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enroll and experience
Balance demo – materials needed:
� three large rocks (to symbolize mind, body, spirit)
� lots of little pebbles and sand (to symbolize other stuff in our lives that gets us out of balance)
� large glass jar that the three rocks just fit into
� pitcher of water
Choose one of the following two options for this demo.
OPTION 1:
Show the students the glass jar and the three large rocks.
Will these rocks fit into the glass jar? (The answer is yes!)
Put the three rocks in the jar. The jar should be just big enough to fit all three rocks.
Another rock of a similar size would not fit in.
Is the jar full?
Some students may say yes. Out of view have a cup of pebbles and dump them into the jar
after the students reply. Shake the jar so that the pebbles settle down into the jar.
Now is the jar full?
The students will catch on and say no.
Good thinking!
Take out a cup of sand that was out of view and pour it into the jar.
Is the jar full now?
Elicit NO and pull out the pitcher of water and pour it in until the jar is full.
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Let’s say that the jar represents you and me. And these big rocks represent the things that keep us in balance
– the three aspects of our lives that need nurturing. All of these little pebbles, the sand, and the water
represent all of the things that we have to do, or want to do that keep us so busy. Who can tell me what the
point is of filling in the gaps in the jar with more material?
Elicit the notion that we can always fill the gaps in our life, but there’s a way to organize it so that we have
balance.
That may be true, and another important point is the order in which we put objects into the jar. What would
have happened if we had put in the pebbles, the sand, and the water before we put in the big rocks?
Elicit that the big rocks wouldn’t have fit in the jar and stuff might have spilled out and made a mess, etc. Use
a short, personal example of a time when you prioritized successfully and got an outcome you desired.
Share an example of being out of balance (eating too many sweets, staying up late on school nights, having
only one friend at a time, spending hours on the computer playing games, failing to do the things we need to
do to keep up our studies and school work. Elicit other examples from your students.). These kinds of activities
can “fill our jars” and not leave time for the other important things that we need to do.
Prioritizing our activities actually helps us to do other things. When we prioritize it's easier to fit more fun and
good things into our lives, as long as we are taking care of the big rocks first. It means doing the important
things first. It might mean putting something fun off until Saturday to do rather than during the week when
we have homework or other school work to do.
Only you know the condition of the large rocks in your life. Think about it. What are the big rocks in your life?
Pause and ask them to jot some of them down. Pay attention to them and take care of them - and everything
else in your life will work out better.
OPTION 2: Same materials as listed before Option 1
Show the students the glass jar, the pebbles, the sand, and the three large rocks. Let’s say that this jar
represents you and me. These little pebbles and sand represent all of the things that we have to do or want to
do, all the things that keep us so busy.
As you place the pebbles and sand in the jar explain the little things that sometimes take priority in your life.
Describe a time in your life when you did not prioritize properly and focused on these “little things.”
These big rocks represent the things that are most important in our lives and that keep us in balance – the
three aspects of our life that need nurturing. What are those areas? Elicit ideas from students.
Try to place the three large rocks into the container.
Do they fit?
Elicit no.
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Why not?
Elicit answers like – the little rocks took up all the room, etc.
Could I get the big rocks and pebbles and sand to fit in this jar?
Elicit “Yes”
How would I do that?
Elicit responses that lead you to reorganizing how you put the materials in the jar. Remove the big rocks and
pour out the pebbles and sand. Put the big rocks into the jar first, and then pour in the pebbles and sand as you
explain …
Prioritizing our activities actually helps us to do other things that we need or want to do. What do we mean by
“prioritize?” Elicit ideas from students. Prioritizing means we put first things first – or most important things
first – the things that get us the results or outcomes we want. Give examples of outcomes.
When we prioritize, it's easier to fit more fun things into our lives, as long as we are taking care of the most
important things – the big rocks - first. It might mean something like putting off a fun activity until Saturday
because you have homework or another important assignment to do during the week.
