Minds On

Feelings check-in

Everyone feels a range of feelings each day.

Access this video entitled “Mindfulness Map” in which Akin shares how he experiences different feelings and maps them to help be mindful of these feelings.

Pause and reflect

Pause and reflect

How does Akin track his feelings each day? Do a feelings check-in of how you are feeling today.

It’s okay to have more than one feeling.

Press ‘Example’ to access an example of a feelings check-in.

Here is the example of a statement based on a feelings check-in: “I feel very excited at this moment because I am learning about health and physical education. I feel this way because I know I will usually have to do some sort of physical activity during this time, and physical activity makes me feel great.”

Child is smiling with closed eyes and hands on cheeks.

It is your turn! Record your feelings by completing How Do I Feel? in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.

How am I feeling?

How do I know?

Press the ‘Activity’ button to access How Do I Feel? 

Activity(Open PDF in a new window)

Action

Chemical reaction

When you are active, your body releases chemicals.

Endorphins are chemicals released when you are active. Endorphins trigger a positive feeling in your body.

Click on ‘Pronunciation’ to reveal how ‘endorphin’ is pronounced.

It might be easier to pronounce the word if you split it into END – ORPHIN.

You may also explore the audio with the pronunciation of the word. Access this audio recording entitled ‘Endorphins’ to learn how this word is pronounced.

Endorphins

Three children excitedly jumping in the air.

Regular physical activity also increases another chemical in your brain, called serotonin. Raising your levels of serotonin creates a positive mood and an overall sense of well-being. It can also help improve your sleep and appetite.

Press ‘Pronunciation’ to reveal how serotonin is pronounced.

It might be easier to pronounce the word if you split it into SE–RO-TO-NIN, with the stress on TO.

You may also explore the audio with the pronunciation of the word. Check out this recording entitled “Serotonin” to learn how this word is pronounced.

Serotonin

Brainstorm

Brainstorm

What are some ways that being active and releasing these chemicals help us? Brainstorm and then explore the benefits of these chemicals.

Press the following tabs to learn more about different benefits of being active.

Here are some examples of these benefits:

  • improved sleep
  • more energy
  • less risk of getting sick

Here are some examples of these benefits:

  • more empathy for others (being able to put ourselves into other’s shoes)
  • enjoying being with other people

Here are some examples of these benefits:

  • stress release
  • more self-confidence
  • improved concentration

Let’s get active!

Now that we know the benefits of releasing these chemicals, let’s get those endorphins and serotonin working!

Here is a list of 15 tasks. Pick at least 7 of these activities to complete. You can complete the tasks in any order you wish. Take your time and try your best.

Safety

Before you begin:

  1. Call out or think of words that rhyme with “pop” while you hop or jump in one place.
  2. Pick 5 stretches or poses. Hold each stretch or pose for 20 seconds.
  3. Do as many squats as you can in 1 minute.
  4. Give a compliment to someone.
  5. Find a soft object like a stuffed animal or balled up sock and try to balance it on your head for at least 15 seconds.
  6. Take a piece of paper or your socks and roll into a ball. Throw it up high in the air and catch it 10 times in a row.
  7. Tidy your workspace.
  8. Drink one glass of water.
  9. Sit on a chair or lie on the floor and be still for 1 minute. Focus on taking deep breaths.
  10. Perform 10 forward arm circles and 10 backwards arm circles.
  11. Do as many jumping jacks as you can in 30 seconds.
  12. Pretend you are swimming for 30 seconds.
  13. Dance to your favourite song.
  14. Check in with someone. Ask them “How are you doing?”.
  15. Pretend you are a baseball player. Swing your bat 10 times and hit 10 home runs.
Three people stretching. One is performing neck rolls, another is about to lunge, and another person is holding their knee Three people balancing stuffed animals on their heads with arms out. One is in a wheelchair, one is standing, one is in a one leg yoga pose. A person sitting crossed legged on a pillow taking deep breaths. A person outdoors is swinging their arms as if they are holding a baseball bat

Great job on finishing your tasks!

Student Success

Think-Pair-Share

How did being active make you feel? Check all the boxes in this checklist that fit how you are feeling. Then, if possible, share with a partner.

How I Feel

Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.

Consolidation

Test Your Skills!

Write out some solutions!

Now it’s time to test your knowledge. You can return to the tabs to explore the physical and mental benefits before answering the questions.

Select the correct answer, then press ‘Check Answer’ to see how you did.

The benefits of physical activity

Are these statements benefits of physical activity? In each box, match the statements with the word true or false.

Setting a goal for my physical and mental health

Think about one of the benefits of being active that you have learned.

Try It

Try It

Now it is your turn to create a goal to monitor a benefit. Press ‘Example’ to access one example of goal setting.

Someone is not sleeping well at night. They set a goal to go for a walk around the block after dinner every day for a week.

Follow the steps in this checklist to set your goal.

Setting a goal for my physical and mental health

Record your Physical and Mental Health Goal digitally, orally or in print. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.

If possible, practice your activity and record how you are feeling after you are done. Do you think you have the right plan for you? How do you know?

A hand holding a small pencil and writing in a notebook.

Reflection

How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel…

Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.