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Reflection Question: What are you most grateful for right now? Explain. You can do this in writing and share it with me through an email or you can share it with someone else.
Safe Place: Create a relaxing and comforting place somewhere in your home or outside. This is a place that you can come to when you are having a strong and challenging emotion or feeling anxious. Make the area a comfortable place to go to ease down stress levels. You can include music, photos, and furniture that are soothing.
Mindfulness: Lets keep this simple this week. Do one minute a day of listening for sounds. Draw a picture or make a list of what you heard.
Walk: Go outside and look for signs of spring. See if you can find at least 10 different clues that spring is coming.
Pick Up: I am creating a "Bag of Goodness" for each of you. Inside the bag, you will find different things to support you as you are at home. There will be collection times in Glenwood, New Castle, Silt and Rifle that you can receive those bags. The times will be posted soon.

What we have once enjoyed, we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.

Hellen Keller

The most powerful weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.

William James

You have the power to train your brain to see the good in this day!

Week Two (April 6-April 10):

What do we have control over?

Reflection Question: Since we are all being safe and staying home, what are you missing the most right now? Explain. You can do this in writing and share it with me through an email or you can share it with someone else.

In and Out of Control:

Watch this video first: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FIL9bOQ2wl-NlW_Sfvkq1BjCsNCYVzji/view
Then complete this worksheet and discuss it with someone. You can print it out or just make one on your own.
In and Out of Control Worksheet

Mindfulness: Draw a figure 8 on a piece of paper, outside on the ground, or make one with something fun like glitter and glue. Then trace that figure 8 for at least one minute. Use this figure 8 over and over if you are feeling anxious. See if you can make your breath follow your tracing.

Taking Care of Self: Pick one of these activities to do for fun: cook, cuddle your pet, walk or bike, or take a nap. Here's an easy recipe to try:

https://jessicainthekitchen.com/watermelon-mint-popsicles-three-ingredients/

Taking Care of Others: Surprise your family members by doing a household chore they usually do which you know they don't like doing.

“You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.”

― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Week Three (April 13-April 17):

Friendship

Reflection Question: Have you learned anything so far about friendship since the stay at home order was put in place? Explain. You can do this in writing and share it with me through an email or you can share it with someone else.

Value of Friendship

Watch this video first:
Best Friends
Then find an empty jar or container, and with a marker or tape label it "Someday Soon". You can get fancy and decorate your jar if you want. Then get some paper and rip it into pieces big enough to write an idea on. When you think of something you can't wait to do with your friends, then write it on the slip of paper and put it in the "Someday Soon" Jar and know that you will be with your friends again someday soon. Think of all the fun things you'll have to do when you're together again.

Mindfulness: One of the best ways you can become better friends is to be completely focused with your friend during your time together. Often when we are with our friends, we don't realize how many times we check our phones, become distracted by texts, or even think about other things while our friends are sharing. During the next week, when you have a time when you are speaking with another person, put your phone far away from you where you can't reach for it. Give all your attention to the person in front of you. That way, when we no longer have to stay in our homes, we will be much better listeners to our friends. Friends really appreciate being valued.

Taking Care of Self: We really can be our own best friends. If you haven't showered, brushed your teeth, combed your hair or washed your face, this week is the time to be a friend to yourself. Value yourself enough to care about your body. I promise it will give you more energy and make you feel alive. See if you can do this daily.

Taking Care of Others: It's time to reach out to your friends through the phone, email, or snail mail. I dare you to tell them why you value their friendship and what they mean to you. It's not an easy thing to do. It takes courage, but the impact is powerful. You will never be disappointed when you show others how much you care.

Miss Amy loving being alone!

Week Four (April 20-April 24):

Being Alone

Reflection Question: Where in your day do you find the most joy? Explain. You can do this in writing and share it with me through an email or you can share it with someone else.

Being Alone- The joys and the sadness!

Here is a video from Miss Amy:
Miss Amy on being alone and lonliness

Make your own "Alone Shield". Take a piece of paper and draw a shield just like the one in the picture. Break it into four parts. Part one ask yourself: "What do I like to do alone?" Write it down.Part Two ask yourself: "What is something that I would like to try doing alone this week?" Write it down.Part Three ask yourself "What strength of mine can help me be okay with being alone? " Write it down.Part Four ask yourself "What might get in the way of me enjoying being alone?" Write it down.

