First Three Lessons: Jamie, Katie, Jillian

TODAY'S LESSONS

 

Jamie Karen: What Makes Up a Hope

Katie Goldstein: Creative Writing

Jillian Ferreira: How to Meditate

 

How to Meditate

 

Jillian Ferreira - Lesson Plan

 

Objective: To introduce students to meditation as a coping strategy for stress and to guide them through a meditation session

 

Warm up

 

●All students stretch

●Importance of stretching before

○ It is good to stretch or do yoga before meditation because it will ...

○ Get you focused for the session and make you more aware of your body.

●Introduce meditating

 

○ I know many of you know what meditation is but I just wanted to go over it really quick○

 

Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state.

 

○ As students we are all under a lot of stress especially during these uncertain times so meditating gives us an escape to relax and take care of yourself. Even if it is just for 5 minutes out of the day it will still have benefits.

 

Brainstorming

●Has anyone meditated before and if yes, how often?

●What do you think are some of the benefits of mediating?

 

Key Concept

 

●Benefits of Mediating

 

○ Reduce stress○

   Control anxiety○

   Enhances self-awareness

 

○ Promotes emotional health

 

○ Now we are going to watch a video that explains why these benefits occur.

    Scientific reasoning on benefits of meditating

 

■https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw71zanwMnY

 

●How to mediate

○ We will do a quick 5-minute meditation session

 

Activity

●Now that we know all of the benefits it's time to try it out! I'm going to play some music and talk you through a quick meditation exercise.

 

Meditation Speech:

 

●Close your eyes. Notice your breathing. Is it fast? Is it slow?

●Put your hand on your stomach. Notice how your stomach goes out when you breathe in, and in when you breathe out.

●Take a long, deep breath in through your nose, and breathe out through your mouth, fully and completely. Breathe like this a couple more times.

●Now imagine your body. Notice parts that are hurt, or are tight or tense. Notice parts that feel comfortable and loose.

●Use your breath. When you find a part of your body that is tight or hurts, send your breath there. Breathe out. Your breath can make that part of your body relaxed, loose soft.

●Be aware of your body, Feel your head......your face......your shoulders.......your back......your arms.....your hands. Notice your stomach.....your legs.....your knees......your feet.

●Notice the sounds in the room. The people moving , the building. Not thinking, just noticing and listening. Breathe slowly and easily, in and out.

●Feel the chair under you where your body touches it. Feel your muscles relax as your breathe. Keep watching your breathing in and out, easy and peaceful.

●Now when you are ready, take a long, slow, deep breath in. Then breathe out completely and gently open your eyes. Reflection

●Do you guys feel relaxed?

●I hope you take this sense of calmness with you throughout the day

●What did you like about meditating?

●Would you do it again?

 

 

EDUCATIONAL VIDEO

A real education: The plight of teachers

 

QUESTION

 After watching this video, please write your response to the situation teachers are currently going through financially, professionally, socially, psychologically and emotionally.

 

 STUDENTS' FEEDBACK

Maddie Terry

About Mini-Lessons

Jamie: Jamie was a very animated and enthusiastic teacher! I especially liked how she walked her audience step by step through the lesson, so there was no confusion or disengagement. It was great that she gave her students the freedom to add whatever shapes and details they wanted to their drawing.

Katie: I enjoyed Katie’s idea of students calling out what their reactions were to certain pictures. She took control of her lesson and audience in a very successful manner, which is hard to do for her targeted audience.

Jillian: I enjoyed Jillian's presentation. Meditation is a great technique for children to learn, even at young ages, as it can help with emotion control. The video she included was very helpful to set us up for our meditation, and I’m very glad we got to practice meditation at the end of her lesson.

 About Video

 This video really helped me see just how emotionally and physically draining teaching can be. It’s disappointing to see that the teaching profession is often neglected, in compensation, treatment, and overall recognition. After all - no other profession could exist without the teachers that taught them! I loved learning that there are teachers taking the initiative and joining the Senate to make changes themselves since no one else would for them. I commend every single teacher who makes an effort and is passionate about changing the lives of their students for the better.