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Hi everyone,

Last week was Mental Health Awareness Week.  Given the extraordinary circumstances in which we find ourselves at the minute, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to address this topic.  Below is a list of suggested activities that I found, which focus on recognising and experiencing emotions, mindfulness and kindness.  There are lots of ideas, this is so that hopefully there is at least one suggestion that will be suitable or fun for you

Here is a touching story to introduce the topic of emotions.  It’s called ‘Lucy’s Blue Day.’

If you have the Pixar film ‘Inside Out’ give it a watch or take a look at this Youtube clip. Some of the task suggestions are based around the colourful characters within this film.

1. Make a healthy ‘Inside Out’ themed snack!  I suggest a fruit kebab.  Help to pick out some fruits that are the same colour as; joy, sadness, disgust, fear and anger.  With the help of an adult, dice the fruit and choose the order you would like them to appear on the plate or skewer.  Enjoy!  (Which feeling was the best flavour?)
2. P.E/Drama Game.                                                                                                                        Watch this clip of film and do these actions every time you see…

Joy: Star jumps or wave you hands in the air.

Sadness: Curl up into a ball or hide your face

Anger: Stomp your feet and shout out!

Fear: Make a scary face or run away! 

Disgust: Make a yucky face and wave your arms in a disgusted way

4. Make sensory boxes – Fill up a box with things that make you feel happy, sad, angry, excited or worried.
5. If you have or can obtain the following resources, make a sensory stress ball! Resources: Red, green, blue, yellow and purple balloons (you need 3 or more of each colour), scissors, Flour, plastic bottle, funnel, black sharpie/marker.   Click here to find out how to make your own stress ball.
6. Practice mindfulness. This is something that we were slowly starting to incorporate to class routines as a way of encouraging us to slow things down and just ‘be’ when things get a bit too much.  Here is a video of a familiar furry friend teaching us how to belly breathe – a key relaxation technique.

Here is a link to a range of senses-based activities where the focus is to concentrate on a particular sound or feeling which almost tricks your body into relaxing!  In class, we really respond to lying on our backs on the floor and watching feathers fall slowly from a height, the classroom would become so peaceful.

7. Beech Team challenge: Guess which emotion we are all representing in our #stayathome collage!  Who is sleepy?  Who is sadness?  Who is representing fear?  Who is feeling happy? 
8. Create a ‘Things to Look Forward To’ jar. Here is a link to a nice craft activity that focuses on positive thinking by encouraging us to think about all the things we are looking forward to doing when lockdown restrictions are safely lifted.  It helps us to remain goal orientated.    Link here. 
9. The theme of Mental Health Awareness Week this year is kindness. Take some time this week to think of someone you would like to cheer up or simply make smile. What could you do for them?  This could be something as simple as making a picture for them or phoning them for a chat.  You decide on your socially distanced random act of kindness!  If you need some ideas HERE is a link with some suggestions.
10. Quiz Time with Murray! How much have you learned about our emotions?  Take this quiz to find out!   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxfJicfyCdg

Digidabble Time!

In school, this week would have been Diggidabble week.  I have highlighted all the activities which incorporate ICT above for your information.  Below is a short list of apps that focus on health and well being and are designed for children and young people.  

• Breathe, Think, Do, with Sesame
• Mindful Powers
• Children’s Bedtime Meditations for Sleep & Calm

Take care and stay safe