LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Identify a range of health benefits associated with meditation; distinguish facts from myths about meditation; describe a variety of ways to make meditation a habit.

HEALTH ED STANDARDS

NHES 1: Comprehend concepts to promote health and disease prevention.

CASEL COMPETENCY: Self-management, self-awareness

KEY VOCAB

counteracts

capacity

Lesson Plan: Your Body On . . . Meditation

The health benefits of taking a moment to clear your mind can last all day.

PREPARING TO READ

Before you read the article “Your Body On... Meditation,” ask your students the following pre-reading question:

How does meditation affect your mind, body, and mood?

READING AND DISCUSSION

  • Have your students read the article “Your Body On . . . Meditation” independently; read the article out loud to them; or have students partner-read the article out loud.
  • After they’ve read the article, revisit the pre-reading question. Have their answers changed?

BUILDING COMPREHENSION AND VOCAB

Check students’ comprehension of and engagement with the story with the following assessment tools:

  • Comprehension Quiz
  • Vocab Builder

EXPANDING SEL OPPORTUNITIES

Continue the learning journey with the following writing prompt:

In MEDITATING ON MEDITATION, have students write a one- to two-page reflective essay about meditation. They should start by defining what meditation is and listing any misconceptions that might exist about it. Have them continue by describing any past experience they have had with meditation. (If they haven’t had any experience with meditation, they can describe its positive effects based on what they learned from the article, or try some meditation techniques from the article and use that first experience to guide their introduction.) Then have them consider the aspects of their life they believe could be improved by meditation. They should conclude by listing possible ways they might fit meditation into their schedule.

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