The Nature of Mindfulness - 60 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 well being for individuals and their communities (ACPPS058)
• Explore how participation in outdoor activities supports personal and community health and well being 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: 60 minutes for each activity.

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

Activity 1: A large posy of gifts from nature, which could include gum nuts, wattle, grasses, reeds, branches of leaves, flowers and herbs (enough for every child in class to handle one). A beautiful thick coloured ribbon to bind the posy. A ‘speaking stick’ and a colourful cloth for children to sit on. 

Activity 2: Strips of recycled paper to make a paper chain. Non-toxic, water based glue with applicators and a range of crayons and pastels.

Activity 3: Your choice of specimens from nature that produce seeds: apples, oranges, strawberries, tomatoes, pumpkins, herbs and so on. Your choice of seeds to plant: fast growing (mung beans, lentils, alfalfa) and slow growing (tomatoes, beans, flowers – depending on the time of year and climatic conditions). A glass jar/rubber band/piece of tulle or porous fabric for fast growing seeds, small pots (or polystyrene boxes) with potting mix for slow growing seeds. Watering can or suitable container. Cutting board and knife to open fruit/vegetables to find seeds. Additional optional resource: audio recording: The Nature of Mindfulness: Kind Inner Seeds – Primary.

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.