Challenge 2: Pond of Presence
Being present
Being present is thinking about the moment you are in, not the past or the future. It's noticing things around you, listening carefully, and noticing when those around you need help.
Ways to be present include grounding yourself by putting your feet flat on the floor, sitting up straight, relaxing your body, and possibly resting your hands on your lap. In these moments, notice what's going on around you, including the way something feels, or the sounds, sights, and smells you experience.
Social emotional core concepts
- Self-awareness
- Self-management
Out of game activity
Have students interview each other about being aware of their bodies:
- Am I sitting up and facing the speaker?
- Am I fidgeting?
- Where is my focus?
- Am I listening to the speaker?
- Ask students to sit quietly at their desks and focus on their breathing for a moment, thinking about posture and having quiet hands. Then ask students to take two minutes to look around the classroom and take note of something that they have not noticed before. It doesn't have to be big. It can be as small as a bin in a different spot, or a new picture on the wall.
Additional resources
Challenge
The player will talk with the wizard then explore under water, following the directions on the signs. The signs instruct students to name things they hear, smell, touch, and see. The goal is to tune into their senses and be present.
Reflection
In the journal, players will be asked to reflect on their time in the pond and what they experienced with their senses.
