Mindfulness to Calm the Brain
What is the “big idea” for this lesson?
Learning how to pause and notice our thoughts and feelings is an important part of being resilient.
One way we can calm the thoughts and feelings in our brain is to practice mindfulness.
Mindfulness means paying attention to the present moment to just one thing at a time (often by paying attention to your breath, your body, or the environment around you).
Reflection questions:
Do you notice when your thoughts and feelings are swirling around like the glitter in the jar? The brain breaks in your schedule (like breathing and spidey senses) are really mindfulness practices that can help you calm your mind. Different ways of calming your brain or practicing mindfulness are helpful for different people.
What have you noticed helps you calm your mind?
Mindful Drawing
Learning how to pause and notice our thoughts and feelings is an important part of being resilient. This Mindful Drawing activity is an opportunity to practice mindfulness by first noticing your thoughts and feelings, and then drawing or writing about them.
Materials:
Paper
Pencil or pen and your favorite drawing supplies (markers, crayons, colored pencils, etc.)
Optional: round object like a bowl or plate to trace
Directions:
Take a few minutes to try answering the two brainstorm questions listed below.
Draw a circle on your paper or use a bowl or plate to trace a circle.
Draw or write what you’re thinking and feeling right now inside the circle. You can use pictures, symbols, shapes, colors or words to represent your thoughts and feelings.
Notice after you fill your circle: are your thoughts and feelings swirling around in your mind or are they settled and calm?
Mindful Drawing Brainstorm
What am I feeling now? What would it look like if it were a word, a picture, a symbol, or a color?
What am I thinking now? What would it look like if it were a word, a picture, a symbol, or a color?
Mindful Drawing Ingredients
