Teaching Sequence

Activity 1. A Posy of Possibilities

Resources:

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’ - choose a beautiful smooth stick/piece of wood (use sandpaper if necessary) to serve as a speaking stick (based on the American Indian tradition). This enables each child to mindfully and purposefully speak, encourages patience and ‘taking turns’, and helps others listen attentively and respectfully.
A colourful cloth for the children to sit on

Preparation:

Find a suitable space for this activity. Collect and prepare the 'speaking stick' and posy.

Introduction:

Discuss with children that presents and gifts do not all come from shops or cost money. There are all kinds of gifts that we can give that do not cost money, and there are wonderful natural gifts all around us.

Procedure:

Step 1.

Invite children to walk quietly and mindfully to the outdoor space, noticing what they can see, hear, feel and smell along the way.

Step 2.

Settle children in a large circle, with the nature posy in the centre. Share the quote: "A wonderful gift may not be wrapped as you would expect" - Jonathon Lockwood Huie.

Step 3.

Explain to the students how to use the ‘speaking stick’.

Step 4.

Discuss the concept that so many gifts in life are free and come from nature. Ask students to share their thoughts and ideas with the ‘speaking stick’.

Step 5.

Open the nature posy, reminding students that this is a beautiful gift from nature. Invite each student to choose one stem/item.

Step 6.

Explain to students that noticing this specimen is a mindful practice. To help notice with our fingers, eyes and nose it is important that our tongue is quiet. Allow time for students to carefully examine their specimen.

Step 7.

Invite students to share around the circle what is special, different and interesting about their specimen and why it is a ‘gift’.

Step 8.

Explain to students that we have inner gifts that can be called ‘character strengths’. These are qualities and values like kindness, honesty, loyalty, creativity, generosity, fairness, gratitude, hope and humour.

Step 9.

Using the ‘speaking stick’, invite students to share what is special, different and wonderful about a classmate.

Step 10.

Invite students to mindfully meditate, either sitting in a circle or lying down on their backs, with their feet facing outwards. Suggest that they place their hands to rest over their heart and quietly enjoy reflecting on all their gifts: seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, feeling and thinking kind thoughts.

Invite students to share their feedback and reflections:

Ask children to share what they noticed during this lesson.
Ask children if they can think of ways to share the gifts of nature every day.

Activity 2: The Chain of Life

Resources:

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

Preparation:

Using a guillotine, cut the paper into matching strips.
Locate a suitable space outside for this activity, with access to different surfaces: gravel, rocks, leaves, timber (these will be used for rubbing to create textures on paper strips).
If necessary, source your own textures beforehand: bark, leaves, trays of gravel, dried reeds, stems, etc.

Introduction:

Introduce the idea of the ‘chain of life’ to students. Explain how when we pause to think about it, everything in nature is connected and interdependent (including humans).

Explain to students that in this activity a ‘chain of life’ will be created with paper chains. Ask them for ideas as to what elements could be included in this chain (e.g. sun, clouds, rain, wind, soil, grass, flowers, plants, trees, insects, animals and humans). Write a list of these elements on a large sheet of cardboard to be taken outside. Ask children for suggestions for a colour to represent each element, and colour a circle next to each word.

Procedure:

Step 1.

Invite students to walk quietly and mindfully to the outdoor space, noticing what they can see, hear, feel and smell along the way.

Step 2.

Settle students in a large circle and share the quote: “If you truly get in touch with a piece of carrot, you get in touch with the soil, the rain, the sunshine … you feel in touch with true life, your roots, and that is meditation” - Thich Nhat Hahn.

Step 3.

Remind children of the intention of this activity: to pause and notice the ‘chain of life’ all around them and to help to make a beautiful paper 'chain of life' to hang in their classroom.

Step 4.

Provide students with a selected range of pastels and crayons (to create an overall even palette of colours for the chain).

Step 5.

Demonstrate to students how to make a rubbing from a surface with crayons on paper strips (or alternatively, provide pre-prepared textures to rub).

Step 6.

Explain to students the boundaries of the area where they are permitted to explore in order to take rubbings from the natural environment.

Step 7.

Organise students into groups to make parts of the chain.

Step 8.

Returning to the circle, join all parts of the chain to complete a long, beautiful ‘chain of life’. Place this chain in the centre of the circle.

Step 9.

