Length
30-60 minutes
Curriculum Standards
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.1.A
Come to discussions prepared, having read and researched material under study; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence from texts and other research on the topic or issue to stimulate a thoughtful, well-reasoned exchange of ideas.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.1.C
Propel conversations by posing and responding to questions that relate the current discussion to broader themes or larger ideas; actively incorporate others into the discussion; and clarify, verify, or challenge ideas and conclusions.
Instructions
- To introduce the topic, ask students the following questions and discuss openly as a class:
- Do you know anyone who does meditation? Friends? Parents? Mentors?
- Why do they meditate?
- Now, distribute the text lesson Meditation: Definition, Techniques & Benefits.
- Read aloud the introduction and first section (stopping at Meditation Techniques). Discuss as a class what meditation is and what the character in the story uses it for.
- Next, have students read the Meditation Techniques section. When everyone is finished, dim the lights and have students spend a few minutes trying the first three techniques:
- Focus on your breath.
- Focus on your inner experiences.
- Focus on an object.
- Ask for volunteers to report on how successful each of the techniques was for them. Allow students to respond with suggestions for improvement. (NOTE: Since the techniques may be difficult to do in a classroom, suggest that students also to try them at home.)
- Instruct students to read the Meditation Benefits section and lesson summary. Have students demonstrate their knowledge of meditation by taking the Meditation: Definition, Techniques & Benefits quiz.
- Now, ease students into the next phase of learning by dimming the lights and playing the video lesson Hypnosis and Meditation. This particular video lesson is calming, slow-paced, and relaxing. Allow students to sit and watch, following along with the narrator's instructions.
Activities
- Have students vote on which meditation technique they liked best (focusing your breath, focusing on inner experiences, focusing on something external, or repeating a mantra). Then, hold an in-class meditation session of this type. You may need to provide soothing music, dim the lights, or lead a mantra chant to accommodate.
- Here's a longer-term activity: Assign students a research project in which they select a type of meditation and report on it. The report should explore the history of the type of meditation as well as its principles and techniques. You might have students present their findings to the class and lead the class in a meditation session.
Discussion Questions
Have student pairs discuss the questions below. After a few minutes, ask for volunteers to report what their pair discussed and write salient points on the board.
- What is meditation? What is hypnosis? How are the two different? How are they alike?
- How does one meditate? Is there a right or wrong way?
- Which technique of meditation might best suit you?
- What are the benefits of meditation and how can it benefit you?
- What are the benefits of hypnosis and how can it benefit you?
- When do you think you might use meditation in your daily life?
