Teaching Resource

Ten Minute Challenge Mindful Moments

Notice something new in your surroundings!

Young people drawing at Tate Modern — Project Visible 2016, Tate Modern. Photo © Tate

The Challenge

Start by inviting your pupils to find their own space (to sit, rest or lie). Ask them to close their mind/eyes, count to 10 and breathe deeply. When they open their eyes, encourage them to notice their surroundings with their entire body. Can they listen, feel, explore, and find something they have never noticed before?

Now invite them to change position, stretch, shake themselves awake, and move about the room. How does this affect their experience of the room?

Ask your pupils how it felt to behave differently in their classroom. Are they energised? What could they feel? What might they notice throughout their day?

A young person looks up through a large, black cone in the gallery. — Assembly, Tate Modern 2017 photo © Tate (Matt Greenwood)

Repeat

Repeat this challenge in your playground, so other classes can see you and be curious. Add a new instruction each time, or play music; after each repetition, encourage your students to keep talking about what they notice, feel, and experience.

Adapt

Challenge your pupils to continue noticing and find out something new about their home. Maybe there’s somewhere they’ve never looked before! Can they play hide and seek with themselves? Or even make up brand-new instructions of their own?

Extend

Watch this video of American artist Joan Jonas performing her work Draw Without Looking. Reflect on her practice together and consider more ways to connect with your surroundings using instructions.

Ten Minute Challenge Mindful Moments

The Challenge

Repeat

Adapt

Extend

Simile Shapes

Totally Dotty

Remaking Our Classroom

Join in

Ten Minute Challenge Mindful Moments

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

The Challenge

REPEAT, ADAPT, AND EXTEND

Simile Shapes

Totally Dotty

Remaking Our Classroom

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