Ask all the students to sit with their legs crossed, then raise their right hand in the air and rest it on their lap, with the palm facing upwards. Then instruct everyone to move their left hand over to hold the right hand of the person sitting next to them.

Step 10.

Congratulate everyone on creating a human chain of friendly hands.

Step 11.

Invite students to enjoy a few moments, sitting quietly together. Suggest that they all shut their eyes so they can notice the warm, soft hands resting quietly together; the strong, quiet earth underneath them; the gentle air moving around them; the sounds of leaves, trees and birds and the gentle sound of their own breathing.

Step 12.

Gently invite students to return their attention and open their eyes. Finish with a ‘chain of smiles’ being passed around the circle.

Invite students to share their feedback and reflections:

Ask students what they enjoyed and noticed during this session.
Invite students to think of ways to help take care of the wonderful ‘chain of life’ in nature (for example, picking up rubbish, turning off lights and taps, watering plants, etc).

Activity 3: Kindness Seeds

Resources:

Your choice of specimens from nature that produce seeds: apples, oranges, strawberries, tomatoes, pumpkin, herbs, etc
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
Optional audio recording: The Nature of Mindfulness: Kind Inner Seeds - Primary and audio playing equipment.

Preparation:

Soak fast sprouting seeds overnight in water.
Prepare pots for slow growing seeds.

Introduction:

Explain to students that nature is brimming with life and endless possibilities to create life. Share a few examples of how amazingly ‘creative’ nature is. Use simple examples of plants, fruit and vegetables known to the students. For example, a tomato has up to 50 seeds, an apple has 5-6, and an orange has 6-8. A dandelion has 54-172 seeds per head and an oak tree can produce around 75,000-150,000 acorns a year!

Procedure:

Step 1.

Invite students to walk quietly and mindfully to a designated learning space (preferably outside), noticing what they can see, hear, feel and smell along the way.

Step 2.

Settle students in a large circle and share the quote: “All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today” (Swedish proverb).

Step 3.

Discuss the information in the introduction with the students. Explain that in this activity they will notice how creative and abundant life is.

Step 4.

Show students your choice of examples of seeds from nature. Use a knife to open fruits and vegetables so that students can closely inspect and handle them.

Step 5.

Where possible, ask children to count seeds.

Step 6.

Explain that different seeds need different conditions/environments and different times to germinate and grow. Show students the fast growing seeds. Place the rinsed seeds in a jar and cover the opening with gauze and a rubber band. Explain that all these seeds need kind care with light and daily rinsing.

Step 7.

If possible, involve children in planting slow growing seeds in pots. Explain that these seeds need kind care with good soil, light and water to grow.

Step 8.

Remind students that they too are full of unlimited ‘kind seeds of possibilities’ with their thoughts, feelings, words and actions. Discuss ways they can be kind to themselves and each other; then discuss ways they can be kind to nature.

Step 9.

If students have moved to other areas of the learning space, invite them to return to sitting together in a large circle. Place the newly planted seeds in the middle of the circle, and invite children to practice a ‘Kind Inner Seeds meditation’.

Step 10.

Finish practice with sharing a circle of smiles.

The Nature of Mindfulness: Kind Inner Seeds - Primary (https://soundcloud.com/cool-australia/track-3-cool-aust)

How to use this audio recording: Teachers may listen to the audio in preparation for the activity, as it provides a model for how they can run it themselves. Alternatively, teachers may simply play the recording directly to students if they prefer (audio equipment required).

Invite students to share their feedback and reflections:

Ask children to share what they enjoyed and noticed during this activity.
Discuss with children how the newly planted seeds will be cared for.
Discuss ways to grow kindness in the classroom and kind acts for the natural world - both in the school and at home.

Reflection

Conduct a class discussion about how students felt before, during and after each of the activities.

Did their attention wander? Were they able to bring their attention back to the meditation practice?
How did they feel emotionally? What did they think of the activities? Which aspects did they enjoy? Why?
Have they noticed any changes within themselves, in others or in the class as a whole?

Extension

Discuss with students how this practice can be done at home.
Encourage older children to keep a mindfulness journal so they can record their feelings, observations and drawings - noting any changes they have observed in themselves, in others or in the class as a whole. Alternatively, younger children could conduct one-on-one interviews with each other to reflect on how they feel and any changes they may have observed in themselves and in each other.

The Nature of Mindfulness - 60 minutes

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