Week One - The Owl

Grades 4 - 6

 

Subject: Our Brain’s Wise Leader - The Prefrontal Cortex

This week’s lesson is all about our brain’s wise leader, The Prefrontal Cortex.

ATTENTION: If you have not already done so, please review the “Parents - Before You Begin” section prior to Step One of this week’s program.

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 an Owl 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: Listen to the Owl Lesson and Meditation at Bedtime - 8 minutes

When your Owl 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. What sounds did you hear when you practiced Mindful Listening?

  2. How did your body/mind feel when you practiced Mindful Listening?

  3. Did you find it difficult to listen Mindfully?

  4. Did you find that you became distracted (by your own thinking or noises in the house), and if so, were you able to bring your attention back to listening?

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

Practice Mindful Listening when you are lying in your bed in the morning and at night.

Step Five: Listen to these Meditations at Bedtime - 5 minutes each

Every night, at bedtime, choose one of the two Meditations below to practice before you go to sleep.

Step Six: Journal Exercise

Write a response to the following questions:

Please list the sounds you heard when you practiced the Mindful Listening Meditation?

Did you notice any sensations or feelings in your body when you were practicing this meditation (for example sensations in your ears, chest, belly, shoulders, overall body)?

What did you notice in your mind when you practiced Mindful Listening (for example did any sounds trigger your imagination or the creation of a story in your mind)?

Is there a time and place available to you at home that you could practice Mindful Listening?

Sometimes powerful emotions, such as worry or anger, make things more difficult for ourselves, do you think that Mindful Listening could be helpful to you when you are feeling a powerful emotion? Please explain.

Congratulations! You have completed Week One!

Did your Parent/Guardian complete their Week One?