Mindfulness Teaching Resources
Teaching mindfulness in the classroom? Explore mindfulness activities for kids, guided meditations, mindful communication strategies, yoga for kids, printables and more teaching resources designed to bring this practice into your elementary school classroom.
Designed by the teachers of Teach Starter, each resource in this teaching resource collection has been created with kids — and teachers — in mind. Each has undergone a rigorous review process completed by a member of our teaching team.
Looking to add mindfulness to your classroom management strategies or social and emotional learning lesson plans? Read on for a primer from our teacher team!
What Is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged in the current moment, without judgment. It is often used as a stress-reduction technique and can be incorporated into various forms of meditation. Mindfulness has also been found to have beneficial effects on mental and physical well-being and is often used in therapy and counseling.
How Does Mindfulness Benefit Kids?
We've seen mindfulness explode in popularity in recent years, and it's only being used more since the beginning of the pandemic. The reason? There's real science behind the benefits this practice provides for our students.
Mindfulness can benefit kids in many ways, including:
- Improving focus and attention — Mindfulness helps students learn to focus their attention on the present moment, which can improve their ability to concentrate and pay attention in class.
- Reducing stress and anxiety — Mindfulness can help kids manage their emotions, reducing feelings of stress and anxiety.
- Enhancing emotional regulation — Mindfulness can help our students understand and regulate their emotions, which can improve their ability to cope with difficult situations.
- Improving self-awareness — Mindfulness can help kids develop a greater sense of self-awareness, which in turn can increase their understanding of their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
- Enhancing empathy and compassion — Kids who engage in the practice may develop greater empathy and compassion for others.
- Encouraging healthy habits — Being mindful can also encourage kids to develop healthy habits, such as healthy eating, regular exercise, and good sleep hygiene.
- Improving relationships — Mindfulness can be used to help students develop better relationships with others by improving their communication, social skills, and ability to manage conflicts.
How Do You Create a Mindful Classroom?
Creating a mindful classroom involves incorporating practices and techniques that promote mindfulness, such as meditation and deep breathing exercises, into the classroom setting. Here are a few steps to follow to create your own mindful classroom:
- Establish a consistent mindfulness practice for both students and teachers. This can include things like deep breathing exercises, yoga, or meditation.
- Create a safe and supportive environment where students feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and emotions.
- Incorporate mindfulness into the curriculum and daily classroom activities, such as through the use of mindful listening, mindful speaking, and mindful movement.
- Model mindfulness and self-regulation in the classroom by managing your own emotions and reactions effectively.
- Encourage your students to take responsibility for their own learning and well-being by providing them with tools and strategies for self-regulation.
- Encourage your students to practice mindfulness outside of class by providing resources and support for continued practice.
- Continuously evaluate and adjust the mindfulness practice to better suit the needs of your students and the classroom.
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Music Coloring Sheets - Instruments
Encourage mindfulness with a set of printable music coloring sheets.
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Mindful Coloring Sheet - Tree
A tree mindful coloring sheet.
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Mindful Breathing Exercises – Task Cards
Use these mindfulness breathing exercises to help students calm themselves down when they are feeling upset or anxious.
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Mindfulness - Learning From Home Pack
A collection of mindfulness related teaching resources and activities for parents to use with their children or teachers to send home with students during school closures.
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Mindfulness Activity Mats
A set of 10 mindfulness activity mats.
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Mindfulness for Kids - Daily Journal Worksheet
Create a mindfulness journal by printing your students copies of reflective mindfulness worksheets.
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Sloth Mindfulness Coloring Pages
Use these sloth-themed coloring pages to bring a bit of creative calm into the classroom.
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Horse Mindful Coloring Sheet
A horse mindful coloring sheet.
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Fox Mindful Coloring Sheet
A fox mindful coloring sheet.
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Octopus Mindful Coloring Sheet
An octopus mindful coloring sheet.
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Easter Bunny Mindful Coloring Sheet
Use this bunny-themed mindful coloring sheet for an Easter activity in the classroom.
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Pattern Coloring - Flower
Use colors to create a pattern using this sheet.
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Teacher Bullet Journal Templates - Wellness Tracker
Build your own wellness journal using a printable bullet journal template for teachers!
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Christmas Brain Breaks - Activity Slides
Add some Christmas Brain Breaks to your classroom festivities to help boost engagement and attention during the holiday season.
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Last Day of School Coloring Page
Calm the end-of-year chaos with a printable end-of-the-school-year coloring page.
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Mindful Breathing Exercises Posters
Teach students mindful breathing exercises to use when they are emotionally overwhelmed with this set of 7 classroom posters.
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Guided Meditation (Mindful Breathing) Script for Kids
Share this guided meditation script with students to promote mindfulness and help them to regulate their emotions by breathing mindfully.
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Breathing Colors – Guided Meditation Script for Kids
Print a guided meditation script for teachers to lead your students through a breathing colors meditation exercise.
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Guided Meditation Script for Kids (Body Scan)
Share this body scan meditation script with students to help them to regulate their emotions by breathing mindfully.
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Designer Dots - Dot Day Mandala Coloring Sheets
Create designer dot art on International Dot Day with a set of printable mandala coloring sheets.
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Mindful Coloring - Printable Flower Coloring Pages
Pick a pack of printable flower coloring pages to bring a bit of the outdoors into your classroom.
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Printable Bookmarks - Mindful Coloring
Bring calm to the classroom with these mindfulness coloring bookmarks.
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Mindfulness Activities for Kids - Backpack Craft and Book
Promote mindfulness and social and emotional learning with this Mindfulness Backpack activity.
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30 Mindful Drawing Tasks — Meditation Drawing for Kids
30 mindfulness drawing tasks to promote calm in your classroom.
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Australian Animals Mindfulness Bookmarks
Practice mindfulness and keep track of your reading with these Australian Animals Mindfulness Bookmarks!
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Pangolin Mindful Coloring Sheet
A pangolin mindful coloring sheet.
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Crab Mindful Coloring Sheet
A crab mindful coloring sheet.
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Cockatoo Mindful Coloring Sheet
A cockatoo mindful coloring sheet.
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Koala Mindful Coloring Sheet
A koala mindful coloring sheet.
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Stegosaurus Mindful Coloring Sheet
A stegosaurus mindful coloring sheet.
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Rhino Mindful Coloring Sheet
A rhino mindful coloring sheet.
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Mindful Coloring and Breathing – Pinwheel Activity
Practice mindfulness through coloring and breathing with this paper pinwheel craft activity.