CLASSROOM Grades 4 - 6 | Week Six | The Dolphin
Or, Jump To:
Week One - The Owl Week Two - The Guard Dog Week Three - The Hippo Week Four - The Monkey Week Five - The Elephant Week Seven - The Panda Bear Week Eight - The Pig
Week Six - The Dolphin
Classroom Grades 4 - 6
OPTIONAL Week Six Lesson Plan PDF
Subject: Loving Kindness - The Dolphin
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 DIY Belly Buddy Crafting Project - The Dolphin
As with last week, it is recommend that the children start this week’s lesson with the activity of making their own “Dolphin” 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
Art for Kids Hub - Art Lessons - How to Draw for Kids
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 Dolphin 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: Discuss Last Week’s Mindful Challenge
Discuss with students their success and challenges with last week’s Mindful Challenge
Last Week’s Mindful Challenge: When you are experiencing an elephant emotion, count your breath to help calm your body and slow things down so that you create some space to consider your next best step. If the elephant emotion is more of a stampede, go for a mindful walk or run.
The following questions may help you prompt the discussion:
Did anyone remember to try counting their breaths to help calm their body and slow things down when experiencing a powerful elephant emotion?
Put up your hand if you would like to share an elephant emotion / powerful emotion that you experienced in the past week?
How did it feel in your mind and body?
Did anyone try a mindful walk or run to help manage an elephant emotion or stampede?
If yes, what did you notice?
Step Four: Play The Dolphin Lesson & Meditation - 7 minutes
Now that the Sound Check is complete, you will play the Lesson below. Listen and learn with your students!
Step Five: Meditation Reflection - 5+ minutes
Here are some questions to drive follow up discussion.
What special someone did you send Loving Kindness to during the meditation?
How did it feel in your body when you sent this special someone Loving Kindness?
What else did you notice when you practiced the Loving Kindness Meditation (for example thinking and emotions)?
TEACHER’S NOTE: Sometimes students will choose to send Loving Kindness to someone they love who has passed away, and this may prompt feelings of sadness. Many will often do so even when they are directed to choose someone who is alive and well. In the event that this happens, empathize with how difficult it is to lose someone special and ask them if the experience of sending Loving Kindness helped them to feel more connected to the memory of their loved one? Ask them to also experiment with sending Loving Kindness to a special someone who is alive and well, and notice whether this experience feels any different. Ask them to share how the two experiences were alike or different during the next Mindfulness session.
Step Six: Mindful Challenge
Remind students of this week’s Mindful Challenge: Practice sending wishes for health, happiness, peace, love….to someone special.
Step Seven: Daily Meditations - 5 minutes each - 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 Dolphin Belly Buddy craft is not required for these practices). 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 Eight - Additional Activities (Optional)
JOURNAL
Who do you know (friend, family member, neighbor, relative, classmate) who may be struggling with sickness, loneliness, sadness? Make a list of the simple things you could do to help this person.
Write a letter to someone you are thankful to have in your life. Explain in your letter what it is about this someone that makes him or her so special to you and why you are so thankful to have this person in your life. Give your letter to this special person.
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)
Q: Is giving better than receiving?
A: One study of 600 people actually found that spending money on others actually makes you feel happier than spending money on yourself.
Q: Can you teach someone how to be kind?
A: “It’s kind of like weight training, we found that people can actually build up their compassion “muscle” and respond to others’ suffering with care and a desire to help.” Dr. Ritchie Davidson, University of Wisconsin
Q: Can acts of kindness increase your lifespan, or how long you will live?
A: Yes, regular acts of kindness can increase your lifespan. People who volunteer their time experience a 44% lower likelihood of dying earlier. Research suggests that acts of kindness have a stronger effect on lifespan than exercising 4 times a week.
Q: If you do not have money to share are there other ways you can give that will increase your happiness.
volunteer your time to help other people
bring your toys to a homeless shelter
hold a door for someone
give a stranger a compliment
help someone to put groceries in their car
run an errand
read a book to an elderly person
let someone cut in front of you in line
pay for the person’s take out order who is behind you in the drive thru line
Q: Is kindness contagious? Can one person’s kindness affect another person and increase that person’s ability to perform an act of kindness?
A: According to the Random Acts of Kindness Organization, “The positive effects of kindness are experienced in the brain of everyone who witnessed the act, improving their mood and making them significantly more likely to “pay it forward.” This means one good deed in a crowded area can create a domino effect and improve the day of dozens of people!”
Q: Do acts of kindness affect the brain?
A: Scientists have discovered that when you are kind the reward centre of the brain lights up. Kindness triggers the release of feel-good chemicals into your bloodstream. These feel good chemicals (for example, serotonin and oxytocin), help to calm you down, heal wounds, improve your heart health, decrease anxiety, stress and depression.