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Digital Balance: Find Your Flow!

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lestrella

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Digital Balance: Find Your Flow!

Students will define what 'digital balance' means to them, identify potential benefits and drawbacks of screen time, and brainstorm practical strategies for incorporating more offline activities into their daily lives.

In an increasingly digital world, it's essential for students to develop self-awareness and self-management skills to maintain a healthy relationship with technology. This lesson fosters critical thinking about media consumption and promotes overall well-being by encouraging balanced habits.

Audience

6th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion and reflective activities.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Digital Balance Slides, Warm-Up: Screen Time Snapshot, Digital Balance Discussion, and Cool-Down: My Balance Commitment

Prep

Review Materials

10 minutes

  • Review the Digital Balance Lesson Plan, Digital Balance Slides, Warm-Up: Screen Time Snapshot, Digital Balance Discussion, and Cool-Down: My Balance Commitment.
    * Ensure projector/whiteboard is ready for slides.
    * Prepare any necessary writing materials for students (if not using digital submission).

Step 1

Warm-Up: Screen Time Snapshot

5 minutes

  • Begin with the Warm-Up: Screen Time Snapshot.
    * Ask students to quickly reflect on their screen time habits. This is a low-stakes activity to get them thinking without judgment.
    * Share a few anonymous responses or ask for volunteers to share one observation about their screen use.

Step 2

Introduction & Defining Digital Balance

5 minutes

  • Display Digital Balance Slides Slide 1 (Title Slide) and Slide 2 (What is Digital Balance?).
    * Introduce the concept of 'digital balance' and ask students what they think it means. Guide them to understand it's not about 'no screen time,' but 'healthy screen time' alongside other activities.
    * Facilitate a brief class discussion based on their initial thoughts.

Step 3

Benefits and Drawbacks of Screen Time

10 minutes

  • Move to Digital Balance Slides Slide 3 (Pros of Screens) and Slide 4 (Cons of Screens).
    * Engage students in the Digital Balance Discussion activity, categorizing benefits and drawbacks of screen time. Encourage diverse perspectives.
    * Emphasize that screens are tools, and balance is key.

Step 4

Strategies for a Balanced Digital Life

7 minutes

  • Show Digital Balance Slides Slide 5 (Finding Your Flow) and Slide 6 (Practical Tips).
    * Brainstorm with students practical strategies for finding balance. Refer to the ideas generated during the Digital Balance Discussion.
    * Introduce concepts like 'tech-free zones' or 'scheduled screen breaks.'

Step 5

Cool-Down: My Balance Commitment

3 minutes

  • Distribute the Cool-Down: My Balance Commitment handout.
    * Ask students to complete the commitment slip, identifying one small change they can make to improve their digital balance.
    * Collect the slips as an exit ticket.
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Slide Deck

Digital Balance: Find Your Flow!

Finding a healthy rhythm with screens and real life!

Welcome students and introduce the topic of digital balance in a positive way. Explain that this lesson is about finding what works best for them, not about banning screens.

What is Digital Balance?

It's all about finding a healthy way to use technology in your life, so it helps you, not hurts you.
It means:
* Using screens intentionally
* Making time for other activities
* Feeling good about your tech use

Ask students: "What comes to mind when you hear 'digital balance'?" Encourage a few quick shares. Guide them towards understanding it's about integration, not elimination.

The Awesome Side of Screens!

Think about all the great things technology allows us to do!
* Learning & Schoolwork
* Connecting with Friends & Family
* Creativity & Hobbies
* Entertainment & Fun

Lead a brainstorm session. Ask: "What are some amazing things screens help us do?" List their ideas on the board. Focus on positive aspects like learning, connecting, creating.

The Tricky Side of Screens...

Sometimes, too much screen time can cause challenges:
* Missing out on other activities
* Eye strain or headaches
* Trouble sleeping
* Feeling distracted or overwhelmed
* Less time for face-to-face connections

Transition to the challenges. Ask: "What are some of the challenges or downsides of too much screen time?" Discuss things like eye strain, missing out on real-life fun, feeling overwhelmed, sleep issues. Emphasize that these are common experiences.

Finding Your Flow: Your Digital Life, Your Rules!

It's not about being perfect, it's about being mindful.
* Be Aware: Know how you spend your time online.
* Set Limits: Decide when and how long you'll use screens.
* Prioritize: Make time for other important things.
* Reflect: How does your screen use make you feel?

Introduce the idea of 'finding your flow.' Explain it's about personalizing their digital habits. Ask: "How can you make screens work for you?"

Practical Tips for a Balanced Life

Small changes can make a big difference!
* Set a

Brainstorm practical tips together. Encourage students to share their own ideas. Prompt them with questions like: "What could you do instead of scrolling for 10 minutes?" or "Where could you create a 'no-phone zone'?"

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Warm Up

Screen Time Snapshot: What's Your Digital Day Look Like?

Take a moment to think about a typical day. How much time do you spend on screens? What are you usually doing?

Think about the last 24 hours.

1. What was one app, game, or website you spent a lot of time on?



2. What was one thing you learned or created using a screen?



3. What was one thing you did without a screen?



4. On a scale of 1-5 (1 = way too much, 5 = just right), how balanced does your screen time feel right now?
(Circle one): 1     2     3     4     5

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Discussion

Digital Balance Discussion: Weighing the Good and the Not-So-Good

## Part 1: The Bright Side of Digital Life

Let's think about all the positive ways technology and screens impact our lives. In small groups or as a class, brainstorm and list as many benefits as you can.

* How do screens help you learn?



* How do screens help you connect with others?



* How do screens help you relax or have fun?



* What are other cool things screens allow you to do?






## Part 2: The Tricky Side of Digital Life

Now, let's consider the challenges. Sometimes too much screen time, or certain types of screen time, can have downsides. What are some of those?

* What are some physical effects you might experience from too much screen time? (e.g., tired eyes)



* How might screen time affect your relationships or social life?



* What offline activities might you miss out on because of screen time?



* How might screens make you feel sometimes (e.g., distracted, overwhelmed)?






## Part 3: Finding Solutions!

Now that we've thought about both sides, how can we find a good balance? What are some strategies or rules you could use to make sure screens serve you, instead of the other way around?

* What's one small change you could make in your daily routine?



* **What are some

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Cool Down

My Balance Commitment: Taking Charge of My Digital Life

Now that we've discussed digital balance, it's time to make a personal commitment. Think about one small, achievable step you can take to create more balance between your online and offline worlds.

My Digital Balance Goal:

I will try to (be specific!):


I will do this by (how will you make it happen?):


This goal will help me to (what's the positive outcome?):
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

My signature (optional): ______________________________ Date: _______________

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