Mindful Awareness: Focusing on what is happening RIGHT NOW - in a kind, nonjudgmental way. Paying close attention to what you are doing and where you are.
Key Players in the Brain
Clarify for the Class
Something Happens (input) Shake the bottle: amygdala on alert - information scattered
Nice (pleasurable) - straight to prefrontal cortex where THOUGHT IS GIVEN before you respond
Not Nice (threatening) - blocked by the amygdala - NO THOUGHT is given - quick fight / flee / freeze
The amygdala can't tell between a REAL threat (walking in front of a moving car) or something that really won't hurt you (stress over a test)
When we CAN THINK about what we are going to do BEFORE we do it - this is MINDFUL BEHAVIOR
Have you ever been asked to count to 10 when you are angry?
Did it help? Why?
What do you think the amygdala was doing when you said "1" and later when you said "10"?
Play Mindful or Unmindful - smartboard activity
Can also use worksheet: page 153
Add to, then copy and post these Mindful actions:
I think before I act or speak
I pay attention to things around me.
I focus when I listen.
I always do my best to be "in the moment."
Focusing on Sounds Practice
Review the 5 senses.
Explain that we will be focusing on using our ears.
Sit comfortably with your eyes closed while you listen carefully for 30 seconds.
Discuss and list the things everyone heard.
Repeat and listen for the things your didn't hear the 1st time.
Coming and Going of the Rain
While sitting quietly in a circle the teacher (or leader) walks around facing each player. The student (and ONLY that student) facing the leader copies what the leader is doing.
1st time around the circle the leader rubs both hands together.
2nd time around - snap fingers.
3rd time around - clap hands gently
4th time around - slap hands on thighs
5th time around - stamp feet
6th time around - slap hands on thighs
7th time around - clap hands gently
8th time around - snap fingers
9th time around - rub hands together
10th time around - hold hands still
Discuss what was just experienced and heard.
Talk about yesterday's warm-up activity. While you were listening you were being mindful.
Let's see if you can tell the difference between someone being Mindful or UnMindful.
Read the examples from page 153 and place in the right category.
You taste a food to decide whether you like it.
You see a carrot for the 1st time and decide you hate it because you hate all orange food.
Being mindful takes practice. We're going to do our best to be mindful. We are going to try to think before we speak or act.
When we see unmindful behavior we can nicely remind one another and ourselves to "use your PFC, please!"
What are some examples of times you can remember doing something mindful?
Print and copy this Mindful Journal Page
On one side illustrate and write a sentence about when you were mindful.
On the other side illustrate and write a sentence about an example of unmindful behavior.
Career Connection
EMT = Emergency Medical Technician - first at an accident scene, must:
remain calm
focus on what happened
decide what action is needed
perform emergency medical care
Mindfulness - quick, clear thinking VERY important
A Day in the Life of an EMT - 3:00 YouTube video
Discuss
What other jobs require laser-like attention (extreme mindfulness)?
Once a Day
Think of one mindful decision you made. How did your PFC guide your wise choice?
If you can project a word on a board or screen that is OUT of focus.
Slowly focus the word and ask "how does the picture change?"
When a picture is in focus it becomes CLEAR.
When we focus our attention it also becomes clear.
Think of a way to draw a picture for the word FOCUS so you can remember it.
Who are some people in our school who act in mindful ways?
Let us choose one of these people and think of how they act in a mindful ways.
Use this Mindful People worksheet,
What kind of important decisions does this person make?
What are some things people do without thinking that harm our environment ( earth, air and water)?
What can happen to our environment when people act in an unmindful way?
Let's list some mindful ways we can help our environment such as conserving or improving the air, earth and water which are very important for our well-being.
by Jane Yolen