Grades 6-8, School Setting, Grounding Lesson Plan (Bender-Fayette)

• Volcano Breaths – Take three volcano breaths. Next, with your hands at heart center, think of about a time when you felt supported and safe. Who was with you? Who helped you feel this way? With the next three volcano breaths, send that person heart thoughts. When we feel safe, secure and supported, we have a sense of being grounded. Being grounded helps us make good decisions when we are faced with a conflict.
• Dialogue – Today we are going to talk about a serious problem in our culture – bullying. If it is not stopped, bullying continues into the adult world. Also, if you have a school which does not stop bullying, it makes the community that you spend most of your time in unsafe. When a place is unsafe, learning does not happen. Research has found that the key people that can stop this behavior and our very effective are the students. Not just one student, but a group of people who stand together.  What is bullying? (Ask student to define.)  The definition of bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated over time.  What is bullying behavior? (Ask student to define.)  Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.
• Transition – Today we are going to focus on how to feel grounded, so we can work to put an end to bullying behavior. We will prepare our bodies and our minds.

• Harassment Prevention Activity – (page 117 in Yoga Calm). After participating in the activity, ask the students what steps they have taken to stop bullying behavior. Discuss the six steps on page 117.
• Mat 20 – (Active Section) focus on holding the poses for a 8 count to help you body feel strong and grounded.
• Roots Activity – Stand in a circle and feel yourself anchored to the ground. Using the hands of the people next to you for support, close your eyes and think of all the people in the world who have helped you feel safe. Imagine them holding your feet to the ground. Now imagine yourself supporting others by putting a stop to bullying behavior.

Calm