What is mindfulness?
‘Mindfulness’ refers to a mental state where a person's awareness is in the present moment. When someone is being mindful, they are calmly acknowledging and accepting their feelings, thoughts and bodily sensations in the present moment. Teaching students about mindfulness can help them to overcome negativity and feel more relaxed.
Year level
7-10
Duration
60 minutes
Type
In class activity
SEL Competencies
Self-awareness
Self-management
Learning intention
Students will learn about mindfulness and how it applies to their life.
Key outcomes
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
understand the concept of mindfulness
apply it to their own life.
Materials needed
Student access to the ReachOut.com quiz ‘Mindfulness: Is it for you?
Notepaper and pen
Mapped to
Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education
Analyse and reflect on the influence of values and beliefs on the development of identities (AC9HP8P01)
Analyse factors that shape identities and evaluate how individuals influence the identities of others (AC9HP10P01)
Australian Curriculum: General Capabilities
Personal and Social Capability:
Self-awareness
Self-management
Critical and creative thinking:
Reflecting on thinking and processes
Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures
Victorian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education
Investigate the impact of transition and change on identities (VCHPEP123)
NSW PDHPE Syllabus
Examines and evaluates strategies to manage current and future challenges (PD4-1)
Assesses their own and others’ capacity to reflect on and respond positively to challenges (PD5-1)
Activity 1
Class definition: What is mindfulness?
15 minutes
Ask students to research the term ‘mindfulness’ and answer the following questions:
What is mindfulness?
What are three mindfulness activities?
As a class, students brainstorm ways to develop skills to be mindful.
Activity 2
Individual activity: Is mindfulness for you?
15 minutes
Students complete the ReachOut.com quiz ‘Mindfulness: Is it for you?’
After completing the quiz, ask students to individually reflect on how they could apply this knowledge.
Activity 3
Class discussion: Mindfulness activities
30 minutes
1. Explain to students that mindfulness activities are more than meditation, and that the activities they find interesting and helpful will differ for each person.
2. As a class, brainstorm a large list of mindfulness activities (e.g. walking, playing sport, meditation, yoga, painting).
3. Ask students to record three mindfulness activities that they might try.
4. Students to answer the following questions:
What is the mindfulness activity?
How can I do it regularly? (e.g. 5 minutes before/after school, allocate mindfulness time)
When would it be useful/practical? (ans: everywhere, particularly when stressed or losing focus)
