Learning Objectives:The objective of this lesson is for students to learn mindful listening and explore the benefits of listening like orcas. 

By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Learn the skill of mindful listening like an orca
• Apply and practice mindful listening skills
• Develop attention and focus
• Enhances the ability to notice subtle sounds and environmental cues.
• Train the mind to stay more present

Review – Breathing Like Whales (5 minutes)

Script for Teachers:
Good morning! Today we’ll begin with 3 deep whale breaths. (Ring bell). Take a big deep breath in. And a big deep breath out. (Repeat for three slow whale breaths)

Ask the students: “Did you practice taking slow deep breaths like a whale this week on your own?” If so, you can ask what they practiced, why they practiced, whether it helped, and if so, how. 

What do you remember from last week?
Yes, we learned about the whale and how they take deep breaths in before diving into the ocean. 

GUIDE PRACTICE: Breathing like a whale. 

• Let’s sit tall and quietly like a Blue Heron, close your eyes, and begin to pay attention to your breath.
• Notice the air coming in and out of your nose or mouth like a whale. 
• Notice your belly and chest getting bigger and smaller. 

After 10 breaths ask students to gently open their eyes. 

Question: What did you notice inside of you as you took deep whale breaths today. (Reflect student responses)

Let’s practice listening mindfully like orcas by listening to the sound of orcas communicating! Let’s begin by sitting up straight and still like the Great Blue Heron to help us pay attention. Sit straight and tall with your hands on your knees or in your lap. 

(Play orca sounds for 1 minute.) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpBJhbSG46A

Great job! You’ve just practiced mindful listening.

MAKE THE CONNECTION (3 mins): 

What can we learn from orcas? 

Noise pollution from ships, military sonar, and boats makes it loud in the ocean and creates problems for dolphins and whales. It makes it hard for them to hear each other. 

Now think about when we’re trying to communicate and it’s too noisy. Is it more difficult to listen when there is a lot of noise or when everyone is talking at once?  (Have children raise hands if they agree.) 

Is it hard to hear someone else when we’re interrupting and talking over them? (Have children raise hands if they agree.) Yes! We can learn that it’s hard to hear when there’s a lot of noise or when we’re not quiet and listening.

Let’s do that again. This time I am going to ask you to do this with your eyes closed. And notice if there is a difference when you listen with your eyes closed. (Ring mindful bell again.)

Question: What did you experience when listening with your eyes closed versus with your eyes open?

Our last fun experiment is that I will invite you to be still and quiet to listen mindfully like orcas and discover a sound that is the farthest away from you. (Ring bell to indicate the beginning and end of mindful listening practice). 

Question:
Raise your hand if you would like to share any sounds you heard. (Prompt student response)

CLOSING

Congratulations for practicing mindful listening! 

Now that you’ve learned how to LISTEN like an orca, I invite you to practice mindful listening this week in class or at home.

To end our time together, let’s take three slow mindful whale breaths.