Lesson Plan
Digital Balance: Screen Time & Well-being
Empower students to critically examine their relationship with digital devices and develop healthier screen time habits, increasing awareness of the impact of digital media on mental health and academic focus, and providing practical strategies for mindful technology use.
Understanding and managing screen time is crucial for students' mental health, academic performance, and overall well-being in an increasingly digital world. This lesson provides them with tools to navigate it effectively.
Audience
Upper Elementary through High School Students
Time
60 minutes
Approach
Through interactive discussion, a practical activity, and a reflective worksheet.
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Digital Balance Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with the content.
- Print copies of the Screen Time Reflection Worksheet for each student.
- Prepare any necessary materials for the Mindful Moments Activity (e.g., small slips of paper, pens).
- Ensure projector/screen and computer access for the slide deck.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Digital Habits Check-in
5 minutes
Begin with a quick warm-up question: 'What's the first thing you usually do when you wake up in the morning related to a screen?' Have students share with a partner or briefly with the class. This activates prior knowledge and sets the stage for the topic.
Step 2
Introduction: The Digital World & You
10 minutes
Use the Digital Balance Slide Deck to introduce the concept of digital balance.
- Discuss the prevalence of digital devices in our lives.
- Briefly touch upon the benefits and potential drawbacks of screen time.
- Introduce the lesson's objective.
Step 3
Main Activity: Mindful Moments Challenge
20 minutes
Lead students through the Mindful Moments Activity.
- Explain the challenge: consciously choosing to put away devices for short periods and observing the impact.
- Facilitate a short in-class practice, perhaps a 5-minute 'digital detox' where students put away all devices and focus on a non-screen activity or simple observation.
- Discuss initial feelings and observations after the brief detox.
Step 4
Discussion: Reflecting on Our Habits
15 minutes
Facilitate a class discussion using prompts from the Digital Balance Slide Deck and the Mindful Moments Activity.
- 'What are some positive ways you use screens?'
- 'When does screen time feel less positive or even negative for you?'
- 'What are some alternatives to screen time you enjoy?'
- Guide students to connect their personal experiences to the broader concepts of well-being and focus.
Step 5
Worksheet: Personal Screen Time Plan
5 minutes
Distribute the Screen Time Reflection Worksheet.
- Explain that this worksheet is for personal reflection and planning.
- Students should begin outlining strategies for healthier screen time habits.
Step 6
Cool-Down: One Small Change
5 minutes
As a cool-down, ask students to write down one small, actionable change they can make to their screen time habits on a slip of paper. They can share it anonymously or with a partner. This reinforces personal agency and commitment.
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Slide Deck
Digital Balance: Screen Time & Well-being
Finding a healthy rhythm in our digital lives.
Welcome!
Welcome students and set an inviting tone. Ask a rhetorical question or a quick show of hands to gauge their initial thoughts on screen time.
Screens, Screens, Everywhere!
From phones to tablets to computers – our lives are filled with screens.
How much time do you spend on screens each day?
Ask students to think about how often they use screens. Introduce the idea that screens are a big part of our lives, both good and bad. Emphasize that this lesson isn't about shaming, but about awareness.
The Good Stuff: Digital Benefits
- Connecting with friends and family
- Learning new things
- Creative expression
- Entertainment and relaxation
- Access to information
Brainstorm with students: What are some awesome things we can do with screens? (e.g., learning, connecting with friends/family, creativity, entertainment). Acknowledge the positive aspects first.
The Not-So-Good Stuff: Potential Drawbacks
- Mental Health: Anxiety, stress, comparison culture
- Physical Health: Eye strain, poor posture, less activity
- Academic Focus: Distraction, reduced concentration
- Sleep: Difficulty falling asleep, poorer quality sleep
Now, shift to the potential downsides. Prompt students to think about when screen time doesn't feel so good. Discuss effects on sleep, mood, focus, and physical activity. Keep it age-appropriate.
Brain Drain or Brain Gain?
Too much screen time can impact:
- Concentration: Harder to focus on tasks.
- Memory: Trouble remembering things.
- Creativity: Less time for imaginative play or problem-solving.
- Mood: Feeling restless or irritable.
Explain how excessive screen time can affect our brains, making it harder to focus on tasks or even enjoy non-screen activities. Connect this to schoolwork and everyday life.
Mindful Moments: Taking a Break
What does it mean to be mindful of our screen use?
