Making Glitter Jars to Practice Mindfulness

Photo by: Anni Roenkae

Your Destination: This activity can teach children how strong emotions can take hold, and how to find peace when these strong emotions feel overwhelming. This also helps them not letting their emotions cloud their thoughts.

Travel Kit: Clear jar, water, glitter, glue, food coloring or paint.

On the Path:

Step 1 Fill jar almost all the way with water.

Step 2 Add a few drops of food coloring.

Step 3 Add glitter, close the lid and shake the jar.

Step 4 Imagine that the glitter is like your thoughts when you’re stressed, mad or upset (focus on one emotion at a time). See how they whirl around and make it really hard to see clearly? That’s why it’s so easy to make silly decisions when you’re upset – because you’re not thinking clearly.

Step 5 Now watch what happens when you’re still for a couple of moments. Keep watching. See how the glitter starts to settle and the water clears? Your mind works the same way. When you’re calm for a little while, your thoughts start to settle and you start to see things much clearer. Take deep breaths during this calming process can help us settle when we feel a lot of emotions.

Group Tour:  Students will learn how to take control of their emotions.

Learn New Vocabulary. overwhelm, stress, mindful, overcloud, peace, imagine.