This week in 4th grade, we read the book, "I Am Peace". It follows the journey of a young child who learns to find peace within themselves through mindfulness and self-awareness. Throughout the book, there are themes of mindfulness, emotional regulation, and finding inner peace amidst the chaos of everyday life. It offers gentle guidance to children on how to manage their emotions, be present in the moment, and cultivate a sense of calmness and serenity.
Keeping calm is essential for productive collaboration. When students feel stressed or overwhelmed, it can hinder their ability to focus and work effectively with others. Encouraging students to practice mindfulness techniques, such as deep breathing or visualization exercises like in the book, can help them stay centered and composed, even in challenging situations.
To practice mindfulness and productive collaboration, 4th graders participated in a team builder. For this team builder, students were in groups of 4 and given one tennis ball. The student that started with the ball had to underhand toss it to another member of their team, continuing until the ball was back to the original person. Then, students were to continue the pattern without dropping the ball.
This activity required 4th graders to maintain their composure and work together under pressure. The smiles and laughs were contagious! I'm so proud of the way all students effectively communicated and encouraged one another. They've already asked to play again!
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