the word space surrounding by black sky and stars and planets

About

The Space Program is a reflective journey for 7th-12th grade students to explore foundational wellness. The overall goal of the program is to provide experiences in which students can practice being fully present and aware of their thoughts, feelings and surroundings without judging themselves or others. Engaging in these experiences may open curiosity, improve self-regulatory capacities, reduce stress, improve focus and enhance overall well-being.

Continuing with the Space theme, each section is described as a mission. Each mission builds on the last one, so that students get better at knowing themselves and practice self-regulation. The program is broken down into five missions.

The Program

Within each mission, there is an objective, introduction, audio-guided practice, ways to integrate that skill into daily life and a reflection activity.

The program is designed to be completed at school within groups, but can also be incorporated at home. Over the course of 5 weeks, we will explore an aspect of S.P.A.C.E. Following the three weeks, teachers can select a variety of activities to target an aspect of the program that appeals to the class. In week 9, students can reflect on their overall experience and provide future implementation plans and take-home messages. 

Within each lesson, we have divided the activities into three 10-15 minute segments titled Mindful Monday, Wellness Wednesday and Reflection Friday.

How you incorporate these activities is up to you, but it is best complete each mission in order, as one builds on the other.

This program was designed in conjunction with the GEAR-UP grant at Auburn University. The SPACE program is looking for partner schools to implement the program to understand student, teacher and student-related outcomes. If you are interested in implementing the program in your classroom or school, please click the link below to provide your contact information.

Provide Contact Information

Let’s get started on the foundational wellness SPACE Odessey!

  • Introduces the concept that will be covered.
  • Gives examples of quick 1–5-minute activities that can be completed in class.
  • Provides a roadmap of what the topic covered

  • Provides an audio-based activity that can be completed in class.
  • Most are approximately 5 minutes long.
  • Asked students how this applies to their own life and ways that they can incorporate this skill outside of class

  • The goal of reflection Friday is to give students time and space to reflect on the activity that week.
  • There is a short video that uses comic book flip books to discuss the concept.
  • At the end students can reflect, journal and/or talk about the concept in small groups.

Mission 1: Stillness

The goal of the first mission is to explore the foundational practice of stillness. Stillness provides a deeper connection with being calm, learning how calmness feels, and ways to incorporate stillness into our daily lives. The following activities are divided into three 10-15-minute activities. The first is Mindful Monday, followed by Wellness Wednesday and Reflection Friday.

Defining Stillness

Stillness is our inner calm as well as how we appear calm to others. Stillness has connections to our cognitive, emotional and physical states. Stillness is the first step toward presence, awareness, choice, and empowerment. Stillness has benefits for our cognitive, emotional and physical states including: increase feelings of calmness, stress reduction, and taking time out to think about our decisions, surroundings and how we feel.

  • Mission 1 Briefing: What does stillness mean to you?

    • Responses may include – not fidgeting, being quiet, lying down etc.

  • Mission 1 Pre-Flight Check: Explain what stillness means within in the SPACE Program

    • Stillness helps us find calm inside and out.

    • Stillness is not about the absence of activity but rather the quieting of the mind.

    • Learning how to quiet the mind helps us be present.

    • Being present leads to awareness of our choices and eventually empowers our decisions.

  • Mission 1 Fueling: A Peaceful Pause

    • Try this quick stillness exercise titled: A peaceful pause.

      • Pause where you are – sit comfortably – you may close your eyes or let your gaze fall softly to the ground.

      • Now take a good deep breath in through your nose filling up your lungs.

      • Pause for a second…and breathe out slowly through your mouth.

      • On your next breath, breathe in for a count of three.

      • Pause for a count of two. And breathe out for a count of four.

      • Find the rhythm that works best for you.

      • Breathe in. Pause. Breathe out.

      • After one minute or when you feel you are done, open your eyes and tap your thumb on the tip of each finger saying “I Am Calm Now”.

  • Mission 1 Control Panel Check: Reflection on the peaceful pause

    • Ask the students how this stillness exercise was for them.

      • Did they experience any benefits?

      • Did they experience any negative effects?

For today, we will use an audio-guided activity to experience stillness. The activity is approximately 5 minutes long and will guide the students through a series of deep breathing, body awareness and quiet reflection.

  • Flight Plan: Audio-guided activity

  • Exploration: After the activity

    • After the activity ask the class to discuss the following

      • What was your experience with the activity?

      • How did it feel to be on your “home base”?

      • What are some ways you might be able to create that home base feeling?

  • Rocket Booster: Discussion

    • Discuss some ways in which we can incorporate stillness into our daily lives. The following examples use song titles to help with remembering the task.

      • Here Right Now: Encourage students to start their day with short stillness practice. Upon waking, they can sit or lie quietly for a minute or two, taking deep breaths and setting an intention to carry a calm mindset throughout the day.

      • Be Cool: Before beginning any significant task—like studying, meeting, or class—students can take 3–5 deep breaths, allowing their mind and body to settle. This short pause can help clear any lingering thoughts and foster focus.

      • Got the time: During study sessions or work periods, suggest a brief pause every hour. They can close their eyes, relax their shoulders, and take a few breaths, letting go of any tension or distraction before returning to their tasks.

      • What a wonderful world: If they’re outdoors, encourage them to take a few seconds to pause, notice their surroundings, and take in the sights, sounds, and smells. Connecting with nature, even briefly, can be grounding.

      • Time Trades: Instead of reaching for their phone when waiting (for an appointment, bus, or friend), they can use this time to practice stillness by taking a few mindful breaths, feeling their feet on the ground, and centering themselves.

      • In the waiting: When moving between classes, tasks, or locations, they can pause, take a deep breath, and consciously move into the next activity with a calm and intentional mindset.

      • A beautiful day: At the end of the day, sit quietly for a few moments, reflecting on the day’s events, releasing any tension, and embracing a sense of calm before bed.

For this week, we focused on experiencing stillness. The accompanying video flip book and pdf uses a comic book format to encourage students to reflect about their experience with stillness over the week. There are several prompts about breathing, using your senses to experience your environment or recording how they were able to experience stillness over the week. Feel free to use those prompts or some of the ones listed below.

  • Space Exploration: Video Flip Book Reflection

  • Deep Space Exploration: Additional Reflection Prompts

    • First Impressions: “What was your initial reaction to practicing stillness? Did you find it easy, challenging, or something else?”

    • Physical Sensations: “What physical sensations did you notice in your body during moments of stillness? Did any areas of tension or relaxation stand out

    • Thought Patterns: “What kinds of thoughts surfaced during your stillness practice? How did you respond to them—did you engage with them, let them pass, or something else?”

    • Emotional Impact: “How did practicing stillness make you feel emotionally? Did you feel calmer, more aware, restless, or another emotion?

    • “Daily Integration: “Describe a moment when you successfully integrated stillness into your daily routine. How did it impact your day or your mindset afterward?”

    • Personal Insights: “What did you learn about yourself through stillness? Did it reveal anything new about your thoughts, feelings, or physical state?”

    • Affirmation Reflection: “Reflect on the affirmation, ‘In stillness, I find strength. In calm, I find clarity.’ How does this resonate with your experience?"