Only you know the condition of the large rocks in your life. What are some of the big rocks in your life? Ask
students to jot down a few. Pay attention to them and take care of them and everything else in your life will
work out much better.
Label
Our inner happiness comes from finding the paths in our lives that (point to container) fill our buckets in a way
that brings the best balance to our lives – or fills up our body, mind, and spirit – and provides lasting
fulfillment or happiness.
Our Key for this month is Balance (review body motion).
A balanced lifestyle is a positive outcome of managing our activities effectively. The Key of Balance can guide
us in the choices we make about who we spend time with, the sports we play, and the hobbies and other
activities we pursue.
HMOY (How many of you) enjoy spending time with your friends? Why do you enjoy hanging
out with them?
Elicit responses.
There are four points that help us to stay in balance:
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Point 1 is connect with Friends and Family. One of the most common regrets of older people is that they wish
they had spent more meaningful time with friends and family. They wish they had communicated how much
those friends and family members meant to them more often. Each day is an opportunity to let others know
we care. (Motion - Give yourself a hug.)
What are some things we can do to let friends know we care? What about neighbors? Family members?
Elicit responses.
Raise your hand if you are involved in a sport.
Elicit responses.
HMOY have ever wanted to learn to do something new?
What have you wanted to learn?
Elicit ideas.
Point 2 is Get in the Zone. Life satisfaction occurs most often when people are doing activities they consider
both work and play. These activities are engaging for us during the activity and provide a feeling of positive
accomplishment. (Motion = ocean waves with hands). Activities may be a sport (individual or team), learning
to play a musical instrument and participating in musical events, crafts, collecting things or other hobbies,
walking and exercise.
Think about a time you may have compared or judged yourself against someone else.
Point 3 is Measure Yourself by your own standards. When we compare ourselves to others our self esteem
depends on THEIR success or failure. To maintain Balance we need to do the best with the skills and talents
WE have and be confident that we are giving our best effort. (Motion = chop increments on arm with hand)
Point 4 is Forgive Yourself and Others. Has there ever been a time you’ve held a grudge? Holding onto
negative feelings about a person damages not only that relationship, but also has the potential to damage
other present and future relationships if we train ourselves to look for and store up negative aspects of others.
It also gets us out of balance. Why would that be? Elicit responses. When you have upsets with others, clean
them up! Holding grudges hurts BOTH parties. It creates negative energy and causes us to focus on negative
things which, in turn, actually hurts our bodies and can cause stress and health problems. (Motion = hand to
heart then open to students). This is a good time to tell a story of your own, or elicit some examples from
students of when they’ve held a grudge and how it made THEM feel.
Mahatma Ghandi, a famous peace leader in India, said it so beautifully: “Be the change you want to see in the
world.” Let it begin with YOU.
demonstrate
Have students complete their journal page for Balance. Have them identify areas where they are currently not
demonstrating Balance (too much TV, computer games, talking on phone, texting). Too much of anything takes
us away from others and other activities that we could be doing to have more balance in our lives. . Have them
pick one area and develop an action plan for finding more Balance in this area.
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Review
The Key for this month is …
Elicit BALANCE – loud and clear!
And what does Balance mean?
Read definition with students. 4
Celebrate
Now let's high-five all around the classroom to celebrate learning about another one of the
8 Keys of Excellence – BALANCE. (Optional: Have the students repeat the affirmation – I make
positive choices – as they high-five their classmates.)
Or create your own class celebrat
Balance Learning/Teaching
Study/Play
Activity/Rest
Lead/Follow
Academics/Life Skills
Intelligence/Character
Friends/Family
Independent/Group
Self/Team
Competition/Collaboration
Risk/Safety
Listening/Asking Questions
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Physical involvement/No activity
Facts/Observations
Theory/Proof
Healthy Foods/Fast Foods
Giving/Receiving
Effort and Learning/Effort and Winning
Control/Compliance
Compromise/Taking a Stand
Talking/Listening
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