Special Interest Pathways

• 312EThree Poisons: Greed

  Evaluate unsustainable practices; design alternatives that challenge materialist mindsets; and analyze how craving and desire influence consumption patterns.
• 503AContemplative Arts

  Explore different art materials through the five senses by touching, smelling, and observing colors and textures; create simple artworks while paying attention to how materials feel in their hands; and practice “mindful making” by moving slowly and noticing what happens when they press hard or soft, use different tools, or mix colors together.
• 430AFour Noble Truths Overview

  Experience the basic human feelings of sadness, wanting, and feeling better through simple activities; recognize that everyone feels sad sometimes and there are ways to help ourselves and others feel better; and practice simple kindness actions that help when someone is hurting.
• 439ARight Motivation

  Name simple intentions for daily activities and demonstrate kind actions; practice noticing how different intentions feel in your body (excited, calm, worried); and show caring intentions through helping others with awareness of how helping makes both people feel.
• 422The Paramita of Dana/Generosity

  Listen to and act out simple stories about generous animals or children, draw pictures of their favorite generosity story character, and create a class book illustrating times when sharing made everyone happy.
• 503BContemplative Arts

  Practice mindful art-making by focusing completely on one activity at a time, noticing when their mind wanders and gently returning attention to their hands and materials; experiment with “mistake magic” by turning unexpected marks, spills, or broken pieces into new creative discoveries; and experience the difference between rushing through art projects and taking time to enjoy each step of the process.
• 430Four Noble Truths Overview

  Retell the Buddha’s first teaching at Deer Park and explain how his four discoveries help people understand disappointment; connect the four truths to familiar experiences like not getting what you want or losing something important; and demonstrate compassionate responses to others’ suffering.
• 439BRight Motivation

  Identify your intentions before everyday activities and notice how different motivations affect your actions and feelings; practice checking your motivation during the day and adjusting when you notice selfish or harmful intentions; and demonstrate understanding that the same action can have different effects depending on your intention.
• 422BThe Paramita of Dana/Generosity

  Design and implement a classroom generosity project, track acts of giving in a personal journal, noting how it feels to give and receive, and practice the “stone exchange” meditation to understand the feeling of letting go.