For Lesson 8, we concentrated on our breathing and how we can control it, which then helps with what our brain is able to do in class with concentrating and paying attention. We reviewed the word MINDFUL and what it means ~ to really concentrate or focus on something!
We looked at the following picture and talked about how our breathing changes when we are calm and how it changes when we are angry or frustrated:
*When I am angry, frustrated, scared,
nervous or unsure ~ my heart rate will be FAST and QUICK
*When I am calm, happy, ready to learn and
feeling loved ~ my heart rate will be STEADY AND SLOWER
We listened to the following audio clip of a heart beating.........then talked about whether we thought it was from someone who was calm or exercising?
I then had the kids try to find their pulse on their necks with their two fingers.......
We talked about how it felt almost calm and not going really fast. I then had the kids find a safe space in the room. We did jumping jacks and ran in place. We felt for our pulse again.
The kids joined me back on the floor, while taking a few deep breaths. They all talked about how they were feeling ~ 'all pumped up', 'tired', 'moving fast', etc.
We brainstormed ideas how to calm our bodies and breathing so that it would help us to concentrate and focus better.
*The most important message I hope they got from this lesson is that THEY have the ability or power to control their breathing which helps to calm their bodies and brains so that they can focus and learn!*
