Besides dealing with the pressures of school, family, peers, and growing up, students face major stressors at home. They also feel the weight of global issues on their shoulders. Healthy stress is normal. Excessive stress isn’t.
After navigating Classcraft’s Quest of the Month, your students (and you!) will build the emotional strength needed to manage stress. Student focus will improve, they’ll learn how to reduce their anxiety and may even enjoy better sleep, not to mention a number of other benefits.
Each month at Classcraft, we choose one awesome quest — personalized, self-paced, choose-your-own-adventure lessons for students — to share with educators everywhere! For January we’ve picked a marvelous “Mindfulness and Meditation” unit created by Wagner Pierre (@waggyp2019).
Any Classcraft account can use this six-objective quest for free to teach mindfulness in the classroom.
Along their learning journey, students will explore what mindfulness means, reflect on the impact of gratitude, and practice helpful breathing techniques. A mental health section explains depression in simple terms and gives students methods to respond in helpful ways.
Embedded videos with clear language boost students’ understanding and guide them through their exercise. Mindfulness-focused downloadable posters, worksheets, and coloring pages are also included. Import this quest now to start using it with your class.
If you use Classcraft, you can submit any quests you’ve created for the next Quest of the Month on our submission page. Our goal is to spotlight the amazing educators who inspire us and share creative, teacher-made content with our global community of forward-thinking educators.
If you’re new to Classcraft, check out how quests can supercharge your lesson plans. Whether you’re a Classcraft newbie or pro, everyone can level-up their quests with our free plug-and-play narrative experience, Story Mode.
Now, let’s get to know this marvelous Gamemaster. Take it away, Wagner!
What are your teaching stats?
Wagner: I’ve been a teacher for 16 years and teach Grade 8 science at the American School of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
What inspires you?
Wagner: Creativity and innovation! I am grateful to be in a profession where I can be a catalyst in nurturing the innate creativity of children and help them become innovative young scientists and engineers. Consequently, my students also help me to be more creative and innovative.
What made you decide to use Classcraft?
Wagner: When I was first introduced to Classcraft, it just looked fun and engaging! Once I began to use it in my classroom, there was more than meets the eye! Along with being fun and engaging, Classcraft is simply a practical tool that has helped me to become an effective, efficient, and proactive teacher!
Your favorite things about Classcraft are …
Wagner: It’s hard to choose because I love everything about Classcraft. First, would be the Random Events, which my students love the most since we do some fun activities at the beginning of class with this tool.
Second, would be the Quests, because they allow me to structure my lessons with a natural flow and easily check the progress of my students. Last, it would be the collaborative feature as students work in teams and help each other out.
Why do you love the quest you created?
Wagner: I love this particular quest because it highlights the socio-emotional and physical benefits of mindfulness and meditation, which is so critical for my pre-teen and teenage students to find peace and balance in their rapidly-changing lives.
What did your students think of your quest? How did they react?
Wagner: My students thought the quest was much needed because some of them are juggling so many things, such as academic responsibilities, extracurricular, and social pressures from family and friends. The students (and even parents) thanked me for making it and told me they have been using the resources in school and at home with their family.
How do you spend your summer breaks?
Wagner: Each summer, I go back to my hometown of Miami, Florida to spend time with my family and enjoy the gorgeous blue skies and luscious beaches!
What accomplishment from this year has filled you with pride?
Wagner: So far, starting a garden for my science classes is my greatest accomplishment. It’s giving students an interactive experience with the topics we’re learning as they take care of the plants.
Students are observing the traits of various plants like the famous Gregor Mendel for their Genetics Unit, they’ve built irrigation systems for the garden, and are trying to have a plant-based diet (and less meat) to conserve our natural resources and cause less pollution for their Sustainability Unit. They are also observing plant adaptations for their Evolution Unit and analyze photosynthesis for their Chemistry Unit.
What weird trends in student culture are baffling to you and why?
Wagner: It would have to be fidget spinners. A few years ago, they were so popular! Unlike yo-yos or video games, the fidget spinners did not require any skills or body movement to use them, so I never understood why children loved them so much. Lol!
Is there a quote or saying that you live life by?
Wagner: One of my favorite sayings is “If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.”
I do my best to make positive changes in my life by collecting quantitative data. For example, I use my Apple Watch to track my daily fitness level and an AirVisual air quality monitor to check the indoor and outdoor air. If the indoor air isn’t good enough I turn on my air purifiers and I like to know the outdoor air quality before exercising outside for a lengthy amount of time.
Quest of the Month