I ran across an article posted online by teacher Catharine Hannay on 12/6/15. I couldn’t help but want to share it with my favorite educators as one more way to bring mindfulness into their classroom. For the full article, please view: http://www.mindfulteachers.org/2015/12/mindful-or-mindless-characters.html. Adapted below are the highlights:
Mindful or Mindless? Analyzing Characters in Books and Movies by Catharine Hannay
Every time we read a book or watch a film or TV show, we could take a moment to think about how the characters did or didn't show mindfulness, gratitude, compassion, and so on. So here are some questions to consider as you watch and read your favorite stories. (Teachers can use them as a worksheet and/or a springboard for class discussion.)
Present-Moment Awareness
- Is there a time when a character fully realizes and appreciates what’s happening in the present moment? What happens? Does it affect the rest of the story? How?
- Is there a time when a character is not aware of the present moment? What happens? Does it affect the rest of the story? How?
- If you were in this story, what (if anything) would you do differently? Why?
Mindful Speech
- Is there a time when a character says something true, helpful, and kind? What does he or she say? Does it affect the rest of the story? How?
- Is there a time when a character says something untrue, unhelpful, and/or unkind? What does he or she say? Does it affect the rest of the story? How?
- If you were in this story, what (if anything) would you do differently? Why?
Compassion
- Is there a time when a character shows compassion toward another person or animal? What does he or she do? Does it affect the rest of the story? How?
- Is there a time when a character does not show compassion toward another person or animal? What does he or she do? Does it affect the rest of the story? How?
- If you were in this story, what (if anything) would you do differently? Why?
Here's an example of what this activity might look like with younger children, using quotes from Winnie-the-Pooh, by A.A. Milne.
Present-Moment Awareness
“What do you like doing best in the world, Pooh?” asked Christopher Robin.
“Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best –“ and then he had to stop and think. Because although eating honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called.
Mindful Speech
"Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That's the problem."
Compassion
“I don’t feel very much like Pooh today," said Pooh.
"There there," said Piglet. "I’ll bring you tea and honey until you do.”
One of the topics I focus on with Mindful Classrooms is heartfulness (a.k.a. empathy). Building empathy is directly related to a student’s self-efficacy and emotional resilience. So of course I have to add “empathy” to Catharine’s mindful discussion prompts. Here are some questions to increase empathetic thoughts for our students when discussing what they’re analyzing characters in books and movies…..
Empathy
- How would you feel if you were (person/character)?
- How do you think (person/character) might be feeling? How do you know?
- Can you think of a time when you felt the same way?
- What led (person/character) to make that (pick one) choice?
- What would you have done differently in that situation?
- Which person/character in the story do you relate to most and why?
