Self-Awareness in August
Social Emotional Themed Lessons with a Twist of Yoga
The 2021-22 Powerful You SEL Calendar gives educators a solid foundation to which they can add their own flare. August is a time to become self-aware of feelings, thoughts, and actions. Here is a sample of how educators might begin their year.
PRIMARY Lesson X - Expressing Feelings
INTERMEDIATE Lesson A - Adjusting to Change
Social Emotional Learning Calendar
Kids Breathe and Stretch Beach Pose
Each time the teacher says, "friends eating oysters," students quietly find a partner to go back to back. Students sit tall here and practice deep, controlled breathing. This is the first pose from the book "Breathe and Stretch on the Beach." While in oyster pose there are several stretches that are available for students to practice. Call this pose at any time during a Powerful You Lesson to allow children to become aware of their breath while sprinkling in some mindful movements. https://www.powerfulyou.info/breathe-...
Do you need an academic reason to teach yoga in the classroom? Use your time wisely by integrating science during friends eating oyster pose from the book Breathe and Stretch on the Beach. Here are 10 simple lessons.
Anatomy
SPINE (back bone) - As students sit cross-legged and back to back, remind them to lengthen their spine by pressing their sit bones into the ground and lifting their skull to the ceiling. Feel your skull and recognize that the brain is protected under your skull (allow students to feel skull and spine with fingers). Your spine helps you to stand tall and strong.
Lungs & Rib Cage - Draw your shoulders away from your ears to open your chest. Your lungs are protected by your rib cage, which is made of 24 ribs (feel your ribs).
Oxygen & Carbon Dioxide - You breathe in oxygen through your nose. Your nose hair filters the air, while your nostrils warm it. The oxygen goes down your esophagus and into your lungs. Your two lungs expand with oxygen as you inhale, and you exhale carbon dioxide. The rich oxygen is then taken to all your cells and blood.
Nervous System - Your nervous system is made up of your brain, spinal cord, and nerves. When you breathe deeply a message is sent to your brain to relax. The brain then sends the message through your spinal cord to your nerves to relax.
Marine Science
Oysters are mollusks. They have a soft body with a hard shell. All mollusks live in water.
Oyster beds are filters. They help clean the water and are great for the environment.
Mound Key is an island in Southwest Florida where the Colusa Indians lived off oysters and fish. The shells of these delicious oysters created a huge mountain that is near 30 feet high.
Pearls from oysters are usually found in deep water.
The calcium from the oyster shells is great for helping your garden grow.
Oysters taste best in the winter when the water is cold.
Breathe and Stretch on the Beach is an interactive listening and movement game that helps children build focus, confidence, calmness, and self-awareness through playful stretching and positive self-talk. Designed for ages 3 and up, this engaging resource can be used in the classroom, counseling groups, therapy settings, or at home by teachers, counselors, parents, and caregivers.
After learning the beach-themed poses, a leader calls out poses in any order, encouraging participants to listen carefully, move mindfully, and practice deep breathing, stretching, and relaxation. Children stay engaged while developing important social-emotional and self-regulation skills in a fun, active way.
Participants will:
Understand and practice controlled breathing
Respect personal space by moving safely without touching others
Strengthen self-control using nonverbal communication
Improve focus and attention
Increase self-awareness
Replace negative self-talk with positive self-talk
Build joy, strength, gratitude, and confidence
Each pose is paired with empowering affirmations so children can embody positive mindsets as they move. Examples include:
Coconut Tree, Eagle, Airplane – I am focused
Sports Boat, Charge Your Battery, Flying Fish – I am full of energy
Hurricane – I step aside for others
Crab – I let my light shine
Paddleboard – I am responsible for what I say, think, and do
Breathe and Stretch on the Beach is a joyful way to help children move their bodies, calm their minds, and grow strong from the inside out.
The Powerful You Elementary Counselor Kit was created to keep your favorite Powerful You tools together in one easy-to-carry bag so you are always ready to support students.
Perfect for School counselors, educators, interventionists, and student support teams.
What’s Included
Intermediate Bundle (Grades 2+)
Powerful You Book
26 8.5×11 Laminated Role-Playing Cards
26 Classroom Skill Signs
Primary Bundle (Grades K–1)
26 8.5×11 Laminated Role-Playing Cards
26 Classroom Skill Signs
Digital Resources
26 Primary Brag Tags
26 Social & Emotional Thinking Maps for writing
Free online Breathe & Stretch videos
26 Primary videos
26 Intermediate videos
Mindfulness & Regulation Tools
Breathe and Stretch on the Beach Yoga activities (Grades K+)
Laminated Breathe and Stretch Sign
Tennessee Transition Chime
Feelings Chart
Powerful You Feelings Bag
Counseling & Life Change Support
Self-Talk Power When You’re in a Pickle
5-Step problem-solving guide for individual counseling (Grades 3+)Powerful You In the Middle Cookie Game
Supports changing family groups/divorce transitions (Grades K+)
Bonus Items
50 “I Am” stickers
Why Counselors Love It
Grab-and-go support kit
Ready for classroom lessons or counseling groups
Helps students regulate emotions
Builds confidence and self-talk
Supports divorce, transitions, and problem solving
Saves prep time for busy counselors
Perfect For
Elementary school counselors
MTSS / SEL support teams
Teachers
Small groups
Individual counseling
Calm corners
One Kit. Many Needs. Real Impact.
The Powerful You Elementary Counselor Kit helps children build coping skills, confidence, emotional vocabulary, and resilience in fun, meaningful ways.