Subtopics

Subtopic 1: Mindfulness in Children 

Essential Question(s):

• What is mindfulness?

Objectives:

• By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

  • Describe mindfulness.

  • Recall examples of mindfulness.

  • Explain when mindfulness can help.

Assessment: 

• A verbal quiz on what mindfulness is.

  • Students will be asked simple questions that will demonstrate their ability to recall examples and describe mindfulness. This is a formative assessment and will be done in a discussion-style setting.

Resources:

• Introduction to Tools for Supporting Emotional Wellbeing in Children and Youth

• Supporting Emotional Wellbeing in Children: Calming Your Mind

Technology:

• Youtube for synchronous learning and asynchronous reinforcement post-instruction. These would require access to a piece of technology that can display video from the web and be accessible to the student.

Subtopic 2: Social Skills & Communication 

Essential Questions:

• What does healthy communication look like for kids? 

• When do we reach out for help? Who do we talk to when we have a problem?

Objectives:

• By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate healthy communication strategies when sharing toys, asking for help from peers and teachers, and expressing their needs

  • Express concerns to teachers to support safety, wellness, and well-being

  • Identify signs of bullying/harassment and apply strategies to approach these situations 

Assessment: 

• Allow students to participate in role-play activities to practice healthy communication and express concerns with teachers

• Students will be shown situations and asked to describe strategies which defuse situations involving bullying/harassment

• Assessment includes thumbs up/down and Q&A to see understanding

Resources:

• Social Skills Video: Think it Or Say It

• R.E.S.P.E.C.T. S8 E4

• Identify the emotion...

• https://positivepsychology.com/communication-activities-adults-students/#kindergarten

  • The above website can help teachers come up with activities for students to improve their communication skills

Technology:

• One mat to act as a center stage

• Toys for demonstration purposes

Subtopic 3: Creativity & Play 

Essential Questions: 

• How do creativity and play contribute to the mental health of children?

Objectives:

• By the end of the lesson, students will be able to

  • Demonstrate how to interact and play with others

  • Recognize different ways to approach interacting with other students/friends

  • Apply safe “methods” for interacting with classmates

Assessment: 

• Allow students to participate selection of different activities to practice and demonstrate different approaches to solving problems when interacting with classmates 

Resources:

• YouTube videos

  • Simon Says Musical Brain Break Game for Kids!

• Group-based games.

  • Board Games

    • Checkers - How to Play CHECKERS!! - (Easy for Kids!)

    • Uno! - How to play Uno

    • Connect four - How to play Connect 4

  • Movement-based games

    • Red Rover - Red Rover

    • Capture the flag - How To Play Capture The Flag?

    • Hide and Seek

  • Educational / Puzzle games

    • https://www.ultraboardgames.com/operation/game-rules.php

    • https://www.mathplayground.com/math-games.html

Subtopic 4: Breathing Strategies 

Essential Question: 

• How can various breathing strategies be used to change the way we feel and promote calmness?

Objectives:

• By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

  • Explain how breathing can regulate emotions

  • Demonstrate a variety of breathing techniques

Assessment: 

• Thumbs up/thumbs down check-in after the lesson followed by a discussion.

• Students will demonstrate the breathing techniques they have learned and teachers will observe. (Ex. box or belly breathing)

Resources:

• 9 breathing exercise videos for children  

• Bear Breaths | Breathing Exercises for Kids Mindfulness (Children Anxiety Relief Meditation)

• Swirling | Meditation for Kids | GoNoodle

• Children's Mental Health Week | Mindful Breathing with Professor Pinwheel

• How Does Breathing Impact The Brain? Learn From A Neuroscientist 

  • This resource is good for teachers to use as background info and then discuss it with their class. Students may not be able to comprehend the video on their own. 

Technology:

• Students will need access to a device with an internet connection so they can play YouTube videos and audio recordings as well as connect via Zoom.

Subtopic 5: Physical Wellbeing

Essential Questions 

• What is physical well being and how does it affect wellness and mindfulness in children?

Objectives

• By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

  • Understand/Explain what physical well-being is and what it looks like. Explain/ Identify the connection between physical well-being and overall wellness and mindfulness

Assessment 

• Through verbal assessment, the children can be asked to explain how they understand what physical well-being is. Through verbal communication, children can explain how they can use physical exercise to help them with their personal wellness and mindfulness. 

Resources

• Mario Run | Mario Brain Break | Super Mario Games For Kids | GoNoodle - YouTube 

• Super Mario Movie Run | Super Mario Movie Run and Freeze | Brain Break | PhonicsMan Fitness - YouTube 

• The Minions Chase & Freeze Dance | Just Dance Brain Break | GoNoodle Inspired - YouTube 

Technology

• They will watch and interact with youtube videos.  Otherwise, most of the physical wellness and well-being activities will be completed without technology.

Subtopic 6: Healthy Eating

Essential Questions 

• What does healthy eating look like?

Objectives

• By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

  • Identify which foods are healthy, and will help them grow and learn.

Assessment 

• Students can be shown a variety of foods and determine if it is healthy, or not the best option by using their thumbs up and down as signals to communicate.

Resources

• Interactive games → sorting or matching food image cards

• Healthy Eating: An introduction for children aged 5-11

• Healthy Eating for Kids - Learn About Carbohydrates, Fats, Proteins, Vitamins and Mineral Salts

• Healthy Food, Unhealthy food, Healthy Vs Unhealthy food, Healthy Food Names, Healthy Eating for kids

Technology

• Students will need internet access as well as a device to engage with class material. Another technology is food image cards.

Check out some of our healthy eating interactive element mockups below!!