Thoughtful Learning
Using Progressive Relaxation
Stress makes a mess of our minds and bodies. Like a vicious circle, stress causes our bodies to tense and makes it more difficult to get rid of the stress. Break the cycle for you and your students by practicing progressive relaxation....
Plum Tree
Teaching Your Child How to "Deep Breathe"
Feeling stressed, angry, or nervous? It's time to practice the exercise detailed in Deep Breathe to breathe your cares away. The activity brings the focus back to one's self and identifies the importance of...
Plum Tree
Teaching Your Child How to "Spaghetti Body"
We all feel stressed at times, but we don't have to feel that way for long by practicing a coping skill called, Spaghetti Body. When a high stakes test or presentation is on its way, follow the instructions on this...
Novelinks
Zach’s Lie: Guided Imagery
Close your eyes and picture a time where you decided to tell the truth to someone. What were you wearing? How did you feel? Such prompts begin a guided imagery activity for Zach's Lie. Directions for creating an environment conducive to...
Novelinks
Wildwood Dancing: Guided Imagery
Reader's of Wildwood Dancing engage in a guided imagery exercise designed to encourage them to visualize the setting of Juliet Marillier's young adult fantasy novel.
National Association for Sport & Physical Fitness
Indoor Physical Activity Ideas for Kids!
Rainy day schedule doesn't mean you can't stay fit! Use a collection of indoor physical activities during periods of inclement weather, substitute teaching days, or for those afternoons when your class just wants to move around!
Primary Resources
Warm Ups & Cool Downs for Children
What makes an effective warm-up and cool-down activity? as well as tips for leading stretches. Find detailed activity plans, as well as tips for leading stretches, for elementary school, tag-based games (including one game called "Toilet...
The New York Times
Breathing With a Pinwheel
A pinwheel encourages deep breathing to calm one's body and recenter their thoughts. Scholars breathe into a personal pinwheel with different types of breathing patterns then answer a question about how they feel.
Novelinks
Words by Heart: Guided Imagery
Sad, depressed, miserable, inconsolable, forlorn: so many synonyms have a lot of variety with their connotations. Through the guided imagery activity, writers explore the use of connotation and its influence on imagery and description by...