Freezing cold weather and yoga are semi-related in this post. I promise.
If you live by me {East Coast} or pretty much anywhere in America, you know it’s been freeeeezing lately. Indoor recess freezing.
We’ve been doing benchmarks in our classroom, which has left us with some time here and there. On the fly I decided to read “Bear’s Winter House” {well my student teacher read it} and then we brainstormed things we like to do when it’s cold outside. I made sure to differentiate between what we do when it’s cold, versus snowing, because it seems kids always associate the two.
It was a quick and simple activity, but I encouraged them to write WOW sentences, and they came through big time! It was a nice little break from tedious testing!
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Now to the second part of my title: Yoga!
Like I said, we’ve been going a little stir crazy lately with all that indoor recess. Teachers at our school are lucky enough to have duty free lunch 5 days a week, which means we’re not responsible for indoor recess. Students either go to the Music Room and watch a movie, or the Gym to play games. That being said, my little ones were still very wiggly this week. It’s a law…kids need to get out and run around!
On a whim, I did a few yoga moves with them early in the week. Just a few basic moves I had learned in my basic yoga class. And what do you know? They loved it! We turned the lights off and I brought up a Yoga station on Pandora.
It was so successful I spent my whole lunch period looking up Children’s Yoga videos. I couldn’t find any free ones that I was a fan of, so I decided to see if any of the online book wesites I used had a yoga book…and…jackpot!!!
www.Wegivebooks.org had the book “You Are a LION!”
I’m tellin’ you this is my new Friday routine!!!!! After yoga, we did “Zen Paper Passing”, which is code for super-quiet, hand-back the week’s graded work. And what do you know? They LOVEDDDDDD it!
I strongly recommend making yoga part of your classroom routine.
And…If you have a video suggestion please head me in the right direction in the comments below!
I’m off to
Enjoy your Sunday :)
Halle
OOOh I love that your kiddos loved yoga! I have read about using it in the classroom before, but reading it on your blog really makes me want to try it! I could have used some yoga after two weeks of no outdoor playtime.. we have been so cooped up!!
ReplyDeleteAshley
www.secondgradeparadise.blogspot.com
I will have to try yoga. We've been doing the Just Dance Kids videos and they get all their wiggles out! We'll have to try the calmer yoga, too. :)
ReplyDeleteMelanie
Posh Primary
We've had indoor morning recess due to cold temps...no wonder they are so chatty! Hoping for an early spring!
ReplyDeleteAmy Howbert
Little Miss Organized
amyhowbert1@gmail.com
I think I need to try yoga for myself, first- I've never done it and I want to try it. I think I need it! I like your Zen Paper Passing idea- so much calmer!
ReplyDelete-Maria
Everyone deServes to Learn
Those little writings are adorable! Thank you for sharing that -- it's bee really cold here too!! Have you ever seen the Yoga for Kids book? If you like doing yoga with your class, its a good one! :) Thanks for sharing the Lion book, we have to stay in our classrooms on rainy days so that would be a great book for me to keep in my lil' crazy rainy day tool box!
ReplyDeleteKate
Second Grade Sparkle
Hi! I am your newest follower! I LOVE YOUR BLOG! SO CUTE! I got Erin to design mine as well!
ReplyDelete-Holly Phinney
http://specialsmartspecialhearts.blogspot.com
I have used the Cosmic Yoga for Kids from Youtube - we did the Polar Bear and Penguin videos - the kids were skeptical at first - but realized it is not as easy as they think.
ReplyDeleteLookingFromThirdtoFourth
Thanks so much for the great resources! I found your page on Pinterest and I'm printing right now! I homeschool and really appreciate the freebies! ~Stacey
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