Health Smart Virginia
Mental Health/Social Emotional Skills
Looking for social-emotional resources? Check out this seven-page packet that includes activity and instructional activity ideas, as well as links to information resources that support the social and emotional development of tenth graders.
Health Smart Virginia
Face of Mental Illness
To develop an understanding of the stigma surrounding mental health problems and the impact stigma and discrimination have on those who would seek help, groups investigate the symptoms of and risk factors associated with eight different...
Curated OER
Relationships for Students in Middle School
Boundaries are important in relationships, no matter how close the relationship is. Middle schoolers explore the ideas of boundaries and personal space with two units about relationships. After discussing the boundaries in their own...
Curated OER
Self-concept / Esteem
Students evaluate parenting roles and responsibilities. They examine the responsibility of parents to help promote good self-concept in their children and the importance of a child's self-esteem and ways to help a child feel good about...
Curated OER
Gender Role Development
Students look in newspapers and magazines and discuss gender role development and stereotypes. In this gender lesson plan, students bring in their favorite objects that have no gender stereotype linked to it.
Curated OER
Art as Therapy
Students explore how they connect with artwork on an emotional level through writing and the creation of an original piece of art.
Curated OER
Prescribing Beauty
Learners explore self image. In this personal health lesson plan, students watch "Prescribing Beauty," and discuss what beauty is. Learners develop beauty questionnaires and complete them.
Nemours KidsHealth
Obesity: Grades 6-8
Screen time and fast foods, sugary drinks and greasy fries have lead to one-third of tween and teens being overweight or obese. As part of the Health Problems Series scholars analyze the nutritional value of the school food services menu...
Curated OER
Being Old
Students examine the characteristics of being a senior citizen in today's society. In groups, they develop a list of stereotypes associated with senior citizens. They use the internet to research their financial situtation, proper...
Curated OER
Dance: Personal Soundtracks
Students create a musical autobiography. In this fine arts lesson, students explore the emotions that music can express by listening to and discussing a variety of music. Students construct a personal timeline and a collection of music...
Curated OER
Our Many Shapes and Sizes
Students discover humans come in all shapes and sizes. In this equality lesson, students evaluate different bodies among their peers and discover no human body is "perfect". Students discuss different ways to keep their bodies healthy.
Curated OER
If I Wasn't Me, What Would I Be?
Students use their metacognitive skills to complete a self-worth and self-concept activity. In this self-worth instructional activity, students finish a sentence about what else they would like to be and then explain why they would want...
Curated OER
2 Cubed
Students recognize the many kinds of knowledge we all have. They develop recognition and foster self-esteem. They log on to SparkTop.org and play 2 Cubed, an online trivia game that they play one-on-one with an opponent. They identify...
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
What is Health?
Many indicators of health are beyond a teenager's control, but there are many changes they can make in their daily life that can improve their health. Middle schoolers think about their physical, social, and mental health status before...
Curated OER
Self-Image: The Fantasy, The Reality
Students examine the issue of body image and the media. They watch and discuss a video, identify ads with unrealistic images, write a letter to the magazine, develop a timeline of changing body types, and conduct research.
Curated OER
Facing the Day
Students utilize magazines to find pictures that display emotional states/moods. Each student creates symbol cards using magazine pictures to help indicate how they are feeling on a given day. Individuals are instructed by the teacher...
Curated OER
Who Is Who?
First graders complete the resource page Who's Who? then survey their classmates to see which phrases describe their classmates.
Curated OER
Take a Look in the Mirror: What Do You See?
Students examine their perceptions of themselves. In this personal health lesson plan, students participate in a classroom activity that requires them to describe themselves and share those descriptions with their classmates. Students...
Curated OER
Real Life, Your Life: Healthy Body, Healthy Mind
Learners discuss the topic of body image. For this body image lesson, students view a few people's body image thoughts and discuss how to help their people. Learners then write a poster and pretend press release, explaining to people...
Curated OER
Role Models - Defining Positive Role Models
Being able to identify what characteristics make a good role model is one way for students to better understand their own positive behaviors. The class brainstorms what characteristics make up a good role model, research a role model...
Curated OER
Bullying
Fourth graders define the role of a bully, then participate in skits with bullying situations. In this health and safety lesson, the teacher introduces the idea of bullying with the book Enemy Pie. Then students create a double bubble...
Curated OER
Sexually Speaking
Learners engage in activities designed to increase self esteem, self awareness and human sexuality. They engage in a variety of activities to encourage active participation, introspection, stating and examining values, gaining factual...
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
My Life—My Mental Health
Between peer pressure, an onslaught of hormones, and brand new responsibilities, the teenage years can be emotionally volatile. Equip young adults with coping mechanisms and a safe place to discuss their feelings with a guided...
Health Smart Virginia
Tinkle Times
The big idea in the last instructional activity in the Health Smart series is that individuals must practice emotional first aid, that just as we take care of physical injuries, we must take care of emotional injuries. Scholars watch a...