Lesson:
Engage (15-20 minutes):
During morning meeting, read “That Was Some Daydream” from Nobody is Perfick by Bernard Waber and lead a brief discussion on how the character in the story demonstrates awareness of her thought patterns and feelings.
Suggested Prompts & Questions:
- Pre-Reading: Let’s read a short story about a girl who daydreams. What is daydreaming? Do you daydream? When? Where? Noticing and reflecting on the thoughts happening in your own brain in called metacognition. While I’m reading, listen to how the character notices the thoughts happening in her own brain. It’s a funny, silly story, but it also can help us as learners.
- Post-Reading: Oh no! What happened? What did she notice about her thoughts? What did she do to try to control her thoughts? What do you do if you start daydreaming or get distracted?
Ask your students to notice their own thoughts and feelings that arise throughout the day, and how paying attention to those thoughts and feelings can help us understand ourselves as learners.
Apply (10-15 minutes):
Throughout the day, engage briefly with your students as they work, as they move around the classroom, and maybe get distracted. Use the prompts to guide brief reflections and build consciousness of their thoughts and feelings.
Suggested Prompts & Questions:
- Have you noticed any thoughts or feelings passing through your mind?
- What might have caused that thought/feeling? What might that tell you?
Reflect (10-15 minutes):
Before lunch and again at the end of the day, ask your students to share what they’ve noticed about their thoughts and feelings throughout the day, and what that might tell them about how they learn best at school.
Suggested Questions:
- What thoughts and feelings did you notice today?
- What might have caused them?
- Did you find yourself daydreaming at all?
- How can noticing our thoughts and feelings help us throughout the day?