CLASSROOM Grades 4 - 6 | Week One | The Owl
Or, Jump To:
Week Two - The Dog Week Three - The Hippo Week Four - The Monkey Week Five - The Elephant Week Six - The Dolphin Week Seven - The Panda Bear Week Eight - The Pig
Subject: Our Brain’s Wise Leader - The Prefrontal Cortex - The Owl
Requirements: You will need internet access and a laptop, tablet or smartphone for accessing this content. You will need a wired or Bluetooth connection to a speaker to amplify the audio into the classroom. You DO NOT need a screen or projector as each lesson is audio only from your device and requires students to close their eyes and/or focus on their Belly Buddy.
Step One: The Belly Buddy
A Belly Buddy is an animal craft that corresponds with this week’s brain science lesson and will serve as an object of focus for in school mediation practice. We recommend that the children start this week’s lesson with the activity of making their own “Owl” Belly Buddy. For the Classroom version of this program it is recommended that students draw their belly buddy animal on a sheet of paper. The finished drawing can be placed on the student’s desk and used as a focal point during the meditation. Teachers may choose to tie this drawing activity to Art Education Curriculum Expectations. Drawings can be placed in a duo tang and stored in students’ desks. A favourite tool to assist students with their artwork is Art For Kids Hub
As an alternative to drawing a picture, teachers may choose to have students create the toilet paper roll animal that is used during the bedtime version of the program. Click here for toilet paper animal template.
Step Two: Soundcheck - 30 seconds
Before beginning The Owl Lesson and Meditation, play the Sound Check file below to ensure your speakers are working correctly and that all students can hear the audio effectively. This also serves as a way to get the students to settle down, be still, and prepare to listen.
Step Three: Play the Owl Lesson & Meditation - 7 minutes
Now that the Sound Check is complete, you will play the Lesson below. Listen and learn with your students!
Step Four: Meditation Reflection - 5 + minutes
Prompt student discussion with the following questions. There are no wrong answers!
What sounds did you hear when you practiced Mindful Listening?
How did your body/mind feel when you practiced Mindful Listening?
Did you find it difficult to listen Mindfully?
Did you find that you became distracted (by your own thinking or other students), and if so, were you able to bring your attention back to listening?
Step Five: Mindful Challenge
Remind students of this week’s Mindful Challenge. Practice Mindful Listening when you are lying in bed in the morning and at night.
Step Six: Daily Meditations - 3 - 4 minutes - Practice Various Times During the Week
With the audio lesson complete, you are encouraged to take time during the balance of the week to practice with students the guided meditation/s below. The ‘Daily Meditations’ are in support of each week’s lesson, but you can come back to them as often as you like. Typically they are 3 - 6 minutes each. These meditations are also included as a part of the Bedtime Program (accessed through the Bedtime Program students sign up for with their FREE Promo Code) and students are encouraged to practice one per night at bedtime. It is recommended that Parents/Guardians practice along with their child and then build onto this practice by participating in the Parent program.
These meditations are a useful tool to help settle students after a recess, lunch break, or physical activity.
Step Seven - Additional Activities (Optional)
JOURNAL
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.
DEEP DIVE LEARNING QUESTIONS ( BASED ON YOUR STUDENTS’ READINESS, PLEASE SELECT FROM THE QUESTIONS BELOW TO PROMPT A MORE IN-DEPTH BRAIN SCIENCE CLASS DISCUSSION)
The following questions are best used when repeating the program for a second time.
Question: Does anyone remember the scientific name for our brain’s wise leader?
Answer: The Prefrontal Cortex
Question: Can you recall from the session where your Prefrontal Cortex is located?
Answer: Right behind your forehead
Question: How does mindful meditation help to build the strength of the brain’s wise leader?
Answer: Each time we practice mindful meditation we practice bringing our attention to one thing at a time. Each time we focus our attention on one thing we are making our brain stronger, it is like exercise for the brain.