Lesson Plan

Mindful Reading Plan

Students will perform a close reading of a short poem to identify imagery, mood, and poetic devices while practicing guided breathing exercises to maintain focus and emotional regulation.

Combining mindfulness with ELA supports students’ emotional regulation, improves concentration, and deepens literary analysis skills in a low-stress environment.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Mindful Breathing Warm-Up

5 minutes

Step 2

Poem Introduction

5 minutes

Step 3

Guided Close Reading with Breath Pauses

20 minutes

Step 4

Group Discussion

10 minutes

Step 5

Reflect & Write Exit Ticket

5 minutes

Slide Deck

Fire and Ice by Robert Frost

Introduce the poem: Display and read aloud the full text of “Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost. Ask students to notice any initial images, words, or feelings that stand out.

Stanza 1 (Lines 1–2)

Ask students to silently annotate lines 1–2 for imagery, tone, and unfamiliar words. Invite 2–3 volunteers to share observations. Then lead a one-minute breathing pause using the [Guided Breathing Script](#guided-breathing-break).

Stanza 2 (Lines 3–4)

Ask students to silently annotate lines 3–4 for imagery, tone, and unfamiliar words. Invite volunteers to share observations. Then lead a one-minute breathing pause using the [Guided Breathing Script](#guided-breathing-break).

Stanza 3 (Lines 5–6)

Ask students to silently annotate lines 5–6 for imagery, tone, and unfamiliar words. Invite volunteers to share observations. Then lead a one-minute breathing pause using the [Guided Breathing Script](#guided-breathing-break).

Stanza 4 (Lines 7–9)

Ask students to silently annotate lines 7–9 for imagery, tone, and unfamiliar words. Invite volunteers to share observations. Then lead a one-minute breathing pause using the [Guided Breathing Script](#guided-breathing-break).

Group Discussion

Facilitate a whole-class discussion. Use these prompts: What key imagery or mood shifts did you notice? How did the breathing pauses affect your focus or perspective? Encourage connections between emotional responses and literary analysis.

Reflect & Write Exit Ticket

Distribute the [Reflect & Write Exit Ticket](#reflect-write-exit-ticket). Instruct students to respond to: 1) One new insight about the poem. 2) How the breathing breaks affected their focus.

Lesson Plan

Mindful Reading Plan

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

Step 1

Mindful Breathing Warm-Up

Step 2

Poem Introduction

Step 3

Guided Close Reading with Breath Pauses

Step 4

Group Discussion

Step 5

Reflect & Write Exit Ticket

Slide Deck

Fire and Ice by Robert Frost

Stanza 1 (Lines 1–2)

Stanza 2 (Lines 3–4)

Stanza 3 (Lines 5–6)

Stanza 4 (Lines 7–9)

Group Discussion

Reflect & Write Exit Ticket

Activity

Cool Down

Silent Support

Lynette Pankey