MindUP review
A neuroscience-informed school SEL program with breathing practice and educator learning.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
MindUP is a school-based social-emotional learning and preventative mental-health program from The Goldie Hawn Foundation. Its age-specific curriculum is designed for Early Years/Pre-K through grades 6–8, making it relevant to educators seeking structured mindfulness and emotional-skills instruction across those grade bands. Lessons address neuroscience, mindful awareness, emotional literacy, empathy, self-regulation, healthy relationships, kindness, optimism and gratitude. The MindUP Brain Break centers on mindful listening and breathing, supported by guided practices in a digital resource library.
The curriculum combines instruction with practice rather than focusing only on general wellbeing activities. Neuroscience lessons cover the prefrontal cortex, amygdala and hippocampus, while positive-psychology activities emphasize kindness, optimism and gratitude. Family-engagement resources are translated into nine languages, and implementation resources and district training support school or district adoption. The program is cloud-based and available on the web. This blend may suit educators who want mindfulness practice linked to emotional literacy and age-specific lessons; those looking for a narrow meditation resource may not need its broader curriculum and professional learning.
According to the vendor's pricing page, the Individual Plan costs $120 per year and includes on-demand virtual professional learning plus digital access to selected curriculum and the resource library. It does not provide the full PreK–8 curriculum access described for the Group Plan. Group plans offer customized professional learning for a district, school or organization, delivered in person, virtually or in a hybrid format, along with full digital PreK–8 access and a comprehensive resource library; pricing is quote-based. Individual educators seeking selected materials and training can consider the annual plan, while schools and districts needing full curriculum access and customized implementation support should evaluate the group option. The listed support channel is email.
MindUP pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Age-specific lessons span Early Years/Pre-K through grades 6–8
- Brain Breaks pair mindful listening with breathing practice
- Family resources are translated into nine languages
- Where it doesn't
- Individual plan costs $120 per year
- Individual access includes selected curriculum, not full PreK–8 access
- No integrations are listed
MindUP fact sheet, pricing and score →
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