Learning Objectives

The objective of this lesson is to develop the skill of awareness using our senses. Students are invited to explore becoming aware of their body and how such awareness can bring greater ease in life. 

Students will:

• Learn the skill of mindful sensing like a dolphin
• Apply and practice mindful supe sensing skills
• Help students become aware of the benefits of being aware of sensations in our body
• Practice using the dolphin superpower at school

Script for Teachers:

Good morning!

Let’s take 3 big “whale breaths” together. Breathe in… and out… nice and slow. (Ring bell)

Do you remember what we learned about during our Ocean Adventure last time? (Let a student respond.) We learned how to anchor ourselves—just like kelp in our oceans!

Let’s practice again with a short video:
Watch the video (2:07 min

1. What did you notice or feel in your body as you took big whale breaths al the way to your feet? (Ask students to share). 
2. Did you practice since we last saw you? Ask what they practiced, if it helped, and how. 
3. These days, we need to be careful how close we are to others, especially in public places, so we all stay safe.
4. Our bodies can help us notice what’s around us, so we don’t bump into people or things.
5. Let’s think of an animal that’s great at being aware of its body. Can you guess what it is? (Let kids guess).

Let’s watch dolphins swim and see what you notice about how they are swimming.

Magic Phrase: “Sensing like a whale.”

Guide students to notice:

Sit tall like a Blue Heron, placing your hands on your lap, listening like an orca, and taking three mindful breaths like a whale before we start watching our friends the dolphins. 

Watching Watch Video (1:34):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngPj2s9HsYM

Make the Connection (3 mins):

• Help students notice how the dolphins never bump into each other, even when they swim fast. 
• What would happen if they were not aware of each other as they swim? (hurt each other, hit boats or ships as they swam, and even get lost at sea).
• We can learn from the dolphins to pay attention to our body sensations to navigate our world to be safe.

Let’s do a fun Experiment: 

Let’s practice being aware of our bodies like the dolphins. We will imagine that your hands are like dolphins swimming in the ocean. 

1. (Ring bell and mind the time: do a 2-minute practice.)
2.  Let’s sit straight and still like a great blue heron, with your hands in your lap. Take a deep whale breath.  
3. With eyes open, I invite you to slowly move your hands in front of you. Make circles with your hands. Really pay attention to the sensations of the skin of your hands the same way that the dolphin pays attention to its skin. 
4. Now open and cross your arms in front of your body. Let’s make sure your hands don’t bump into each other as you move in space. What are you noticing as your hands are moving? 
5. Let’s see what happens when we begin to move our hands fast. Make sure you are mindful of making sure your hands do not bump into each other. 
6. Slowing your hands down, let’s now make things more difficult. I invite you to move your hands in space yet this time with your eyes closed. I will ring the bell to let you know when to open your eyes. Really pay attention to your hands so that they do not bump into each other as you move. See if you can get closer and closer without touching. 
7. Now bring your hands to your lap, and in your blue heron body, notice how your arms and hands feel now in stillness. Take an inhale and slowly exhale.
8. (Ring bell)