MATERIALS

• Un-inflated party balloon
• The Blue Balloon by Melanie Cavanaugh
• Paper and crayons or markers
• Music (Blue Balloon by Charlie Hope, River Flows in You by Yiruma and ocean music)

SHORT DESCRIPTION/TOPIC

We will do yoga today to feel great, chill, and get in tune with our bodies and our amazing brain. Using The Blue Balloon, we’ll discuss the leatherback sea turtle and the resulting problem from children releasing balloons, which are a man-made threat to their survival because they create debris in the ocean.

DISCUSSION POINTS

At our coastlines we have beautiful beaches and ecological systems.

• The leatherback sea turtle is the largest and most ancient sea turtle species.
• Jellyfish are the main food source of the leatherback sea turtles.
• Sea turtle hatchlings use seaweed patches likes rafts, which provide food and shelter.
• Balloons and ribbons become entangled and are often found washed up on beaches in seaweed patches.
• Balloons are not biodegradable.

CONNECTING CIRCLE

• Give each child a colorful, un-inflated latex balloon to use as a focal point, which you will collect at the end of the lesson.
• YogaKids Pledge

Have you ever seen a sea turtle? Man-made items that are discarded often result in entanglement and the demise of the sea turtles. Everybody enjoys seeing balloons at parties. They are colorful decorations that make the party exciting. If they are tied to a chair or table, that’s really great, but if we let them go and they float up into the sky, what do you think happens?

Play the short song Blue Balloon, then read The Blue Balloon book and discuss the facts in the
back of the book. RCAWY, Musical Musings

POSES AS PATHWAYS TO LEARNING

Circle of Friendship Flowers – In our circle as we stretch, imagine the blue sky, wide open, white puffy clouds. We All Win

Open My Wings – This pose warms up our shoulders. Body Benefits

Hot Air Balloon – Imagine that we just walked onto the beach and we can feel the ocean breeze. Inflate your balloon, and feel the air in your lungs giving you energy. Float around. Deflate and imagine your balloon falling into the ocean. Ecological Echoes, Body Benefits

Jabberwocky Jellyfish – Loosen up your lower back, imagine the jellyfish floating along not under their own power, but fluidly going with the current. Jellyfish are invertebrates because they have no backbone. Ecological Echoes

Riding the Camel – Imagine you are sitting on a paddle board and the waves are rocking you. It’s fun! This pose will stretch your back, and move your hips. Body Benefits

Lookout – Look up the beach. Shield your eyes from the sun, twist, use your eye muscles; look for turtles and dolphins in the ocean. The earth is covered with 70% water. How much is not water? Ecological Echoes, Math Medley

Flamingo – The word flamingo comes from a Latin word meaning flame because the babies that are born light gray become pink or orange around their first birthday. Ecological Echoes

Tree/Leaf – Start with individual trees. Let’s become a group of palm trees. Can our trees sway in the beach breeze? Say, “I can support my friends.” We All Win, Affirmations

Pigeon Series – There are many kinds of seashore birds. Can we name some? Gulls, pelicans, sanderlings, terns. Ecological Echoes

Child’s Pose – Rest and feel your ribs expanding as you breathe into your back. The muscles between your ribs are called “intercostal” muscles. The “Intercoastal” Waterway flows along the East Coast. (Similar sounding, entirely different.) Awesome Anatomy, Laughing Language, Ecological Echoes

Turtle Pose – This pose will stretch your upper back and shoulders. Turn your head side to side. There are seven species of sea turtles worldwide. Of the seven, six are found in the U.S. and are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Only 1 in 1,000 sea turtle hatchlings will survive into adulthood. Body Benefits, Ecological Echoes

Birthday Candle Series – In the beautiful ocean there are lots of fish, dolphins and whales; they jump up and over in an arch shape. Lower into Bridge (another arch). Move into Fish Pose and open your chest as you breathe. Brain Ecological Echoes, Math Medley

Eyes Near and Far – Using our eye muscles, we’ll look out over the ocean one more time. The beach makes me feel great. I can care for the sea animals. Affirmations

QUIET QUEST

Play music (River Flows in You by Yiruma)

Close your eyes and relax and let go of any thoughts you may have, or any conflict that you feel – we’ve all had fun watching balloons sail away. That’s fine, just acknowledge and appreciate those joyful moments. Remember our lesson today, and how you can make a difference by understanding about animals that live near the ocean. Feel your body lying heavy on the floor, your legs, hips, lower back, upper back, shoulders, arms and head. Let your thoughts disappear. Breathe naturally. If you have thoughts, acknowledge them briefly, let them go, and pay attention to your breathing. Enjoy this quiet time. You are smart, you have power, you can make a difference.

VISUAL VIGNETTES

Have the students draw and decorate leather back turtles.

CLOSING CIRCLE

Namaste.