Balancing Acts

Lynn Potter

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Balancing Acts

Explore balance in daily life

This lesson encourages students to explore balance in their daily lives through guided activities and reflections. Students will identify areas of personal imbalance and create action plans to develop healthier habits, supporting better emotional and academic performance. This lesson is important as it helps students recognize the importance of balance in their lives, which can lead to improved emotional well-being and academic success.

Audience

Students in Grades 7-8

Time

35 minutes

Approach

Explore balance in daily life

Materials

Discussion Questions, Worksheet: Personal Balance Assessment, and Pens and Paper

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

Begin with a brief discussion on what balance means in daily life.
Ask students to share examples of balance in their own lives (e.g., balancing schoolwork and hobbies).

Step 2

Guided Activity

10 minutes

Distribute the 'Personal Balance Assessment' worksheet.
Instruct students to reflect on different areas of their lives (e.g., school, family, friends, hobbies) and identify where they feel balanced or imbalanced.
Encourage students to write down their thoughts and feelings.

Step 3

Group Discussion

10 minutes

Facilitate a group discussion using the provided questions.
Encourage students to share their reflections and listen to others' experiences.
Discuss the importance of balance and how it can affect emotional and academic performance.

Step 4

Action Plan Creation

5 minutes

Ask students to choose one area of imbalance they identified and brainstorm ways to improve it.
Have them write a simple action plan with steps they can take to achieve better balance.

Step 5

Closure

5 minutes

Invite a few students to share their action plans with the class.
Conclude with a reminder of the importance of striving for balance and how it can lead to a healthier lifestyle.

0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Discussion

Discussion Questions

A set of questions to guide a class discussion on balance in daily life.

What does balance mean to you?

Encourage students to think about balance in various aspects of life, such as time management, emotional well-being, and relationships.

Can you share an example of a time when you felt balanced?

Guide students to reflect on past experiences where they managed to balance different responsibilities or emotions.

How do you think imbalance can affect your daily life?

Discuss potential impacts of imbalance, such as stress, decreased academic performance, or strained relationships.

Worksheet

Personal Balance Assessment

A worksheet to help students assess balance in different areas of their lives and identify areas for improvement.

List areas of your life where you feel balanced.

List areas of your life where you feel imbalanced.

Choose one area of imbalance and describe why you think it is imbalanced.

Consider factors like time spent, emotional impact, or external pressures.

What steps can you take to improve balance in this area?

Think about small, actionable changes you can make.