Mindful Mondays

Activity: Mindful Mondays

BC Curriculum Big Ideas:

PHE: Knowing how our bodies move and function helps us stay safe during exercise.

PHE: Finding enjoyable recreational activities can motivate people to participate more regularly in physical activity.

Art: Aesthetic experiences have the power to transform our perspective.

EDCI 448/487 Big Ideas:

Personalized learning focuses on quality relationships with learners in which the teachers are responsive in their curriculum and instruction to the ongoing needs, strengths and aspirations of the individual learner.

First Peoples Principles: 

Learning is holistic, reflexive, reflective, experiential, and relational (focused on connectedness, on reciprocal relationships, and a sense of place).

Activity purpose and overview:

• A big theme throughout this program has been the importance of mental health and practicing mindfulness. It is so important that we practice and promote mindfulness in our classrooms so that students have a safe comfortable space to recharge, rest, and take a break from their stressful school lives. As we have learned, ELL students especially may be often exhausted from trying to keep up with regular lesson content as well as the language. Other students may be so busy, they don’t have time to rest or practice any form of meditation. This activity provides this space and time for students so they may take a break and hopefully promote healthy habits, better focus and deeper learning.
• Every Monday, students will be guided through a session of mindfulness practice which can be offered in various forms. Some may take part in a yoga sequence or meditation, (guided by teacher or possibly student) while others can choose a free write or free draw session at their desks during the same time. Activities may alternate and allow for student leadership depending on interest and engagement. These Monday sessions are best carried out in a quiet, spacious setting (make space in the classroom, provide low lighting, possibly an outdoor option, and recorded sound), and for a period of time agreed upon by the teacher and students. The point of this session is meant to be open-ended so as to provide relief and not add more stress to the students’ day.

Instructions:

• Create space in classroom if outdoors is not an option
• Open class discussion around stigma of mental-health and importance of well-being before first session
• Provide some videos on common mindful practices (yoga poses, meditation, free draw) before first session
• For the first session, the teacher will lead a simple yoga sequence for those who choose to partake. Students who choose not to, may stay at their desks and practice a form of meditation or rest through free-writing and drawing while listening to the music playing for the class
• As sessions progress and students become more comfortable and aware of their preferences for mindfulness monday, students may volunteer to provide the following week’s routine (ie. yoga, meditation, breathing exercise) while others may continue to use the time to draw or write

Equipment needed:

• yoga mats (encourage students to bring their own if they have them)
• music
• calming classroom setting (lamps, low lights, reading nook etc)
• Drawing and writing tools

Rationale as an effective ELL activity:

• ELL students face additional stressors to those of their non-ELL peers
• There is often increased anxiety around “fitting in” as an ELL teenager amongst peers, and in society in general, in addition to the educational challenges faced as a person new to the English language and Canadian culture
• ELL students may have a limited support network (i.e. if an international student or new to Canada), for these reasons, mindfulness training and practice can provide ELL students with many benefits
• This activity ties health concepts of the PHE curriculum with the foundational core competencies of personal awareness and responsibility and positive personal and cultural identity
• By providing a safe space to practice mindfulness, ELL and all other students are encouraged to support one another and form relationships through these calming sessions
• ELL students are provided the option for a free-write or draw where they do not have to worry about language or grammar and create what comes naturally to them at that time (provides a brain-break)

Transdisciplinary Connections:

• This activity can be transdisciplinary because it can be applied in any classroom setting and benefits ALL types of learners in all subject areas. The benefits of mindfulness monday positively affects students in many domains (i.e. personal, social, cognitive, physical).

Adaptations/Modifications:

• Show videos of different mindful practices (yoga, meditation, breathing, drawing exercise)
• Students may choose to lead a session with their choice of practice. This can be done individually or pairs
• Allow students who have other forms of mindful practices to share during a session (other cultural/indigenous practices). It is important to not make assumptions about what we think are the only options for practicing mindfulness from our western perspective