Lesson Idea | Student Leaders

What does it mean to be a leader? In this lesson, students will discuss leadership and will practice leading mindfulness for other students in their class.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to lead others in a mindfulness practice.

Materials and Preparation

- Class set of the Mindfulness Cards worksheet (and one teacher set already cut out)
- "Follow the Leader" song (YouTube)
- Scissors

Key terms

Leader

Introduction (10 Minutes)

- Bring students together in a circle, seated or standing.
- Explain that today we will talk about being leaders, but first you will play a game of "Follow the Leader".
- Play the song "Follow the Leader".
- Dance and sing to the song together.
- Say to students, "Raise your hand if you are a leader".
- Ask, "What is a leader?"
- Explain that a positive leader leads others by example, with kindness and care.
- Explain that today that will practice leadership by guiding the class in movement and mindfulness.

Explicit Instruction/Teacher Modeling (15 Minutes)

- Explain that you will lead the class in taking a few breaths together and then you will ask different students to come up and lead the class in breathing or moving.
- Show the class your cut out Mindfulness Cards.
- Explain that each has a picture and words and you will read the card with each leader. Then that student will lead the class (you may also whisper and tell them what to say when it is their turn to lead the class).
- Ask, "Who would like to come up to lead the class in mindfulness and movement?"
- Write student names on the board in order of when they will lead.
- Explain that you will begin and then will ask each volunteer to come up quietly to lead the class with their Mindfulness Card.
- Ask the class to sit up nice and tall. (Pause)
- Guide them to take a slow, big breath into their belly.
- Ask them to relax their bodies as they breathe out.
- Guide them to take two more breaths just like this.
- Quietly ask each student volunteer to come up, one at a time, to read the Mindfulness Card with you and to lead the class in mindfulness or movement.

Guided Practice (10 Minutes)

- Pass out the Mindfulness Cards worksheet to students, and explain that they will be creating their own cards with pictures and guiding words and instructions in the blank boxes.
- Explain that at the end of the lesson, students will be leading each other in mindfulness using their own cards.
- Dismiss students to go back to their seats to work independently.

Independent Working Time (15 Minutes)

- Students go back to their seats to work on their own Mindfulness Cards.
- Field any questions and provide individual support as needed.