Mindfulness

Throughout the month of March, in our AP and portfolio classrooms, we focused on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). Both classes are populated mostly by seniors, getting ready to say goodbye to their high school experience, with a majority leaving home for college. Knowing this, I tailored a series of warm-ups that asked them to reflect on themes such as gratitude, mindfulness, and community.​

Each of these warm-ups made space for students of all developmental and emotional levels to participate in simple breathing exercises, mindfulness practices, as well as written responses with scaffolds and drawing prompts that connected their thinking to social and emotional development. It also made direct use of students' individual needs and interests by asking them to reflect on personal ideas and feelings connected to growth, culture, and community.

The first warm-up had students watch a video on Korean artist Do Suh Ho and his practice of making a version of his home portable to feel connected to his family, culture, and community. Each student was then asked to reflect on their ideas of home by writing down one thing they would take with them to remind them of it. This was particularly powerful for the students as most will be leaving home for the first time in the coming months. 

The second warm-up was front-loaded with a moment of quiet contemplation, where students meditated on gratitude, and more specifically, what they were personally grateful for. After a period of a few minutes, each student was asked to identify what they felt grateful for and explain in writing what that was and why. We then participated in a whole-class discussion, where students were able to share their thoughts, find connection with one another, and deepen our classroom community.

Lesson Materials

Slide Deck 1 Do Suh Ho