Preschool Ages, School Setting, Stillness Lesson Plan (Spahn)

Instructor: Karah Spahn

Community: Preschool Ages, School Setting, 30 minutes

Plan Creation Date: November 1, 2016

Yoga Calm Principle/Lesson Goal: Stillness

Materials: Breathing Ball, Chime, Bubble Machine, Breathing buddies

Lesson Plan:

Calm

• Belly Breathing – with Breathing ball– 5 breaths.  (Use classroom helper to lead the count).
• Chime – Today we are going to pretend to be still like frogs.  We always think of frogs as jumping around, but usually, they sit very still and wait until just the right moment to gobble up the fly.  Let kids get in a crouch/ frog position.  We are going to sit very still when you hear the chime…. And then when you hear the second chime you can leap up and gobble up the fly. (ring chime to signal beginning and end- and explain that after they catch the fly, we’re going to try to be still again).

Activate

• Spahn Stretch – Choose two helpers to lead Spahn Stretch: Mountain, Upward Mountain, Forward Fold, Arms out to sides & above, Crescent Moon (L, then R), Hands to heart. (Give thanks and compliments)
• Bubble Activity – Sit in a circle in easy pose for bubble activity.  Explain that we’re are frogs in a bubble pond– but our bottoms are stuck to our lilypads.  We can poke the bubbles or blow them or wave them, but we can’t move to get them. Ask students what parts of their bodies were still? This time, allow students to gently (and respectfully) move around, try to catch the bubbles, play with them, etc. (Ring chime to indicate it’s time to get back to their lilypad and be still…) Next, explain that this time we are going to try not to touch the bubbles at all.  They might land on us.  They might pop on our heads! It’s okay, we are going to try to stay still.  We might need to think “Stay Still.”  or “I am still like a frog.”  Or maybe it’s easier to close our eyes.  (Students may stand or sit).