Mindfulness Week
Encourage the entire school to incorporate mindfulness activities into classes throughout the week. Examples include:
- Start each day with a school-wide minute of meditation.
- Encourage all teachers to create a space in their classroom where students can take a mindfulness break by coloring, using a stress ball, doing a few stretching poses, following instructions for better breathing, etc.
- Play calming music in each classroom during individual work time. Try this playlist.
- Introduce stretching breaks to each class where teachers lead students in different poses.
No-Phone Day/Week
Students pledge to not use their cell phone on a day selected by the teacher/school — or to go “phone-free” for a certain number of hours each day during a specified week. The goal is to promote active engagement with family and friends. Check out our PA calendars to share physical activity ideas with your students and staff.
health. moves. minds. Family Night
Use the health. moves. minds. Station Cards
to create an event where students and their families can participate in a variety of
activities focused on mindfulness, kindness and physical activity.
Stress-Relief Dance-a-Thon
Host a dance-a-thon for students and the school community to promote physical activity through dance as a tool to relieve stress.
Zen Night
Host a family night where students and their families engage in
mindfulness activities such as meditation, Better Breathing, yoga, etc. while playing
calm music.
Kindness Week Challenge
Hold a school-wide challenge that encourages students
to be kind to one another. Teachers will place a small token in the classroom’s “bucket”
each time they notice a student being kind. The class with the most tokens is named
the “Kindest Class in the School.” You can opt to do this without the competition piece.
Send a Kind Message Day
Students take time to write kind messages to other
students, teachers, friends or family members. This can be a stand-alone activity or
incorporated into another event.
Fun Walks or Fun Runs
A popular favorite any time of year!
Walk-a-thons, bike-a-thons, jump-rope-a-thon, bowl-a-thons, skate-a-thons, hulahoop-a-thons
Physical activity is a stress reliever, no matter what the theme is!
Teacher-Student Competitions
Students love these!
Mindful Moment
Have the school staff and every student take a moment to decompress in the middle of the day.
Create a “Throw Kindness Like Confetti” Bulletin Board
Put up a bulletin board where most of the school can see it. (By the main entrance is a great place.) Have students share experiences with kindness on the bulletin board. Include the date/time of your celebratory event and any other information you think the school should know. When parents come into the school they will see the board and maybe even contribute a note!
“Kindness is Cool” Poster Contest
Have all students make a “Kindness is Cool” poster. Choose classroom winners in whichever way works best. Then, have parent/community volunteers choose the school’s top 3 posters from all the classroom winners. Or, just hang the “winning” poster from each class in a visible location.
Handmade Posters
Have students make special kindness/mindfulness and/or empowerment posters to place around the school or gym. These posters will be reminders to students to seek out donations for the school’s health. moves. minds.™ program.
Extra, Extra
Ask local stores and restaurants for extra prizes.
Join Forces
Use the PTA to your full advantage! Ask them how they think they can help and have a list of ideas ready.
Open House Night
Advertise the health. moves. minds. program at your school’s open house/back to school night at the beginning of the school year. Share information about mental wellness and the dates of your health. moves. minds. events.
Promote Service Learning at All Ages
Recruit high school students to help run activity stations at your health. moves. minds. event. This can become a service learning opportunity for the older students and a great way to extend health. moves. minds. lessons to the high school level.
PE Wish List
Formulate a wish list for equipment to purchase with funds from Gopher Sport.
Surprise, Surprise
Give out random prizes by drawing student names throughout your fundraising week/month and announce the winners on the daily announcements.