Wellness day 5 grades 4 - 6 learning activities
This activity plan was designed for youth to build skills that will help with self-motivation and setting goals.
Duration: 60 - 90 Minutes
Mindfulness Activity 1
Time: 5 minutes
Trivia question: Think of the answer in your head. Opposite sides of a dice always add up to the same number. What number is it?
Mindfulness activity:
- Sit in a comfortable spot.
- Take a deep breath in and bring your hands together.
- Start rubbing your hands together slowly. Now a little bit faster.
- Count down from 10. When you get to zero, stop your hands but keep them pressed together.
- Notice how they feel. Notice the warmth you created with a bit of movement.
Daily Goals
Time: 10-15 minutes
Supplies:
- Paper
- Pencil/marker/pen
Talk with your child about what it means to have daily goals. These could be school goals, behavior goals, or social goals.
- On a piece of paper, have your child write down their goals for the day, the week, or the month (or maybe all three).
- Help your child think of daily goals that will help them find meaning in their days at home. For example, practicing an instrument, doing a math worksheet, cooking a meal, or setting a time limit on TV or video games.
- When they are done, ask them to share their ideas with you.
Mother May I
Time: 10-15 minutes
Find a space in your home or outside where you can be about 10 steps away from your child. Have your child ask questions that begin with "Mother May I…" (or use "Father/ Uncle/ Auntie May I" if that works better for your family). Some examples are:
- "Mother May I take 3 big steps?"
- "Mother May I crab walk for 5 seconds?"
Your job is to think and respond by saying "Yes" or "No." The goal is for your child to move closer to you.
To add extra challenge, make a path on the floor out of pillows or blankets. Have your child get to you without touching the floor.
Mindfulness Activity 2
Time: 5 minutes
Trivia question: Think of the answer in your head. What direction do you have to look in to see the sunrise – North, East, South, or West?
Mindfulness activity:
- Sit in a comfortable spot.
- Bring one hand to your belly and your other hand to your heart.
- Take a deep breath in. Deep breath out.
- Do you feel your heart? Notice how fast or slow it is beating.
- As you take a deep breath in, try to make both of your hands lift. Breathe into your belly and your chest. Breathe out from your chest and your belly. Notice how you feel
Motivational Rock
Time: 10-15 minutes
Supplies:
- Rock
- Paint or permanent marker
- Paint brushes
Go outside with your child and find a medium-sized rock (a little smaller than your child’s fist). Bring it back inside and clean it.
- Choose a motivational phrase like "Don't Give Up", "You Can Do this", or "Good Luck".
- Paint, decorate and write the phrase on your rock.
- Put your rock in a common area in your home, in the garden or in a community space to spread positive thoughts.
Journaling - Day 5
Time: 10-15 minutes
Supplies:
- Notebook
- Paper
- Computer
- Pen
Have your child write a daily journal to reflect on their feelings and thoughts. Use the following to help them get started:
- Make a list of the things you want to do 1 year from now, 5 years from now and 10 years from now.
Mindfulness Activity 3
Time: 5 minutes
Trivia question: Think of the answer in your head. The average person blinks up to 20 times per minute. How many times is that in a year – 5,220, 10.5 million, or 25 million?
Mindfulness activity:
- Put up one hand, palm facing out and fingers spread apart.
- Using a finger on your other hand, move/trace from the bottom of your thumb to the tip and breathe in.
- Move/trace your finger down the other side of your thumb and breathe out.
- Do the same with the remaining four fingers and take deep breaths in and out as you move your finger.
- After you’ve reached the second side of your pinky finger, you will have done 5 complete deep breaths.
Vision Board
Time: 10-15 minutes
Supplies:
- Blank paper
- Magazines
- Scissors
- Glue
- Tape
- Colours/crayons/markers
- Have your child make a poster to show their goals and dreams. These can be short-term or long-term goals.
- The vision board can focus on the next month, year or future as adults.
- Use magazines to find pictures and words related to the future goals and dreams. (see image for example)
Trivia Answers
Mindfulness Activity 1: 7
Mindfulness Activity 2: East
Mindfulness Activity 3: 10.5 million