Heart Week
Friday B1
Lesson 1
L.O - To understand and discuss the concept of mindfulness and it’s impact on wellbeing.
What ‘s the difference between these?
Is being ‘mindful’ a positive or negative thing?
(5 mins)
Why Is Mindfulness Important?
(5 mins)
4 Ways to Practise Mindfulness
Five Senses
Floating Bubbles
Sunshine Fill Up
Belly Breathing
1
2
3
4
What could these mean? - Discuss with a partner for 5 minutes
Get in a comfortable position and then close your eyes.
Imagine all the thoughts in your head are bubbles floating in front of you.
Try observing them without focusing on one particular thought.
Let your ideas and feelings float through the air.
Floating Bubbles
How did that make you feel?
(5 mins)
You can do this activity in your classroom, at home, or outside. Use your five senses to observe what is happening around you at this moment.
Five Senses
Name 5 things you can see.....
Name 4 things you can hear....
Name 3 things you can feel...
Name 2 things you can smell..
Name 1 thing you can taste.
When could you use these practices?
(10 mins)
Sunshine Fill Up
You can do this activity while sitting or standing. Close your eyes. Imagine warm, bright sunshine is slowly filling up your body.
Start at your toes and let it rise all the way up to the top of your head.
As it gets higher be aware of any sensations or feelings you are having.
This will help you focus on what is going on inside you.
(5 mins)
While sitting, place your hands on your belly. Close your eyes and take a deep breath, in and out.
You can count your breaths or just imagine a place that makes you happy. Try to do this quietly for one minute.
Belly Breathing
(5 mins)
REMEMBER
At first, it may seem that your head is busy with thoughts or uncomfortable feelings. It can be challenging to try and observe them without reacting to them.
When you are practising mindfulness and you get distracted, just gently bring your attention back to the moment and your breath.
Mindfulness takes
practice
(10 mins)
What mindfulness practice do you like and why?
Can you think of any other ways to be mindful?
Pronunciation
Grammar
Vocabulary
Feedback
Any questions?
(10 mins)
Lesson 2
What is ‘well-being?
How does mindfulness affect well-being?
Write down the first words that you associate with the word ‘well-being’
exercise
healthy eating
sleep
How many can you find?
(10 mins)
What makes you feel good about yourself?
Read the following blog. Which is the most suitable title from the list below.
A. Feelings about the pandemic
B. Tips for planning a long day
C. Taking control of your well-being when there’s no fixed routine
Well-being:
For many people, the pandemic meant many long days with nothing to do and all ‘normal’ activities suspended. Even school was disrupted. This made some people feel bored, lonely or depressed. Many forgot about their well-being during this time.
It’s tempting when we have no fixed schedule to just go with the flow. Maybe wake up, go online for a while and then go back to sleep for hours – or watch Netflix and eat unhealthy snacks all day. Lazy days are fun, but too many can lead to a bad diet, no exercise and poor well-being. We should avoid this.
Next -
(Read and discuss-5 mins)
Consider how you spent some days during the pandemic. Did you plan to do something (e.g. call a friend) and forgot because you ran out of time? Did you ‘half-plan’ something (e.g. you planned to make a cake but forgot to buy the ingredients in advance)? If so, you weren’t alone!
There’s a lot we can’t control in life (like a pandemic!), but we can control some parts. Start with regular habits. We all have some fixed routines (e.g. get up, clean your teeth, eat breakfast and have a shower) and they’re there for a good reason: your well-being! Are you carrying out these routines? Next, look at how your days are organised and think what else would be good for your well-being. Ask yourself: When are you at your best? If you’re more alert in the morning, do schoolwork then and use the afternoon for relaxing. Don’t forget, if you’re planning to do something special later in the day, list what you need in the morning and use your phone alarm to remind you to do it. Finally, for healthy nights, consider: What helps you sleep well? What doesn't help? Which music relaxes you?
(Read and discuss- 5 mins)
We often get distracted for hours by social media, so consider that too. When’s the best time for social media? If you tend to get into online arguments, maybe the morning isn’t a good idea because you’ll start the day on the wrong foot! Should you do social media later instead? In fact, how many hours do you want to spend online? (Remember that time spent online is time spent away from something else!) If you want a break from calls and messages, you can always turn off your notifications.
The trick is to make time for exercise, food, fun and other aspects of well-being. And make those activities part of every day, like all regular routines. YOUR well-being matters!
(Read and discuss - 5 mins)
Read the blog again. Find the recommended tip for each of these problems.
1. When’s the best time to do activities that require hard work and concentration?
2. How can you remind yourself to do things later in the day?
3. How can you stop looking at messages, posts, ‘likes’ and emails during the day?
Can you think of other tips or suggestions for questions 1–3? Suggest some ideas.
(15 mins)
Pronunciation
Listen to your teacher read the question types aloud. Which type of question rises at the end and which one falls at the end?
Yes/no questions
Did you plan to do something but forget?
Did you ‘half-plan’ something?
Are you carrying out these routines?
Should you do social media later?
Wh-questions
When are you at your best?
When’s the best time for social media?
What helps you sleep well? What doesn’t help you?
Which music relaxes you?
(10 mins)
Pronunciation
Grammar
Vocabulary
Feedback
Any questions?
(10 mins)
Lesson 3
How can you look after your own mental health
and well-being?
Interview in pairs
Underline 4–6 questions from the previous yes/no and ‘wh’ questions (or invent your own) that you would like to ask your partner about looking after their well-being. Then ask and answer the questions, paying attention to intonation.
Make a note of your partners answers....
What tips would you recommend to your partner? Tell them.
(10 mins)
List three things you would like to improve in the future
(e.g. I won’t go on social media in the mornings).
How might these things help you?
Listen to the song....
what advice would you give to a friend?
(15 mins)
Working in small groups, create a project to demonstrate your understanding of the effects of mindfulness and well-being.
Be creative - maybe you could make a poster or information leaflet...
Project
(30 mins)
Pronunciation
Grammar
Vocabulary
Feedback
Any questions?
(5 mins)