Mindfulness: Blowing Bubbles.

Here is how to make your own recipe for bubbles. Bubble Recipe
Make some bubbles and a wand with a straw.Go outside to a space all by yourself. Blow the bubbles and watch them float away.

Taking Care of Self: Go outside and go cloud watching.

Taking Care of Others: If you know of someone feeling lonely, let them know that you care about them. Drop them a note, take a picture and send it to them, give them a call, or make something for them.

Week Five (April 26-May 1):

Joy:

Reflection Question:

What is the difference between joy and happiness. Explain. You can do this in writing and share it with me through an email or you can share it with someone else.

Finding happiness and experiencing joy.

First watch this Kid President video on laughing: Kid President Laughing
Then make your own laughing video. Here is mine: Miss Amy's Laughing Video

Mindfulness: Remembering Joy

1. Get into your mindful body and close your eyes.2. Take three deep breaths and exhale slowly. 3. Think of a time when you were filled with joy. Maybe you were in a beautiful place, celebrating with your family, or having fun with your friends. 4. Try to remember all of the details of that experience. What was happening? Where were you? Were you alone or with others? What sights and sounds can you remember. If possible, make a mental picture of that time.5. Remember how the experience brought you joy, laughter, and well- being. Did your body feel light? Did you have a lot of energy? Did you feel big or open? Did you feel clear? Take a few moments to feel those things in your body again. Take three more breaths here.6. Practice bringing up this memory and feelings each day for one week. Use this whenever you feel stuck or want to feel happier.

Taking Care of Self: Be goofy! Dance around your room to your favorite music. Let yourself go. Noone is watching.

Taking Care of Others: Smile at each person that you come into contact with...even if you have a mask on.

“If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.” – Roald Dahl

Week Six (May 4-May 8):

Attitude is Everything:

Reflection Question:

Make a list of 20 things that make you smile. You can do this in writing and share it with me through an email or you can share it with someone else.

You are in charge of your thoughts.

Watch this video:How do you look at things?
Now, complete the worksheet in the link. You can print it out or just jot down your ideas on another piece of paper.
Changing a negative into a positive

Mindfulness:

Listen to this guided morning mindfulness:Today is going to be a good day

Taking Care of Self: A breakfast for starting a positive day

Eggs with whole wheat toast and some peanut butter (unless you are allergic to nuts)Oatmeal with rasberries or strawberries and a little honey sprinkled with nuts (unless you are allergic to nuts)Whole wheat toast with avocado

Taking Care of Others:

Try holding the door open or letting someone go before you in line. Little things can make a difference for people who are not having a good day.

“It is a happy talent to know how to play.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Week Seven (May 11-May 15):

Play, Play, Play

Reflection Question:

Do you think playing is important at any age? Why or why not? You can do this in writing and share it with me through an email or you can share it with someone else.

Playing is Essential:

Design a water fall wall. Here is the website: Design Your Own WaterfallPlay water limbo: How to Play Water Limbo

Mindfulness:

One way to play mindfully is to do an "I Spy" worksheet. Here is a link to one that you can print out:"I Spy" Worksheet

Taking Care of Self: Get outside and play.

This is so simple. Just get outside and play. You don't have to have a plan, just do it!

Taking Care of Others:

Think of a person in your family that needs more play in their life. Make a date with them to play even if you don't like to do what they like to do. It's about making them feel joyful!

Week Eight (May 17-May 22):

Endings

Reflection Question:

As the school year is closing think about your favorite moment this year. Describe it. You can do this in writing and share it with me through an email or you can share it with someone else.

How to be okay with endings:

Endings can be hard for some people, but sometimes the sad part of an ending can lead to amazing new adventures. Watch the video and you'll see what I mean: Ending of "Up"
After you watch the video make a chart of those things that you're going to miss about this school year and those things you have to look forward to this summer.

Mindfulness:

Listen to the story: Oh, The Places You'll Go

Taking Care of Self: Connect with a friend from school this week and make a plan to doing something this summer with them either virtually or face to face (of course 6 feet apart).

Taking Care of Others:

Send your teacher a note of gratitude either through email or through snail mail.

“When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It's to enjoy each step along the way.” - Wayne Dyer

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