The Tikkun Project
Lesson
9
Designing Our Class Activity Mats
Concept
A great care plan features highly accessible, reliable tools that anyone can use to find balance.
Focus Question
How can we design a helpful tool that anyone in our class can use at any time? What makes an activity a "perfect fit" for a busy classroom day?
Knowledge & Understanding Goals
Kindergarten Program (2016), Problem Solving and Innovating frame, Overall Expectation 4: Demonstrate an ability to use problem-solving skills.
Kindergarten Program (2016), Overall Expectation 22: Communicate their thoughts and ideas clearly through drawings, symbols, and shared writing.
Kindergarten Program (2016), Overall Expectation 26: Develop an appreciation of the multiple perspectives, needs, and identities of others.
Thinking & Learning Skills
Thinking Skills (Filtering & Narrowing): Brainstorming broadly, then filtering against specific constraints.
Learner Profile Connection (Principled / Thinkers): Students ensure activities chosen are inclusive and fair.
Context
Moving from the movement experiments in Lesson 8, students design a tangible product: the Activity Mat, a prototype component of the unit's Critical Challenge.
Lesson Outline
Remind students our goal is to make it easy for our neighbours to feel calm, alert, and ready for learning.
INTRODUCING THE FILTER RULES
Teams of 4-5 create an "Activity Mat" with 5 quick tools.
Great Activities for the Activity Mat:
can be done in under a minute
are fun
can be accomplished by any student (inclusive)
requires little to no prep
genuinely helps bodies and brains feel calm, alert, and ready
PITCHING AND FILTERING IDEAS
Groups consider ideas from earlier investigations (Lessons 1, 2, 4, 8) and choose activities that best fit the five criteria and if needed, narrow the choces down to a final 5.
OPTIONAL: DIFFERENTIATED TEAM MISSIONS
Assign specialized tasks to different groups. For example, Team A calms a hyper Yellow/Red Zone; Team B energizes a slow Blue Zone; Team C designs quiet indoor-recess activities.
BUILDING THE MAT
Students draw clear visual diagrams in each poster section. Use "Pass the Marker" -- each student uses a different colour to draw one of the chosen activities.
Notes for Teaching and Evaluation
Using critieria to choose activities ensures the mat reflects what's inclusive and reliably effective for the whole class, not just individual preference.