Taking Mindful Action in the World

Mindful actions are purposefully planned activities that create a healthier, happier world.

Taking kindness to the world beyond the classroom to create a ripple effect.

In this lesson we will work together to select, plan, and execute a group act of kindness for the school, community, or the world!

Day 1 - Linking to Brain Research

Mirror Neurons: Kindness is Contagious!

Mirror Neurons - special brain nerve cells that allow the brain to imitate the actions of others AND feel the emotions they are experiencing.

• Have you ever winced when you watch someone stub their toe or fall on some pavement?

• Have you ever felt relaxed while watching someone else sleep or seen a baby rocked by a parent?

• When a whole group works together in a positive way, feelings of kindness multiply.

• Look closely at each of the following pictures for a few moments.

• Can you "feel" what the people in the pictures are feeling?

• If you can, those are mirror neurons hard at work - understanding the feelings of others, just by watching them!

Discuss:

• Did any of the images make you feel the way the people in the pictures do?

• What do you think was going on in your brain when you felt that way?

Day 2 - Warm-Up: Expanding Our Sound Practice

Assign a sound (possible ideas below) to each student.

• Ideas: sound cards to hand out

  • • rubbing hands

    • snapping

    • humming

    • whistling

    • tapping legs

    • tapping feet

    • shushing

    • tapping open mouth

• When there is silence, pick one student to begin making their sound.

• As others hear the sound they should copy it until everyone is making the same sound.

• After a short time have the original student stop.

• Others should stop as they notice the sound has stopped.

• Repeat until everyone has had a turn.

Discuss:

• Imagine that one sound is an act of kindness. What happens as others join in?

• One person making a sound is unique or special.

• When more people join in the power of the sound grows becoming more noticeable - more powerful.

• Taking group action, a kind action, will become stronger as more people join in.

Day 3 - Engage, Explore, Reflect: A Game Plan for Mindful Action

(will take many days to complete)

Engage:

• You are now noticing more ways you can help out through acts of kindness.

• Let's think of how we can make a powerful impact for another group or cause in our school, our neighborhood, or even across the world.

• What are some problems nearby or far away that you've heard about lately? (see resource below for ideas if needed)

• What actions might help?

• Let's make a list actions we can take to help somewhere, something, or someplace.

action ideas list

• Now let's vote on one we can do.

Explore:

• Now that we've decided on an action to take, let's plan a to-do list to follow.

action to-do list

• Now let's put our plan into action!

Discuss:

• How did you feel while we worked together to be kind?

• What did you notice about the way your classmates worked together?

• Have any of you thoughts and feelings changed since we completed our mindful action?

• Would you like to do more group acts of kindness in the future?

Resources:

• The Kid's Guide to Social Action: free 200 page guide by Barbara Lewis

• 129 Great Social Action Ideas: by Christine Sarikas

Day 4 - Career Connection: TOMS shoes

• There are many socially conscious companies (companies who give back to others beyond what they sell) in the world. One is TOMS shoes.

• For every pair of shoes this company sells, it donates a new pair to a child in need.

• When you buy a pair for yourself, you're actually buying a second pair for someone who can't afford their own.

TOMS shoes: Youtube 7:30

TOMS shoes mission - web site

Predict which companies you think are the most socially responsible then check your predictions

• Top 20 Socially Responsible companies

Discuss:

• If you could run a company or service that used the "one for one" model, what would you make, create, or grow?

• Consider items that might address the needs of people, not just what they want.

Day 5 - Journal Writing: Curing the Environmental

• Take a look at this web site to understand the top 10 environmental problems.

Top 30 environmental concerns

• Pick a problem and think of a way to cure it.

• Draw a picture of what is happening and explain what is being done to solve the problem.

Environmental Cure Journal Page

Day 6 - Kindness Mottos

• A motto is a short expression or phrase that captures the spirit or purpose of a group or action.

• Click here for some examples of mottos many of which you will recognize.

• Here are some mottos or tag lines of nonprofit organizations (a group who's goal is not making money).

Now....

• Let's brainstorm some ideas for a motto that represents an act of kindness.

Kindness Motto List

• It should help others understand that we've made kindness and service a part of who we are and what we do.

Day 7 - Great Projects in the News

• Philanthropy: the desire to help others, especially through the generous donation of money to good causes.

• Take a look at the following people and organizations that raise and donate money to worthwhile causes.

• As you look think about....

  • • How do they describe the problem they want to solve?

    • How do they feel about it?

    • What parts of the world are affected?

    • How are they helping?

• Do any of these actions seem like something you or our class could do?

Americas Top 25 Givers of 2020

Pennies for Peace - watch 1:00 video

Heifer International web site video: 2:00

Day 8 - Public Announcement

• Public service announcements are often made by groups to raise public awareness of a problem in a community.

• Look at each of these PSAs then discuss....

  • • Who is it about?

    • What do they want you to think about (what is their message)?

    • What about them made them so powerful?

  • STEM careers Youtube 1:00

  • World Hunger Youtube :48

  • Internet Safety Youtube :37

  • Ocean Pollution Youtube :47

  • Active for Life Youtube :33

Day 9 - Journal Writing: Mindful Action Badge

• Think of someone (maybe yourself or an organization) who has done something to help others.

• It could have happened in our school, town, state, country or even the world.

• It could be something as simple as picking up garbage around the playground or as big as raising money to feed children in Africa.

• Fill out this award to give to the person or people you are thinking of.

Day 10 - Literature Link