-Inner Reflection-
-Inner Reflection-
Embedded Files
HOW TO USE THIS LESSON: The webpage below is intended to be projected for students to follow along. It includes basic instructions, definitions, etc. to guide students. Depending on your technology, you can have a student in charge of scrolling through the site, on your cues. Just have them try not to scroll past the thin purple dividers or thick colored banners until you are ready to start that next section!
You will also need to download and/or print this facilitator's guide. This document contains extra instructions, facilitator's notes, and other behind-the-scenes content necessary for the lesson.
Grade 12 - Inner Reflection (25-30 minutes)Objective: You will gain an understanding of what changes can occur in the brain as a result of practicing mindfulness
Main Activities
Main Activities
Remember this definition of mindfulness from the previous lessons?
"Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment" (Mindfulness, 2017)
With this definition in mind, watch this TEDx Talk as a class.
In this picture, you see several parts of the brain that are involved in practicing mindfulness. Research shows that these areas of the brain physically change in healthy ways with consistent practice of mindfulness.
Let's talk about what these changes look like and what they mean.
The brain is like a muscle - areas that we use frequently grow (or thicken / become more dense), and as that area grows, our ability to use that function increases.
On the other hand, areas that we do not use frequently may shrink, and these functions become less likely to kick in.
Click below to learn what function these areas provide, and how they change with regular mindfulness practice!
Pre-Frontal Cortex
Pre-Frontal Cortex
This part of the brain is often called the "Executive Center" of the brain. It's in charge of decision-making and judgment.
This also includes more nuanced processes like empathy, considering potential consequences, regulating emotions, self-awareness, and morality.
With regular mindfulness practice, this area of the brain grows and becomes stronger.
Hippocampus
Hippocampus
This part of the brain is responsible for learning and memory. You can remember this by thinking about the campus of a school - it's somewhere you go to learn, and you probably really hope all that information sticks in your memory!
This part of the brain grows and is strengthened with regular mindfulness practice.
Amygdala
Amygdala
This part of the brain houses our "fight, flight, or freeze" response. In other words, it is the seat of our experience of stress, fear, and anxiety.
This part of the brain exists to keep us safe and keep us alive. After all, without fear, we wouldn't know to avoid dangerous things! However, sometimes anxiety and fear can get out of hand, and become harmful to us instead of helpful.
This part of the brain decreases in volume after regular mindfulness practice. This means the functions of fear and anxiety are less likely to kick in when they're not needed.
View this short video exploring how meditation and mindfulness impact the brain!
Closing
Closing
Form small groups of about 3 each with the students near you.
Spend 3-4 minutes discussing what you have learned about mindfulness throughout these lessons. Consider these questions as you talk:
What is mindfulness? After learning about it, does it line up with what I expected it to be?
How can mindfulness help me?
What are a few ways to practice mindfulness?
What is one mindfulness practice that I want to try out or use regularly?
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