Lesson Plan
Happiness Habits Detective Plan
Students will be able to identify healthy habits (sleep, nutrition, play) and explain how they contribute to overall wellbeing and stress reduction.
Understanding how daily habits impact happiness empowers students to make positive choices, fostering a sense of control over their emotional and physical health.
Audience
3rd Grade Students
Time
50 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, guided discovery, and creative project planning.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Super Habits for a Super You, Markers or pens, The Great Habit Debate Discussion Prompts, and My Ultimate Wellbeing Routine Project Guide
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Happiness Habits Detective Plan and all linked materials.
- Prepare whiteboard or projector for the slide deck.
- Print or prepare digital access for the discussion prompts and project guide.
Step 1
Introduction: What Makes Us Happy?
5 minutes
- Begin by asking students: "What makes you feel happy? What makes you feel calm?"
- Introduce the idea that certain habits can help us feel our best, like detectives solving a happiness mystery.
Step 2
Exploring Super Habits with Slides
15 minutes
- Present the Super Habits for a Super You.
- Go through each slide, discussing the importance of sleep, healthy eating, and play/movement.
- Encourage students to share their own experiences with these habits.
Step 3
The Great Habit Debate
15 minutes
- Divide students into small groups.
- Distribute or display the The Great Habit Debate Discussion Prompts.
- Each group discusses one or two prompts, thinking about how different habits affect them.
- Bring the class back together for a brief share-out of group ideas.
Step 4
Designing Your Ultimate Wellbeing Routine
10 minutes
- Introduce the My Ultimate Wellbeing Routine Project Guide.
- Explain that students will create their own plan for healthy habits.
- Briefly go over the expectations for the project and answer any questions.
Step 5
Wrap-Up & Reflection
5 minutes
- Ask students to share one new habit they want to try or improve.
- Remind them that taking care of their habits is a way to be a 'happiness detective' for themselves.
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Slide Deck
Super Habits for a Super You!
Your Guide to Feeling Great!
Let's become 'Happiness Detectives' and discover how our daily actions can make us feel happy and healthy!
Welcome students and get them excited about becoming 'happiness detectives.' Ask them what they think 'super habits' might be.
What's a Habit Anyway?
A habit is something you do regularly, almost without thinking!
- Like brushing your teeth every morning.
- Or eating breakfast before school.
Some habits help us, and some might not!
Explain what a habit is in simple terms. Give examples like brushing teeth, eating breakfast, or saying 'please' and 'thank you'. Ask students for their own examples of daily habits.
Sleep: Your Brain's Recharge Time!
When you sleep, your brain and body get to rest and grow!
-
8-10 hours of sleep helps you:
- Have energy for playing.
- Focus in class.
- Feel happy and calm.
-
Challenge: Try to go to bed at the same time every night!
Discuss why sleep is so important for their bodies and minds. Connect it to energy for playing and learning. Ask: 'What happens when you don't get enough sleep?'
Fuel Your Body Right!
Just like a car needs gas, your body needs good food to run!
-
Healthy Foods (fruits, veggies, whole grains, protein) help you:
- Grow strong bones and muscles.
- Have energy to learn and play.
- Fight off sickness.
-
Challenge: Try one new fruit or vegetable this week!
Talk about healthy foods as 'fuel' for their bodies. Distinguish between 'sometimes foods' and 'everyday foods.' Ask: 'What are some of your favorite healthy snacks?'
Move and Play: Get Your Wiggles Out!
Moving your body isn't just fun, it makes you feel good!
-
Playing and Exercising helps you:
- Get stronger.
- Release energy and feel less stressed.
- Laugh and have fun with friends!
-
Challenge: Spend 30 minutes playing outside today!
Emphasize that play and movement are not just for fun, but also important for health and reducing stress. Ask: 'What's your favorite way to move your body?'
Your Habits, Your Happiness!
Remember, your daily habits are like superpowers!
- Good sleep 😴
- Healthy food 🍎
- Lots of play 🏃♀️
These help you feel happy, healthy, and ready for anything!
Let's talk about them more!
Summarize the key habits and reiterate their importance for overall wellbeing. Encourage students to think about their own habits. Transition to the discussion activity.
Discussion
The Great Habit Debate: Helping My Happiness!
Instructions: In your groups, read each question and discuss your thoughts. Be ready to share some of your ideas with the whole class!
Discussion Prompts
-
Morning Rush vs. Calm Start: Imagine you have two mornings. In one, you wake up late, skip breakfast, and rush to school. In the other, you wake up with enough time, eat a healthy breakfast, and calmly get ready. How might you feel differently in each scenario when you arrive at school?
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Screen Time vs. Play Time: You have an hour of free time. Would you rather spend it playing outside with friends or playing video games/watching TV? How might each choice make your body and mind feel by the end of the hour? Which one helps you feel more energized or calm?
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Sugary Snacks vs. Healthy Snacks: It's snack time! You can choose a super sugary treat or a crunchy apple and some cheese. How do you think your body and energy levels would feel right after eating each snack? How about an hour later?
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Early Bedtime vs. Late Bedtime: You have a big test tomorrow. You can either go to bed at your usual time or stay up much later watching a movie. How might your sleep choice affect how you feel and perform during your test? Which choice would help your brain be ready to learn?
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What's Your Super Habit? Out of all the habits we talked about (sleep, healthy food, play), which one do you think is the most important for feeling happy and healthy? Why do you think so?
Project Guide
My Ultimate Wellbeing Routine: Design Your Happiness!
Objective: You are a 'Happiness Architect'! Your mission is to design your very own ultimate daily routine that includes super habits for feeling happy, healthy, and calm. This routine should help you manage stress and have a positive mood!
Project Steps:
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Brainstorm Your Habits: Think about the three main super habits we discussed: sleep, healthy food, and play/movement. How do these habits make you feel? What are some specific examples of each that you can include in your day?
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Design Your Ideal Day: On a piece of paper, or using drawing/writing, create a schedule for your ideal day. This doesn't have to be exactly what you do every day, but what you would like to do to feel your best. Include:
- Wake-up time and bedtime (make sure there's enough sleep!)
- Meal times (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and healthy snacks)
- Play/Movement time (what activities will you do?)
- Time for schoolwork and free time
- Any other habits that help you feel good (e.g., reading, talking to family, quiet time).
-
Illustrate Your Routine: Make your routine come alive! You can:
- Draw pictures for each part of your day.
- Use different colors to highlight different activities.
- Write short descriptions for each part of your routine explaining why that habit helps your happiness.
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Explain Your Choices: Write a short paragraph or two explaining:
- Why you chose these specific habits for your routine.
- How you think this routine would help you feel less stressed and more happy.
- What might be challenging about following this routine and how you could overcome those challenges.
What to Turn In:
- Your illustrated