The Nature of Mindfulness - 15 minutes

Australian Curriculum content descriptions:

Foundation Health and Physical Education:

• Identify and describe emotional responses people may experience in different situations (ACPPS005)
• Identify actions that promote health, safety and wellbeing (ACPPS006)

Year 1 & 2 Health and Physical Education:

• Identify and practise emotional responses that account for own and others’ feelings (ACPPS020)
• Explore actions that help make the classroom a healthy, safe and active place (ACPPS022)

Year 3 & 4 Health and Physical Education:

• Explore strategies to manage physical, social and emotional change (ACPPS034) 
• Identify and practise strategies to promote health, safety and well being (ACPPS036)

Year 5 & 6 Health and Physical Education:

• Plan and practise strategies to promote health, safety and well being (ACPPS054)
• Examine the influence of emotional responses on behaviour and relationships (ACPPS056)
• Investigate the role of preventive health in promoting and maintaining health, safety and wellbeing for individuals and their communities (ACPPS058)
• Explore how participation in outdoor activities supports personal and community health and wellbeing and creates connections to the natural and built environment (ACPPS059)

Syllabus Outcomes: COS1.1, INS1.3, IRS1.11, SLS1.13, GDS2.9, PHS2.12, SLS2.13, PHS3.12, SLS3.13, COS3.1, INS3.3, IRS3.11, SLS3.13, ALS3.6.

Time required: 15 minutes for each activity – these activities have been designed to ‘punctuate’ the day. 

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – lead students in mindfulness activities.

Activity 1: A sketch pad for each child, coloured pencils and crayons to share, a selection of flowers and specimens from nature (depending on what is available in the school grounds). 

Activity 2: Your choice of instrument to provide a strong, clear sound, e.g. singing bowl, chimes, drum, etc.

Activity 3: Your choice of a loud, clear instrument, such as cymbal, gong or drum. You may also like to source a copy of the Winnie the Pooh book titled ‘ The House at Pooh Corner’ written by A. A. Milne and illustrated by E. H. Shepard and read a simple story with students before introducing the activity.

Following this lesson is an ideal way for students to participate in Planet Ark’s Schools Tree Day – the largest nature-care event in Australian schools. So, get growing! It only takes a minute to register for Schools Tree Day.