Activity: Students will practice relaxed breathing while listening to the video. They will follow the meditation in the video and do an activity that follows the example in the video - they will write down their worries, insert the worry paper in the balloon (or tie it on the balloon’s string), and launch their worries into outer space.
Materials needed: the video; small pieces of paper, big enough for students to write down their worries; balloons, one per student, big enough to hold a piece of paper when it’s inflated and launched
Directions: Explain: “Today you will learn how to breathe in a special, relaxed way, and you will practice something called mindfulness meditation that will help you let go of your worries and use your imagination to shine your light on the inside of you, your thoughts, your feelings, your hopes, your dreams.” Ask students to sit comfortably in their seats and follow the video instructions on how to breathe. Show the video and ask students to share their thoughts about it. Tell students that during the meditation they used their imaginations to fill a balloon with their worries, and now they will use a real balloon. Pass out papers and ask them to write down any worries they have anonymously. Give them 5 minutes and ask them to roll their papers tightly so they’ll fit inside the balloon. Students put their papers inside their balloons. Tell them to tie a knot in the balloon, and get ready to launch it. Ask students to shout out three times, “Let go of my worries!” as they let the balloons go, either inside the classroom or outside. Because students may want to keep their worries private, remove all the balloons (if it’s done inside).
Wrap it up: Tell students to remember that when they are able to let go of the “worry emotions”, it’s much easier to think about solutions to their problems. Explain: “The ‘worry emotions’ block helpful feelings, thoughts, and actions that can lead to solving the problem that is causing you to worry. Remember the video and use the same mindfulness meditation whenever you need to. Begin by finding a quiet place where you can be by yourself or ask a trusted adult to do this with you. Take at least 3 deep breaths, think about your worries, use your imagination and create a balloon that is there in front of you to take your worries away. Then imagine putting your worries in the balloon and letting it go.”
Activity: Students will practice relaxed breathing while listening to the video. They will follow the meditation in the video and do an activity that follows the example in the video - they will write down their worries, insert the worry paper in the balloon (or tie it on the balloon’s string), and launch their worries into outer space.
Materials needed: the video; small pieces of paper, big enough for students to write down their worries; balloons, one per student, big enough to hold a piece of paper when it’s inflated and launched
Directions: Explain: “Today you will learn how to breathe in a special, relaxed way, and you will practice something called mindfulness meditation that will help you let go of your worries and use your imagination to shine your light on the inside of you, your thoughts, your feelings, your hopes, your dreams.” Ask students to sit comfortably in their seats and follow the video instructions on how to breathe. Show the video and ask students to share their thoughts about it. Tell students that during the meditation they used their imaginations to fill a balloon with their worries, and now they will use a real balloon. Pass out papers and ask them to write down any worries they have anonymously. Give them 5 minutes and ask them to roll their papers tightly so they’ll fit inside the balloon. Students put their papers inside their balloons. Tell them to tie a knot in the balloon, and get ready to launch it. Ask students to shout out three times, “Let go of my worries!” as they let the balloons go, either inside the classroom or outside. Because students may want to keep their worries private, remove all the balloons (if it’s done inside).
Wrap it up: Tell students to remember that when they are able to let go of the “worry emotions”, it’s much easier to think about solutions to their problems. Explain: “The ‘worry emotions’ block helpful feelings, thoughts, and actions that can lead to solving the problem that is causing you to worry. Remember the video and use the same mindfulness meditation whenever you need to. Begin by finding a quiet place where you can be by yourself or ask a trusted adult to do this with you. Take at least 3 deep breaths, think about your worries, use your imagination and create a balloon that is there in front of you to take your worries away. Then imagine putting your worries in the balloon and letting it go.”
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