing harder (exhale). The storm is right here (inhale deepest) and there is a mighty wind (exhale as loudly and as long as possible)! The storm starts to go away (inhale softer) and the wind lessens (exhale softer). The storm has passed (breath in) and the wind is over (breathe out).
• Countdown to Calm - Inhale for the count of five and exhale for the count of five. Bring one palm up towards the ceiling with each inhale and push down towards the floor with each exhale. Repeat until all (or most) of the class has joined.
• Belly Breath - Hands or stuffed animal can be placed on the belly. Inhale imagining or watching a big ball expand, then exhale as it contracts.