The Mindfulness Podcast
Denise Lee's classes at Decorah Middle School in Decorah, IA participated in instruction and practice with mindfulness activities and mediations. Mindfulness meditations were then created in iMovie by the students. The microphones and sound boxes were used to create the sound and scripts for their personal meditations. Overall 120 students participated in the project by creating their own three-minute meditation podcast. The project included the following steps:
a) Choose a meditation technique to introduce at the beginning of the podcast
b) Write a script
c) Choose the background sound and sound effects or music to set the tone and mood of the meditative period. (Soundzabound AEA Online Resource was used as well as student recorded sounds)
d) Create the podcast using iMovie or Garage Band
e) Share with the class or use during class meditations
f) Share the podcast on the class website
As the project continues next year, there is a need for more free to use (Creative Commons) pictures for students to use. She created a Google folder of pictures and videos of her own for students to use if they were unable to make their own. This resource bank will continue to grow as students choose to contribute their sounds, images, and videos for others to use.
Denise added to the impact of the project, "During one of my classes I had a student come up to me and ask if we were meditating. She said she had just come from a test and really needed it today. I loved that the benefits of mediation were directly felt by my students."
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Fifth grade students will try mindful meditation and explore its benefits. The goal is to have a tool that they can use to reflect on their emotions. Students will create their own 3 minute meditation podcast at the end of their exploration.
Amount awarded: $935.00
Grade level: 6-8
School: Decorah Middle School
District: Decorah
Teacher(s) name(s): Denise Lee
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