Instructor: Petra Johnson
Community: Grade 2, School Setting, 30 minutes
Plan Creation Date: November 1, 2015
Yoga Calm Principle/Lesson Goal: Listening
Resources: Chime, Hoberman Sphere, Ready, Set, R.E.L.A.X. (Listening pg. 116)
Turn off overhead classroom lights (leave desk lamps on).
Close classroom door and adjust window blinds.
Lesson Plan:
Calm
- Invite children to turn chairs toward the front of the space and sit with feet hip-width apart.
- Listening Practice – Tell students we are going to sit together in silence for thirty seconds. Encourage students to listen to the sounds that are both in and out of the classroom. Ask students to share what sounds they heard.
- Chime – We are going to sit in silence again, however, this time focus on listening to the sound of the chime. I will ring the chime. When they can no longer hear the sound they put their thumb up. (Invite students to share what they noticed as they focused on listening to the chime. Were they still able to hear the other sounds? What strategy did they use to focus on the sound of the chime?)
- Belly Breathing – A student will be selected to hold the Hoberman Sphere (breathing ball). Another student will be selected to count the breaths. Both will come to the front to lead us. We will complete 1-5 belly breaths (determined by student leader).
- A compliment from a classmate is given to each student leader.
Activate
- Chair 15 – Mountain to Mountain – Each time students stand in mountain invite them to visualize being a strong and tall mountain that reaches as high as the clouds. Listen closely. What can you hear at the top of your mountain? Each time students are in a forward bend invite them to listen to the voice inside.
- Changing Channels – Invite students to come back to a seated position with their feet hip-width apart. As you shut your eyes notice what thoughts begin to come into your mind. We are going to practice listening and changing the channel (thoughts) that are in our minds. Imagine you are at home in your kitchen with your family. You have just finished mixing a batch of your favorite kind of cookie. You have put the cookie sheet in the oven and it is time to clean up. You look around and can see all of the ingredients; measuring cups, mixing bowl, flour, sugar, etc. spread out around you. While you work together with your family to clean up, you begin to smell the warm air and scent of your cookies. You can feel your mouth begin to water and you lick your lips as you imagine eating your favorite cookie fresh from the oven. (Continue with students in this channel for 30 seconds and then change the channel). Now imagine it is a bitter cold winter day. A friend has called and invited you to play outside. You need to get bundled up in your snow gear; hat, gloves, scarf/gator, snowpants/snowsuit, thick socks and boots. As you put on your gear you can feel your body getting warmer from the inside out. Once you have everything on you open the front door and step outside. (Continue with students in this channel for 30 seconds). Invite a student to change the channel for the group.
- Sharing – Ask students to share what kind of details/information/words they heard that helped them change the channel?
Calm
- Chair Twist – As you sit with your feet hip-width apart begin to press down through your feet and sits bones. Feel a stretch from your spine up through the top of your head. While taking your left hand across the right knee, place your right hand on the back of the chair. Slowly turn your belly, head and heart toward the back of the chair. Inhale as you lengthen your spine. Exhale as you turn and twist. (Repeat on the other side).
- Seated Child’s Pose – Invite students to rest their head on their hands at their desk/table spot with eyes close. Find stillness with their body.
- Relaxation Script – Listen (pg. 116) (Ready, Set, R.E.L.A.X.)
- Invite students to come to an upright seated position as I count backwards from five to zero.
- Sharing – Ask students to share a time when someone listened to them. How did it feel? How do you let someone know that you are listening to them?