Bones or No Bones Day: Some Classroom Funsies!

 Have you seen the viral TikTok account (@Jongraz) dedicated to Noodle the Pug? I keep seeing stories pop up about this sweet senior posted by his owner Jonathan Graziano, like this one from the New York Times. I myself am a dog-lover, so I absolutely enjoy tuning in to see not only the adorable Noodle, but also hear the energetic narration by Jonathan. 

If Noodles stands, he calls it a Bones Day, referring to the fact that Noodles "has" bones to help him stand up. On these days, Jonathan encourages us to chase our dreams, take risks, hustle, and go after whatever's on our hearts. If Noodles flops back down into his cozy bed, he calls it a No Bones Day. On these days, Jonathan tells us to take it easy on ourselves and take extra good care of ourselves. As the NY Times Article points out- both are good for us! 

How FUN would it be to share this with your students? **PLEASE NOTE-- these videos are the content of the creator, so he doesn't create them with schoolchildren in mind. As with everything, preview the video prior to showing students. You may also choose to show the video with no audio as another option.**

Watching Noodles each morning is an interesting take on tuning into our own bodies, hearts, and minds. We can each decide for ourselves if we are feeling a Bones or No Bones Day ahead. Some days, we are feeling ready to "take the bull by the horns" and tackle our to-do lists. On other days, we know we need to put off a project or begin at another time when we are in a better state. Helping students to ask themselves questions is a great reflective practice! 

If you teach younger students, you may wish to have students make predictions about Noodles, or even reflect on why he may need a Bones or No Bones Day. We can teach empathy skills through Noodles. We can also help students focus in on their needs. They may wish to brainstorm a list of things they may wish to do on a Bones Day or No Bones Day. Check out this printable template here. 

Do you share these videos with students? What do they think? I think it's always a fun way to start the day with a sweet face! 



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