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End of the year in science always ends with Genius Hour activities involving brainstorming passion projects, asking questions, researching, and product presentation.

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To piggyback off the other comment, 6th grade students could also write a letter to the upcoming class of 6th graders, giving them tips for beginning middle school years and things they can look forward to.

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Have students write a letter to themselves in SRT about how the year has gone-discussinng feelings, etc. Collect the letters. Pass them back to the students at the beginning of the school year and have them evaluate the letters.

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Have students write a letter to themselves in SRT about how the year has gone-discussinng feelings, etc. Collect the letters. Pass them back to the students at the beginning of the school year and have them evaluate the letters.

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Jill Cali's is in Spanish!

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Conference with students about their growth throughout the year.

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Get outside and do a mindfulness walk!

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Before you begin your meditation, find a quiet space to walk. It could be outdoors, or in a hallway, or even a large room, walking back and forth.

Walking meditation can be a formal practice, like watching the breath. Or it can be informal, bringing awareness to this everyday activity, whenever you need to travel from point A to point B. Walking meditation gives us an opportunity to gather our awareness which so often becomes distracted or even stuck when the mind is left to its own devices. Whether moving between floors of a building, on a city street, or in the woods, it is an opportunity to guide ourselves out of the distracted autopilot we live in throughout so much of our day.

Paying attention in this way, we stay safe by remaining fully aware of whatever is around. On any walk, hike, run, or other physical activity, without effort we may mentally check out-or we can practice awareness instead.

Practice Mindfulness With a Walking Meditation

1. As you begin, walk at a natural pace. Place your hands wherever comfortable: on your belly, behind your back, or at your sides. If you find it useful, you can count steps up to 10, and then start back at one again. If you're in a small space, as you reach ten, pause, and with intention choose a moment to turn around.

2. With each step, pay attention to the lifting and falling of your foot. Notice movement in your legs and the rest of your body. Notice any shifting of your body from side to side.

3. Whatever else captures your attention, come back to the sensation of walking. Your mind will wander, so without frustration, guide it back again as many times as you need. Particularly outdoors, maintain a larger sense of the environment around you, taking it all in, staying safe and aware.

Whether you're indoors, in the woods, or in a city, pay attention to sounds without labeling or naming, or getting caught up.

4. Now for a few minutes, expand your attention to sounds. Whether you're indoors, in the woods, or in a city, pay attention to sounds without labeling or naming, or getting caught up in whether you find them pleasant or unpleasant. Notice sounds as nothing more or less than sound.

5. Shift your awareness to your sense of smell. Again, simply notice. Don't push or force yourself to feel anything at all, just bring attention to the sense of smell, whatever you discover.

6. Now, move to vision: colors and objects and whatever else you see. Patiently coming back each time something grabs your attention, or even if something needs addressing, like avoiding an obstacle. Staying natural, not overly rigid, not daydreaming and drifting, but with sustained awareness.

7. Keep this open awareness of everything around you, wherever you are. Nothing to do, nothing to fix, nothing to change. Fully aware, and walking.

8. In the last moments, come back to awareness of the physical sensations of walking, wherever else your mind found itself throughout the practice. Notice your feet again touching the ground. Notice again the movements in your body with each step.

9. When you're ready to end your walking meditation, stand still for a moment again. Pausing, choose a moment to end the practice. As you finish, consider how you might bring this kind of awareness into the rest of your day.

Meditation teacher Diana Winston and researcher Susan Smalley address some of the most common concerns that come up when people first try mindful breathing meditation. Read More

Meditation may appear to be a solitary pursuit, says Barry Boyce, but many benefits come from doing it with others. Read More

Breathe into challenging movement with a longer exhale, whether that be hitting laps on the stairs, running, hiking, climbing, or a high intensity workout. Read More

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A Guided Walking Meditation for Daily Life

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Walking meditation can be a formal practice. Take a break and boost your mood with this walking meditation guided by Dr. Mark Bertin.

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Try a BreakoutEdu digital or kit!

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Community Circle

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behavior thinking sheets

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Have students reflect on learning goals.

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I'd love to be able to better integrate yoga as a method of regulation.

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They have this listed as pre-K/lower elementary but it could easily be adapted for older students!
https://ggie.berkeley.edu/practice/looking-for-gratitude-in-school/

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This would be a great back to school activity in any class! https://ggie.berkeley.edu/practice/make-fast-friends/

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Lead students through some deep breaths or box breathing to help them regulate before starting a final exam.

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Just a simple daily check in can help students understand how they are feeling... quick and easy suggestions: do a Kahoot poll, do one of Lynn's cool ideas from our meetings, go around the room and have them rate their stress level or motivation level on a 1-10, have them choose an emoji or image that represents how they feel, etc.

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Ask students to set intentions for the end of the year. This can help them identify how they feel, how it may affect others, and how they can work to accomplish what they want... Ex: What attitude will I have for the next three weeks? or What will I most aim to enjoy in May? or How will I treat others through the end of the year? (I think this is also good for Critical Thinking, Insight, and Connection)

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Do we do a senior trip? If not, maybe underclassmen could talk about planning a senior trip. I noticed some other schools in our areas have senior trips. 

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Do we do a senior trip? If not, maybe underclassmen could talk about planning a senior trip. I noticed some other schools in our areas have senior trips. 

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Yoga is a great tool for student mindset. It can even be done in their chair. No major training is necessary.