Curriculum Outline: Units & Lesson Plans Unit One: Body - Strength, Flexibility, Balance Intro: Tools for Social Emotional Learning Lesson 1: Physical Strength Lesson 2: Physical Balance Lesson 3: Physical Flexibility Lesson 4: Human Anatomy Lesson 5: Five Main Senses + Intuition Lesson 6: Health and Nutrition Lesson 7: Endurance (related to nutrition and the body) Lesson 8: Special Needs (physical and cognitive challenges) Lesson 9: Teamwork Unit Two: Mind- Courage, Curiosity, Choices Intro: All About the Brain Lesson 1: Physical Sensations Lesson 2: Attention/Focus Lesson 3: Understanding/Comprehension Lesson 4: Emotions Lesson 5: Empathy Lesson 6: Reaction/Response – Impulse Control Lesson 7: Perseverance Lesson 8: Letting Go Lesson 9: Communication Unit Three: Heart- Perseverance, Acceptance, Relationship Intro: Growing together Garden Project Lesson 1: Honesty Lesson 2: Kindness Lesson 3: Sharing Lesson 4: Authenticity – Be Yourself Lesson 5: Compassion Lesson 6: Wisdom Lesson 7: Forgiveness Lesson 8: Trust Lesson 9: Love and Friendship
Enter the level of the Limbic System, the Mammalian Brain. This mid-brain area identifies, categorizes, and organizes our emotions, so that we can center, stabilize, and steer ourselves thoughtfully and consciously. It is at this level that we emotionally connect with others. When we learn to play, coordinate and connect with our hearts, we have access to the third level, the Neocortex: the thinking, planning, idea-generating, rational brain. Ease, confidence, and joy profoundly affect our access to the pre-frontal brain, called the neocortex, where the ability to self-reflect and control our impulses originates. In order to use the higher levels of the brain, we must first address and meet basic survival needs. When stress affects us negatively, and we are unable to make a positive choice and change our reactions, we lose the capability to think clearly, and so we revert back to the Reptilian Brain, where instinct rules the day. And that is when Ronnie (age 5), who is tired because he went to bed late, ate a donut for breakfast, and now wants to play with his truck, has a complete melt down when it’s time for circle. We can make a difference in our day and by association, in the day of every member of our family. From the moment we wake up we have choices that will affect not only ourselves, but also everyone around us. We can choose to notice our state of mind; we can choose to change it. In Movement, Health, and Happiness, Wendy, Liz, & Leah
Outdoor Play Benefits “I like to play indoors better ‘cause that’s where all the electric outlets are.” - A 4th Grader in San Diego, quoted in Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv Focus On Fun: Invite parents to Outdoor Play Time- share HSBS activity ideas & resources Host a healthy picnic Rake leaves, plant flowers, or roll down a hill Create a painted rock garden Hop like bunnies, jump like frogs & slither like snakes Plan a Nature Walk! Many of us remember the phrase, “Go outside and play!” from childhood, but children today spend less time playing outdoors than any previous generation (Clements, 2004; Hofferth and Curtin, 2006). Free play and discretionary time has declined more than 9 hours a week over the last 25 years. A new Nielson Company Report indicates that children ages two-five years old now spend more than 32 hours a week on average in front of a TV screen. According to the Keiser Family Foundation, the amount of screen time only increases with age, with school-aged children spending 6.5 hours a day on electronic media. The percentage of preschool children who are overweight more than tripled between 1971 and 2009, exploding from 5.8% in 1971 to 18.4% in 2009 (Odgen et al, 2007; Anderson, 2009). Six out of ten of these preschoolers will continue to be overweight or obese at age 12 (NICHD, 2006). The situation is so severe that this generation of children’s life span is predicted to be shorter than that of their parents. Tap into the benefits of outdoor play! Encouraging children to get outside, get moving, and connect with the natural world are all ways to reverse childhood obesity rates. But, the benefits don’t stop there. Kids who play outside are happier, healthier, and stronger! According to research (Fjortoft 2004; Burdette and Whitaker 2005), children who play outdoors regularly: Check out Nature Time spent outdoors is also the best way to get vitamin D. According to the journal Pediatrics, 70% of American kids are not getting enough vitamin D, which can lead to a host of health issues. Time spent outdoors is also shown to reduce myopia (near sightedness) in children (Optometry and Vision Science, 2008). Outdoor play – it’s not just FUN, it’s good for you!