Inspire Mindful Minds
50+
free interactive and immersive mindfulness lessons
Join now for free *and it stays free
Every group activity can be completed in 15 min.
No need to print. Simply project and read aloud.
Designed for use with youth in group settings, such as classrooms, after-school programs, and summer camps.
Activities help develop:
Self-Expression
Increase your students’ ability to clearly describe their feelings.
Better Relationships
Build bridges between students with experiences that show them they’re not alone.
Trust
Help your students see you as a trusted support.
Wander students showed significantly greater levels of social awareness than students in the comparison group.1
After six weeks, Wander students reported feeling safer than students whose teachers did not use Wander. Wander students also scored higher than control group students in clearly describing their feelings, complimenting others’ accomplishments, and getting along with others who differ from them.1
Wander impact stories
“I am able to use Wander at the start of class to prepare my students for learning and again at the end of class to set them up for success for the rest of their day. The Wander program equips our students with the calming, focusing, and self-regulation tools they need to navigate their world in healthy and productive ways.”
— Health Teacher, East Middle School
The Wander program was a valuable addition to the mental health resources we were able to offer. The program was particularly effective in engaging students and meeting them where they were at. [Students] were eager to progress through the program while simultaneously acquiring valuable skills.
— Community Program Manager, Lowell Public Schools
Utilizing the Wander program has improved the culture of my classroom! The Wander program helps the students to feel supported by their teacher as we start each class with a focus on them and how they are feeling. The students enjoy the activities, and it has been especially rewarding to hear that they have used some of the activities they learned from Wander outside of school.
— Health Teacher, West Middle School
Practicing Wander at the beginning of class helps students to be more thoughtful and focused – not only when learning these concepts in the class, but also when they are encountering questions about their own health in real life. Wander mindfulness instruction helped improve students’ attention skills, as well as develop coping mechanisms for stress and daily living.
— Director of Wellness, Brockton Public Schools
Routine is an important part of the in-school experience for middle school students. Starting each class with the Wander program has helped my students gain awareness of their feelings and emotions. As students gained experience with the Wander program, they were better equipped to receive instruction, re-direction, and encouragement. Helping students develop strong social and emotional skills improves social interactions and sets the tone for a better learning environment.
— Health Teacher, Plouffe Middle School
Common questions
Yes, it’s free for all educators, including afterschool directors, administrators, camp counselors, and teachers in Massachusetts!
Wander is prep-free! We make it easy to lead mindful activities with the youth in your class or program. Wander activities are a great way to refocus a restless group, and they also teach youth tools that will help them navigate their emotions in the future.
The practice of mindfulness is simply using techniques that bring our attention to the present moment in a nonjudgmental way. Athletes, musicians, and others often call it “flow.” Learning to be more mindful can reduce the “fight or flight” stress response to everyday challenges and help us respond to those stressors with greater patience. For youth, whose brains are developing rapidly, mindfulness programs and practices can help them self-regulate in response to stress, as well as enhance their focus, curiosity, self-confidence, creativity, and academic performance. It’s allowing youth to breathe and helping them be present. How do I get my class to learn about “mindfulness”?
Watch this video! It’s an intro to mindfulness and the impact it can have on youth. You can also get started right away at the Group Activities tab. The Wander activities don’t require any prep work. Just read the text on-screen or play the video when prompted. Of course, if you’d like to go off-script or adjust for your group, take it away!
We get it—you have a million and one things to do. (Maybe even a million and two). That’s why our video activities are easy and prep-free. You can put them right up on the screen and read them aloud for the group to follow along! And no, you don’t need to be a mindfulness expert to use Wander.
For some of the activities, you need a journal, paper, or art supplies. But it’s easy to choose ones that don’t require materials by using our filters on the site!
Want Wander-branded materials? We’ve got you! Email Wander Support for more information.
On the Group Activities page, you can filter by activities that require materials.
The Wander game and activities are designed for kids in late elementary and middle school. But folks of all ages can find some zen from the activities.
Each group of youth is unique. And so are our activities! We have lots of ways to teach mindfulness under our Group Activities tab. There, you’ll discover many ways to reduce stress. Test them with your group and see what sticks!
- American Institutes for Research, September – November 2023. Pre-and post-evaluations, focus groups, and teacher interviews conducted over the course of 8-weeks. (N=510)
