The MindUP Curriculum: Grades 3-5

My favorite Mindfulness curriculum! Such a great, well rounded curriculum. It’s also very easy to use and adapt to your needs.

I was looking for something that would tie my classroom management strategy neatly into a single package but have not found that magic missing piece. My school district uses several different programs (Capturing Kids Hearts, Kids at Hope, and some of the schools use Make You Day). I like to share with my students WHY it is important to Choose Kind (from the book Wonder (our first read aloud of the year). I have tried incorporating things from Whole Brain Teaching and even Kagan Strategies but it all seemed so disjointed. Until now!!! This book teaches the students about the brain and how different parts of the brain respond to different things. It teaches students how they respond to stress and why. It teaches them to recognize which part of their brain is in control and then asks them if that is truly the part that should be in charge OR if there is a better decision that they should be making. As if that is not enough, the author took the time to tie each of the lessons to CCSS standards so teachers can justify the use of it in the classroom. There are additional books (literature) you can use as read alouds to help make each topic come to life. Each unit is meant to last 2 weeks and the book is designed to be taught over the course of the year. I love how it ties in the sense and some great science lessons. This is excellent for your ADHD, Shy, and students with anger issues. I cannot wait to begin to use it this upcoming school year.

Gives great suggestions about how to introduce meditation concepts in an easy to follow, creative manner. I especially loved the "brain bottle" containing sand, glitter and water to show what an "agitated brain" looks like and how meditation teaches it to calm down. I use it with my adult clients as well when I expalin how the amygdala creates chaos in our brains when we're upset.

I am using this grade level and the K-2 book together with a small group of 3rd grade boys and girls with behavior needs who also needed some guidance away from egotism and onto optimism. Coupled with yoga and additional whole-class activities, we are making progress. We start and end each meeting with a triangle chime that the kids use to focus. When the echo of the chime is done, we begin or end; which is a great centering activity itself. They have enjoyed the hands-on experiments, art activities, and learning how the brain contributes to our ability to pay attention to detail, drown out the distractions, and appreciate the little things. This curriculum is easy to use, most days I can prep it just 5-10min before the lesson is held. Some lessons require household supplies, but are easy to acquire and can be creatively substituted. 4 stars becuase some of the content was a little "heavy" or too difficult for the 3rd graders, so I used ideas/references in the K-2 book. Easy enough to do this, when you have both books. Could prob use the K-2 book alone for 3rd graders and beef up the ideas or go a little deeper with the theme.

I just started implementing this curriculum in December and found it to be a wonderful addition to my classroom's morning meeting routine. I love the alternative activity. suggestions included with each lesson. I was concerned that my combination 5/6 class might have difficulty "buying in" to this program, however they've really enjoyed it. I think the content and activities are appropriate with this age rage and not too "immature" for them.

This curriculum should be in schools world wide I'm not even halfway through the book yet and all of the info is so helpful, my child has been diagnosed with adhd but if this curriculum was apart of every school he wouldn't need special services which is not helping at all ,he needs the strategies mentioned in this book to be productive is these city Schools

I home school my one child. This book is made for a classroom setting. I inquired from the company whether or not this would work for one child. I never heard back. Good for a classroom though.

The (Goldie Hawn) Foundation supports the group the researched and developed this easy to follow format for teaching students mindfulness with no religious underpinnings. Helps children to have presence of mind for better decision making. Most effective introduced with younger which. Am a social worker at a school for students with disabilities, including emotional ones. The best things I can describe is that the kids are interested when I do the activities with them, the seem to relish understanding how their brains work and they understand the reasons to become mindful.

This is a really well presented book with great lesson plans and ideas. Great for teachers like me who want to consider using the programme in their school.

EVERY SCHOOL NEEDS THIS PROGRAM!!!! I work in a downtown, big city, school and even though I am only on lesson #2, I can already see a positive difference in how my students are responding and mindfully breathing to help calm down their brains. Thank you to Goldie Hawn and the Hawn Institute for creating this curriculum and keeping the price of the books affordable for all educators.

perfect for my needs

I will use this book for reference purposes when working and supporting my new group of students when they are struggling to express their feelings and behaviours in healthy ways.

Admittedly I'm a brain nerd, I've been really interested in my own (brain, that is) and studying at an undergrad and to a lesser extent graduate level. But this makes the concept of the brain accessible and understandable, and when you have well-known entrepreneurs such as Dean Kramen (First Robotics) talking about the need for kids to learn HOW they learn, they really can approach this through MindUP. The school board that patiently employs me has begun to use this in pilot applications, and I expect it won't be long before this is a common language at all levels of learning. The language within the activities is tailored specifically to the Grades 3-5 range. While being accessible, the language doesn't diminish the integrity of the terminology, which I really appreciate.