Faith Curriculum Library: Tapestry of Faith: Love Will Guide Us: A Program for Grades 2-3 that Applies the Wisdom of the Six Sources to the Big Questions

Activity 1: Dancing Meditation

Activity time: 18 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • "Peppy" instrumental music
  • Music player
  • A large, clear space

Description of Activity

One aspect of Sufism is a dancing meditation, referred to as a Whirling Dervish, where people whirl in circles in a meditative state. It would be culturally inappropriate to replicate this dance; however, using dance as a form of mediation is common as a spiritual practice and a therapeutic exercise.

This begins as movement with music and ends with silence as a meditative practice that is age-appropriate.

First Stage: (8 minutes)

Play music and encourage children to dance. Allow them to sing, dance, and have total freedom for any kind of body movement.

Second Stage: (5 minutes)

Slowing turn down the volume on the music and ask children to sit down, close their eyes and be as still as possible. (Turn the music off completely.) Tell them to focus on their nostrils and feel the cool breath they take in and the hot breath that they blow out through them. Tell them that if they have any thoughts coming into their minds they should just bring their concentration gently back to their nostrils. At this time, total silence is maintained.

Third Stage: (5 minutes)

Have children lie on their backs, close their eyes and relax completely. After 5 minutes, ask them to breathe in and out deeply three times, before opening their eyes.

Including All Participants

If there are participants with accessibility issues, encourage arm, leg or just head movement by swaying to the music.