Overview:
In this lesson, students will explore a mindful breathing technique called “Slide Breath,” and they will create “worry stones”. Learning these techniques will help students calm down when feeling stressed or anxious. If time/location permits, have students collect their stones outside before the activity. If there is no access to stones nearby, the instructor can bring stones or clay to create stones.
NB Curricular Connections
Explore Your World
- Strand: Well-Being – Big Idea: Physical Health and Active Participation – Skill Descriptor: Analyze personal safety and healthy practices.
- Strand: Well-Being – Big Idea: Emotional Health and Positive Identities – Skill Descriptor:
- Explore activities that foster enjoyment and well-being.
- Recognize that feelings and emotions can impact well-being, relationships, and the way we engage with others.
Personal Wellness 3-5
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- Strand: Wellness – Big Idea: Healthy Lifestyle – Skill Descriptor:
- Grade 3: Analyze personal safety and healthy practices.
- Grade 4: Describe personal safety and healthy practices.
- Grade 5: Assess personal safety and healthy practices.
- Strand: Mental Fitness – Big Idea: Mental Health Strategies – Skill Descriptor:
- Grade 3: Demonstrate self-calming strategies to regulate emotional reactions.
- Grade 4: Identify strategies for regulating emotional reactions.
- Grade 5: Identify strategies for seeking support for self and others.
- Strand: Mental Fitness – Big Idea: Positive Mental Health – Skill Descriptor:
- Grade 3: Explore the importance of talking about emotions and emotional responses.
- Grade 4: Describe the seven primary emotions and their expression.
- Grade 5: Identify ways to manage stress and regulate emotions.
- Strand: Wellness – Big Idea: Healthy Lifestyle – Skill Descriptor:
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What you’ll need:
- A slide on the playground. (optional)
- Rocks, or clump of clay (1 for each student)
- Song, “Happy” by Pharrell Williams
- Internet, computer, speakers
- K-5 Mindfulness Resource (PDF attached)
Instructions:
Step 1: The instructor will teach students about slide breath in the first activity. Have students close their eyes and visualize they are at the bottom of the steps of the playground slide. Some students may need to look at a photo to help them imagine this. Ask students to inhale as they imagine climbing up the ladder of the slide. Then, tell them to hold their breath briefly as they imagine sitting at the top. Younger students may want to act this out by moving their feet and hands and bending their knees as they imagine themselves climbing a slide. Finally, tell students to imagine that they are going down the slide VERY slowly as they gently exhale. Students may want to swoop their arms softly in the air as if they follow the slide’s curves with their slow exhale. Repeat a few times until the students are calm and ready to learn!
Step 2: Brainstorm and discuss with students some situations when they might want to use slide breathing. Ask them, “Have there been situations on the playground when using this strategy would have been helpful? Why would it have helped?”.
Step 3: After discussing slide breathing, ask students if they sometimes have worries that bother them; spend some time allowing them to share their stories. Next, explain to students that the worry stone can be used when they want to make themselves feel better, just like the slide breathing helps them be calmer and more mindful. Instruct students to just squeeze or rub the stone with their thumb and forefinger to help rub their worries away. Some people like to use a worry stone to remind them that they are loved and will write words or drawings on it to remind them of a special person or memory to make them feel better when they are down.
Step 4: Distribute the stones, or if you have appropriate space and time, students can visit the playground and mindfully walk around the playground in search of the perfect stone. If so, ask them to move quietly about and pay attention to anything they see, smell, touch or hear as they find the ideal stone. Ask them to tell the class 3 things they noticed during their mindful walk. Alternatively, students can make their own worry stone. Use air-dry clay, roll into small balls, and students push their thumb in it to make a slight scoop shape. When it dries, it can be painted and spray sealed for their personalized worry stone. Tell the students to pay attention to anything they see, hear, smell, or touch as they shape the clay. Ask them to share what they notice.
Step 5: Read the “Worry Stone” poem aloud to the class:
“WORRY STONE”
I’m your little worry stone,
Please keep me close to you.
So when life gives you blues or troubles,
This is what you do.
Wrap your hand around me,
Give me a rub and say,
Be gone all worries and sadness,
For today will be a wonderful day!
Step 6: Explain to students that breathing techniques can also help lift their mood. The Breath of Joy is a great breathing exercise to do when feeling tired or sad. It lifts your mood, increases your heart rate and circulation, and gives you more energy. Follow along with this video: Breath of Joy
Step 7: End the lesson on a happy note and dance along or sing along to “Happy”. Happy by Pharrell Williams OR the Minions version with lyrics HAPPY – Pharrell Williams (feat. Minions)
Additional Web Resources:
Questions Related to The Labour Market and Employment Opportunities In NB:
- What kinds of jobs are involved in planning and building playgrounds? (Computer designers who sketch the designs, metal fabricators, mechanical engineers, painters, computer engineers, constructions workers, etc.)
- What must the workers who assemble the playground equipment keep in mind in order for everyone to be safe? (Stay calm and focused and on task to ensure all the pieces are put together correctly, make sure the nuts and bolts are tightened, no sharp parts that someone can cut themselves, etc.)
Reflection Activity
Please see the attached PDF for several choices on how you and your learners can reflect upon today’s activity.
