‘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

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)

Show details

Activity 1

Class definition: What is mindfulness?

15 minutes

  1. Ask students to research the term ‘mindfulness’ and answer the following questions:

    • What is mindfulness?

    • What are three mindfulness activities?

  2. As a class, students brainstorm ways to develop skills to be mindful.

Activity 2

Individual activity: Is mindfulness for you?

15 minutes

  1. Students complete the ReachOut.com quiz ‘Mindfulness: Is it for you?

  2. 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)

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