The Mindful Brain

“Chapter 3: How Deep Breaths Help Your Brain”

AGC’s 1st and 2nd graders have been enjoying a taste of Neuroscience 101! In a Wellness unit about mindfulness and the brain, students have learned important skills to care for their brains.

2nd Grader Joshua drew a cross-section of the brain!

Students learned the role that the hippocampus, amygdala and pre-frontal cortex play in their social and emotional functioning, how neurons send messages in the brain, and how they can gain better control over emotional responses using mindful breathing and meditation.

“[Deep breathing] gets oxygen to your brain. It calms your amygdala”

Students made non-fiction chapter books to share what they’ve learned with their peers and families. Just like an understanding of nutrition and energy helps us feed ourselves better, demystifying brain activity is helpful for people of all ages to develop better self-control and master emotional responses that might interfere with learning, play, and work. Teachers and families have noticed students using these tools and their new vocabulary when they find themselves getting frustrated, angry, or overwhelmed.

This understanding can help people of any age gain important control over their reactions, helping them to become better students, friends, colleagues and global citizens.

“Taking deep breaths is important because it helps calm down your brain. It is also important because when you are really mad or sad you can take deep breaths. When you are done taking deep breaths you will be ready to talk to that person.”

“My goal is whenever I’m mad or sad I would take ‘rainbow’ breaths because they help me calm down.”

“[Deep breathing] helps your prefrontal cortex focus and make good choices. Deep breathing calms your emotions.”

Rigo illustrated the beautiful details in his environment that he’s able to see when he’s not angry or upset. “It is important to take deep breaths because you are calm to see the world.”

This student drew an illustration of anger turning into calm after deep breathing.

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