BEDTIME Grades 1 - 3 | Week Four | The Monkey
Or, Jump To:
Week One - The Owl Week Two - The Dog Week Three - The Hippo Week Five - The Elephant Week Six - The Dolphin Week Seven - The Panda Week Eight - The Pig
Week Four - The Monkey
Grades 1 - 3
Subject: Our Busy Thinking Minds - The Monkey
This week’s lesson is all about how our busy thinking mind can keep us from being able to focus - The Monkey MInd.
Step One: The DIY Belly Buddy Crafting Project
Make your own Belly Buddy!
In order to get the most out of the Belly Buddy program, you will first need to make this week’s Belly Buddy. A Belly Buddy is an animal craft that relates to this week’s brain science lesson. You will need it for the Lesson and the Meditation practice. We recommend you make The Monkey Belly Buddy from a toilet paper roll. Make it as early in the week as you can, so you have time to use it during the week. Click here for toilet paper animal template.
When you are done, roll up an old sock and push it inside the toilet paper roll to give your Belly Buddy some weight and stability.
A Streamlined Option
Simply use a plush toy or place a hand on the belly while practicing the bedtime lesson and meditation.
Step Two: Play The Monkey Lesson & Meditation - 7 minutes
When your Monkey Belly Buddy is complete, (or you may choose to use an existing plush toy or to simply place a hand on the belly in place of the Belly Buddy), listen to the Lesson and Meditation below, at bedtime. You can listen with your Parent/Guardian, or on your own. You can come back and listen to the lesson as often as you like. Your Parents/Guardians also have their own Monkey Lesson to listen to. Ask them if they plan to take their Mindfulness lesson this week!
Step Three: Meditation Reflection
Consider these questions on your own or discuss with a Parent/Guardian. There are no wrong answers!
Today when you practiced Mindful Breathing did you notice your thinking mind?
What thoughts did you notice?
After you noticed that you were thinking, were you able to come back to the breath in your body, or were you carried completely away from the present moment? (If you were carried completely away, that’s okay, just do your best next time to bring your attention back to the breath)
Step Four: Do you remember your Mindful Job for this week?
Mindful Breathing and paying attention to the thinking mind. This week, be sure to notice the monkey in your mind jumping from thought to thought. When you notice your monkey mind is jumping around, practice bringing your attention to your breath and see if this can help you to come back to right here and right now, the present moment.
Step Five: Listen to this Meditation at Bedtime - 5 minutes
Every night, at bedtime, practice this Sky Meditation before you go to sleep.
Step Six: Journal Exercise
When the monkey in your mind sits still inside your head what does it look like inside your mind? Please draw a picture of your monkey mind sitting still.