Special Interest Pathways

• 411CRight Speech

  Design and implement personal speech awareness practices, including structured daily reflection on the four harmful speech types, integration of speech mindfulness with other contemplative practices, and creation of personal guidelines for ethical speech based on Buddhist principles.
• 422CThe Paramita of Dana/Generosity

  Analyze the role of generosity in Buddhist Jataka tales and compare with contemporary examples, evaluate how story characters demonstrate caga (generous heart) versus mere obligation, and create multimedia presentations teaching younger students about generosity through narrative.
• 511ALila and Mudita

  Practice spontaneous play and creative expression through movement, art, and imaginative activities; celebrate friends’ achievements with genuine happiness; and experience the joy of creating without worrying about the outcome.
• 304BSacred Space and Objects

  Create and maintain classroom sacred spaces through hands-on altar keeping, flower arranging, and candle care; practice community agreements for sacred space behavior; and implement daily rituals that transform ordinary classroom moments into mindful transitions between activities.
• 237BRituals for Personal and Group Practice

  Practice various ritual elements through hands-on experience with altar keeping, candle lighting, and group ceremonies; reflect on how ritual activities affect mood and group feeling; and experiment with creating sacred space in different settings while documenting personal responses to ritual practice.
• 105BRight Motivation in Leaders

  Analyze stories of helpful leaders and generous people by comparing characters who help versus those who are bossy, identifying the three antidotes (generosity, loving-kindness, wisdom) in story examples, and creating their own stories about kind leadership.
• 120BSkillful Communication in Action

  Apply the five-question framework (true, helpful, kind, gentle, timely) to real classroom situations; practice conflict resolution steps through structured role-plays; and implement peer mediation techniques using harmonious speech principles in actual conflicts.
• 133BExploring Boundaries

  Create simple diagrams showing your school within larger community areas, identify authority figures and map school buildings, compare when boundaries are helpful versus problematic, practice setting healthy boundaries through classroom rituals, and co-write a land acknowledgment that honors the people who first cared for this land.
• 129BThe Buddha’s Equanimity

  Demonstrate equal respect for all classmates through inclusive actions, practice responding to unfair treatment with kindness rather than exclusion, and implement daily habits that show everyone has equal value regardless of their background or abilities.