Topic: Imaginative poses and sounds
Theme: Animals and Om's
Objectives:
students will be able to identify the components of being STARS, demonstrate a sun salutation, identify and do poses that are named after animals, identify an Om symbol, be able to explain what Om means and why we Om, and will be able to Om.
Materials:
Yoga mats for all students and paper and pencils for drawing.
Instructional Methods:I will begin the lesson with everyone seated in a circle then individual students will read my STARS posters. Then I will ask "who are we?" to which they will reply, "we are STARS, we are serious, trustworthy, attentive, respectful, and successful."
Then, I will have the whole group follow me in a sun salutation. After the sun salutation students will practice animal poses with me and make that animal’s noise in the pose. Then, I will tell the students to find a partner and practice two different animal poses. The partners will then have a chance to show the rest of the students their favorite poses and their animal noise. Next, I will pass out paper and pencils and ask the students to draw an animal that a pose is named after and write the name of the pose. We will have a show and tell of our drawings. Then I will teach the students what Om means/is. Then I will teach them how to Om. We will all Om together. Then I will have the students draw an Om symbol on their paper and label it (on the back of their paper). We will Om together one last time after drawing and labeling the symbol. Lastly, I will lead the students through a guided meditation, using one of their answers from last week “what brings you peace?”
Engaging Exercises:
In order to meet the objectives, students will answer what STARS means, I will ask different students to read each blurb for STARS.
Students will be engaged during our sun salutation.
Students will be encouraged to practice confidence by showing the rest of their group the animal pose and animal noise. The animal noise should draw attention to the student performing the pose, for anyone who’s attention is lost.
I will help anyone who wants help with their drawing of an animal or Om symbol.
Group Activities:
-Students will be actively engaged while doing (and saying) this sun salutation for kids:
breath in, lift your arms up and say "I'm thankful for the sun!"
breathe out, let your finger tips rain down to the ground (forward fold, uttanasana) and say "I'm thankful for the rain!"
breathe in, look in front of you (half lift, ardha uttanasana) and say "I'm thankful for the grass!"
lower all the way to the ground then do cobra pose and say "I'm thankful for the animals!"
push your hips back into downward facing dog pose
step one foot forwards into a low lunge, lift your arms and say "I'm thankful for the flowers!"
we will repeat this one more time, stepping the opposite foot forward in low lunge.
Students will do animal poses all together and make the noises all together.
Students will Om all together.
Partner Activities:
Students will choose partners to do animal poses and make animal noises with.
Individual Activities:
Students will draw animals and Om symbols individually.
Closure:
Lastly, I will lead the students through a guided meditation, using one of their answers from last week “what brings you peace?”
Assessment:
I will pass out the plastic gold coins to those who can answer these questions:
-name two animal poses and make the animal noises.
-what are the three components of an Om symbol?
Notes:
Students don’t have to make animal noises, but they will be encouraged to do so. The Om symbol is not intended to be a religious study. After a yoga practice, it is common for the instructor to have the class Om with them. I would like for the students to know what Om means using a simple explanation.
What the Om symbol means:
The bottom of the 3 shape: You are awake and using all of your senses to be aware of what is going on around you.
The top of the 3 shape: Things that we are experiencing yet we don’t understand them yet.
The curve next to the 3: You are dreaming. You are not awake or in a deep sleep. Your brain makes stories and pictures for you to see.
The swoop above the 3 shape: Our reactions to the things we experience.
The dot above the 3 shape: when you are the most calm, the most peaceful.
We Om together to embrace all of these aspects of ourselves and to understand that all other living beings also have these aspects of themselves.