Mindfulness Group Lesson Plan

Week 2 - Mindful Touch

School Counselor: Katie Rehor

Date: 10/7/2019
Activity: Guessing Game, Brain Jolt (25 min. lesson)
Grade: 6

ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors standards addressed:

1. M5. Belief in using abilities to their fullest to achieve high-quality results and outcomes.
2. B-SMS 10. Demonstrate ability to manage transitions and ability to adapt to changing situations and
responsibilities.
3. B-SMS 7. Demonstrate effective coping skills when faced with a problem.

Learning Objectives:
● Students will be able to list three physical objects they can touch that help calm their brains.
● Students will be able to explain how touch can be used for mindfulness (keeps us in the present).

Materials:
● Post-its
● Donuts
● Bag of various shaped/textured items (stuffed animal, duct tape, spoon, beaded necklace, dollar bill,
etc.)

Procedure:
1. Opening Activity:
a. Pick a post-it from the board to finish the prompt: “My weekend was…”
b. If you don’t see an answer that you like, write your own post-it!
2. Review group rules
3. Game: What’s in the bag?
a. Students will reach into the bag one at a time and select and item. (They may look at the
item.)
b. They will describe the item using textures, shapes, etc. to explain what the item ​feels​ like.
 c. The group will guess what the item is based on the description.
d. Once the item is guessed, the next student will pick an item from the bag, until everyone has
a chance to describe an item.
4. Transition:
a. Ask students what some of their favorite textures are (soft blanket, smooth table, squishy
playdoh, comfy sweatshirt, leathery basketball)
b. Ask students what some of their favorite temperatures are (hot baths, cold drinks)
5. Explain Brain Jolts:
a. There are 7 trillion nerves in the body and they deliver messages to our brain extremely fast.
They travel over 300 feet per second.
b. If you want to help your brain manage anxiety, depression, or stress, then using these
nerves can be a quick way to give your brain a way to cope, or a “Brain Jolt” back to the
present moment.
c. Examples:
i. Hold an ice cube in your hand
ii. Chew some gum
iii. Drink some hot chocolate
iv. Blow bubbles
v. Jump on a trampoline
vi. Go for a run
vii. Drink some cold water
viii. Take a warm shower
6. Finger Breathing Exercise
a. Teach students this trick for when they may be feeling heightened. (Good for when they are
in class because no one will notice them doing it.) They can use one hand or both.
b. Start with the thumb touching the base of the index finger. Inhale, and slide the thumb all
the way to the end of the finger and squeeze. Exhale and simultaneously slide thumb back
down the index finger. With the next breath, move on to the middle finger and so on, until
all fingers have been traced.
c. Ask students what situations this might be helpful for.

Plan for Evaluation:

Process Data:
 ● How many students attended group today? Which students?
● Week 2 of 7

Perception Data:
● Students will write in their mindfulness booklets what a brain jolt is.
● Students will list three objects that help calm their brains.
● Students will take a post-survey at the end of our last group to assess growth in mindfulness.

Outcome Data:
● Qualitative behavioral change reported by staff and parents at the end of our last group

Follow Up:
● Next week: Week 3, Mindful Listening