type

  • Feature Article
  • Podcast
  • Research

theme

  • Instant Activity
  • Food Literacy
  • Outdoor Learning
  • Physically Active Learning
  • Social Emotional Learning
  • Cross-Curricular Learning
  • Models-Based Approach
  • PHE Community
  • Healthy School Communities
  • Fundamental Movement Skills
  • Dance Education
  • Digital Literacy
  • Health Education
  • Financial Literacy
  • Physical Education
  • Sex Education
  • Educational Leadership
  • Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
  • Teacher Education
  • Mental Health
  • Substance Use
  • Truth & Reconciliation

Search Results

SORT BY:

Teacher to Teacher: Incorporating Mindfulness into PE Class

May 21, 2018
two students sitting on yoga mats in a grass field

Previously published in Volume 84, Issue 1

Being a health and physical educator is rewarding. Your work has an impact on the lives of your colleagues, your students, their families and their communities.

It's also a career, like any, with challenges. We want our members to be able to connect and share how they handle the issues that come up in their classrooms and schools so we can all continue to learn and build our professional repertoires together.

In this section, we feature questions posed by teachers (by way of social media or email), and answers directly from their colleagues.

This issue's question: How can I incorporate more mindfulness into my PE class?

Great question! Helping support our students' mental health is on everyone's radar right now, and rightfully so. Mindfulness is a natural fit for physical and health education, and can offer significant benefits for students' wellness.  

I would suggest you check out teachresiliency.ca for some great ideas. When you enter "mindfulness" or "meditation" into the search bar, several suggestions come up for resources you could use in class. 

  • Smiling Mind: A mindfulness meditation tool that addresses mental health and wellness issues. Designed for all age groups. 
  • Personal Resiliency: This School Mental Health Assist is quick-tip sheet outlining the basics of self-care.
  • Belly Breathe with Elmo: Colbie Callait and ELmo sing a song called "Belly Breathe" which can be used as a tool to introduce emotion regulation and breathing exercises.
  • Social and Emotional Learning Resource Finder: A one-stop site for anyone who works with children and youth to help with fostering social-emtional learning and mental wellbeing.

I hope you and your students enjoy it!

Recent Posts

A group of children in a school holding colorful signs, smiling and engaging with their surroundings.
Social Return on Investment (SROI) Analysis of the Students Together Moving to Prevent Tobacco Use (STOMP) Program
[ Feature Article ] The Students Together Moving to Prevent Tobacco Use (STOMP) program, led by PHE Canada and funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, was implemented as a multi-year pilot from 2021 to 2024. This...
Authored by: PHE Canada
A diverse group of children playing and exercising together in a gymnasium setting.
No Equipment, No Problem! How to Incorporate Physical Activity with No Materials
[ Feature Article ] As Physical Education teachers, it is common to encounter situations where there is limited or no equipment available. Likewise, classroom teachers often wish to incorporate Daily Physical Activity into their routines but face the challenge of doing so without any materials. To address this, we have compiled a list of activities that require no equipment and still offer a fun and engaging way to get moving.
Authored by: Dr. John Byl
A group of children joyfully playing soccer in a sunny park, with trees and grass in the background.
Activating Schools as a Key Driver in Federal Sport Policy - A PHE Canada Advocacy Report
[ Feature Article ] This advocacy report, prepared for the Future of Sport in Canada Commission, positions schools as a critical driver in shaping the future of Canada’s sport policy. It argues that school-based physical...
Authored by: PHE Canada
a group of kids outdoors in uniforms holding up a girl in celebration
Igniting Self-Leadership in PHE Through the Language of Captain and Poet: A Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Strategy
[ Feature Article ] The integration of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) into PHE represents a unique opportunity to enhance students' development of critical life skills. Unlike traditional classroom settings, PHE offers immediate feedback on how our actions contribute to performance, teamwork, leadership, success, and failure, in real time. The simple language of Captain and Poet is being introduced into schools to help students (and their teachers) better understand their innate strengths alongside how they are showing up for themselves and others. PHE offers a powerful opportunity to heighten self-leadership skills and empower young people to make decisions, communicate, collaborate, and improve themselves in more effective ways.
Authored by: Jennifer Johnson
A teacher engages with a group of children in a gym setting, fostering interaction and learning.
Identifying a Quality Physical Education (QPE) Educator: A Transformative Journey
[ Feature Article ] Transforming personal growth into effective Health and Physical Education (HPE) teaching is key. With 35 years of experience, this article underscores the importance of relationship-building, student empowerment, and creating a safe, inclusive environment. Highlighting the significance of real-world relevance, personalized learning, and fostering mental health, it delineates 10 qualities that define a Quality Physical Education (QPE) educator. Embracing these traits inspires students to pursue lifelong wellness and demonstrates that educators can truly be the change they wish to see in HPE.
Authored by: Ted Temertzoglou
5 children playing in a pool with a beach ball
Beach Ball and Aquatic Games: Fun and Fitness in the Water
[ Feature Article ] This article highlights the versatility of beach balls and pool noodles in promoting fun and fitness in aquatic environments. It describes a range of engaging games for individuals, pairs, and teams that improve coordination, balance, and teamwork. From partner challenges to large group activities like water polo and aquatic basketball, each game is designed to boost water confidence and physical activity in a playful setting.
Authored by: Dr. John Byl