MindUP Curriculum

MindUP™ is a comprehensive social and emotional learning program for pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade students, and is informed by current research in the fields of cognitive neuroscience, mindful education, social and emotional learning, positive psychology, and evidence-based teaching practices.

MindUP™ aspires to:

  • Develop students’ skills in focusing their attention;
  • Sharpen students’ awareness of their environment and themselves by paying attention to what they sense and feel;
  • Strengthen the positive human qualities students possess, including their capacity to understand the perspectives of others and to be empathic, helpful, and kind;
  • Increase students’ optimism and well-being;
  • Foster a cohesive, caring learning environment and thereby an optimistic classroom.

MindUP™ is easy to implement. It fits smoothly into any daily classroom routine, and the “Curriculum Connections” follow-up activities are readily integrated into content-area learning modules and lessons. Teachers can weave the program’s vocabulary and concepts into daily class discussions as well.

MindUP™ consists of fifteen engaging lessons presented in three developmentally appropriate levels: Pre-K through second grade; third through fifth grade; and, sixth through eighth grade. The program is organized into four units:

  1. Let’s Get Focused! (1. Learning How Our Brains Work; 2. Understanding Mindful Attention; 3. Focusing Our Awareness: The Core Practice)
  2. Paying Attention to Our Senses (4. Mindful Listening; 5. Mindful Seeing; 6. Mindful Smelling; 7. Mindful Tasting; 8. Mindful Movement I; 9. Mindful Movement II)
  3. It’s All About Attitude (10. Perspective Taking; 11. Choosing Optimism; 12. Savoring Happy Experiences)
  4. Taking Action Mindfully (13. Acting with Gratitude; 14. Performing Acts of Kindness; 15. Taking Mindful Action in Our Community)

Students begin by learning about self-awareness, move on to activities that sharpen their ability to focus attention and build self-regulation skills, and then explore how their attitudes and actions affect themselves and others. The last three lessons of MindUP™ deal with outward manifestations of positive behaviors and attitudes, such as manifesting MindUP™ skills through community action projects.

When students learn the brain-friendly focusing strategies and self-awareness practices of Units 1 and 2 they prepare themselves for their application in Units 3 and 4. The MindUP™ program is designed to strengthen students’ social and emotional competencies while creating a cohesive, optimistic classroom.

“Curriculum Connections” activities support the principles and concepts of MindUP™ lessons. These activities are short, integrative lesson plans that extend learning opportunities for each corresponding lesson. MindUP™ lesson extensions are linked to various areas of academic and social and emotional learning curricula.

By incorporating mindful learning into the classroom, students become more alert, self-aware, optimistic, motivated, and focused. They employ higher-level thinking, become more creative, cooperate and collaborate with others, and develop their long-term memories. They approach life and learning positively. In fact, mindful attention provides the neurological climate for children to develop confidence, optimism, and motivation. They can succeed because they believe they can. They can harness their mental energy and effort, persevere, and think before acting.

MindUP™ provides a framework for teachers to learn strategies to boost students’ social and emotional competencies and to create an optimistic classroom.

To order a copy of The MindUP Curriculum, please access our publisher directly ( Scholastic, Inc.)

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