This lesson begins to describe the brains' negativity bias - an evolutionary throwback that means our brains are hardwired to remember negative experiences and quickly forgot positive experiences. While this once kept us alive and safe, in modern times, it is more often just a source of anxiety, irritability, and sadness. Put simply, what are you more likely to remember at the end of the day: the 50 positive experiences you had or the one negative interaction? Research suggests that it takes 5 positive interactions to make up for a single negative interaction in a relationship; the same is true of self-talk. This means we need to actively take in the positive- something like mindfulness- in order to make up for our brains negative wiring.
What will students learn during this lesson?
Students will be provided with examples of negativity bias (a story about a Caveman and a story about a day at school similar to the video above). We will talk about why this happens and how our brain is trying to trick us. We will then read the story Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell. This will help facilitate the conversation around today's lesson.
Try this! See if you can shift your thinking and come up with 5 positive thoughts to "unstick" the negative thought below!
After discussion about the story and real life examples, students will engage in a wrap up mindfulness activity utilizing Headspace. com (Stay Positive).