Week Eight - The Pig

Grades 4 - 6

Subject: Positive Thoughts - The Pig

This week’s lesson is all about the power of positive thoughts - The Pig.

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 Pig 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 Pig Lesson & Meditation - 7 minutes

When your Pig 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 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!

  1. Were you able to remember a funny time?

  2. If yes, how did it feel in your body when you remembered this funny moment?

  3. Was there a spot in your body where you could notice more feelings/sensations when you practiced filling your mind with happy thoughts (for example, a smile on your face, taking a deep breath, tingling in my body)?

  4. If you had trouble remembering a funny moment, take some time to think about funny movies, videos you have watched or experiences you have had.  Have this funny experience ready to help you out with this week’s Mindful Challenge.

Step Four: Do you remember your Mindful Challenge for this week?

Notice grumpy thoughts and after spotting the grumpy thought do your best to send your thinking into a happier direction by remembering a funny moment.

Step Five: Listen to this Meditation at Bedtime - 6 minutes

Every night, at bedtime, practice this Positive Thoughts Meditation before you go to sleep.

Step Six: Journal Exercise

If you were to create your own POSITIVITY PACKAGE….a box filled with all of the things/activities you need to help rescue you from a negative mood or thinking pattern, what would it include?  Make a list of the things/experiences you would pack into your POSITIVITY PACKAGE.  These are the things that help you to lift your mood from a negative to a more positive one.

Congratulations! You have completed Week Eight!

Did your Parent/Guardian complete their Week Eight?