It's about making conscious choices to step away and engage with the world around us.
Introduce the concept of 'mindful moments.' This is about intentionally disengaging from screens. Explain that the upcoming activity will help them practice this.
Activity: The Mindful Moments Challenge
Let's put our devices away for a few minutes and observe.
- What do you notice around you?
- How do you feel?
- What thoughts come to mind?
Explain the activity instructions: put devices away, focus on surroundings or a non-screen task for a few minutes. Then, discuss how they felt during and after this mini-break. Link to the Mindful Moments Activity.
Let's Talk About It
- What are some positive ways you use screens?
- When does screen time feel less positive for you?
- What non-screen activities do you truly enjoy?
- How does being mindful of your screen use make you feel?
Facilitate a discussion using these prompts. Encourage open and honest sharing, creating a safe space for students to talk about their digital habits without judgment.
Strategies for a Healthier Digital Life
- Set Boundaries: Designated 'no-screen' times or zones.
- Schedule Breaks: Step away from screens regularly.
- Find Alternatives: Engage in hobbies, sports, reading, or social interaction.
- Mindful Consumption: Be intentional about what and why you're using screens.
- Digital Sunset: Avoid screens before bed.
Introduce practical strategies. Emphasize that small changes can make a big difference. Give examples for each point. Mention the Screen Time Reflection Worksheet for personal planning.
Your Digital Balance Journey
You have the power to create a healthy relationship with technology.
What small change can you make starting today?
Conclude by reiterating the main message: digital balance is about empowering themselves to use technology wisely, not about giving it up entirely. Encourage them to use the worksheet to make a personal plan.
Activity
Mindful Moments Challenge
Objective
To encourage students to intentionally disengage from digital devices and observe their surroundings, feelings, and thoughts without screen-based distractions.
Instructions
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Understand the Goal: For the next X minutes (teacher will specify), your challenge is to completely put away all digital devices. This means phones, tablets, smartwatches, etc. They should be out of sight and out of mind.
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Observe Your Surroundings: Look around the classroom. What do you notice that you might usually miss when you're looking at a screen? Pay attention to sounds, sights, and even smells.
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Check In With Yourself: How do you feel during this time without your screen? Do you feel restless, calm, bored, focused? There's no right or wrong answer, just observe.
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Engage with Non-Screen Activities (if applicable): If the teacher provides a non-screen task (e.g., drawing, reading a physical book, talking to a classmate about a specific topic), engage with it fully.
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Reflect and Share: After the designated time, we will discuss our experiences as a class. Be prepared to share what you observed and how you felt.
Reflection Questions (for class discussion):
- What did you notice during your mindful moment that you usually don't?
- How did it feel to be disconnected from your devices for that short period?
- Did any new ideas or thoughts come to mind?
- What was challenging about this activity, if anything?
- Could you incorporate more mindful moments into your daily routine? How?
Worksheet
Screen Time Reflection Worksheet: My Digital Balance Plan
Name: ____________________________
Part 1: My Current Screen Habits
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On a typical day, approximately how many hours do you spend using screens for non-school related activities (social media, gaming, videos, etc.)?
-
What are your top 3 favorite ways to use screens?
-
When do you notice screen time starts to have a negative impact on you (e.g., feeling tired, stressed, distracted, missing out on other activities)?
-
What non-screen activities do you enjoy doing?
Part 2: Mindful Moments & Observations
Consider our Mindful Moments Activity from class.
-
What was one thing you noticed or felt during the mindful moment when you weren't looking at a screen?
-
How did it feel to step away from your device, even for a short time?
Part 3: My Digital Balance Plan
Thinking about what we discussed and reflected on, create a small plan to bring more balance to your digital life.
-
What is ONE specific, small change you can make to your screen time habits this week?
(e.g., "No phone at the dinner table," "Read a book for 30 minutes before bed instead of watching videos," "Go for a 15-minute walk without my phone").
-
Why is this change important to you?
-
What is one non-screen activity you want to make more time for this week?
-
How will you remind yourself to stick to your digital balance plan?
Worksheet
Screen Time Reflection Worksheet: My Digital Balance Plan
Name: ____________________________
Part 1: My Current Screen Habits
-
On a typical day, approximately how many hours do you spend using screens for non-school related activities (social media, gaming, videos, etc.)?
-
What are your top 3 favorite ways to use screens?
-
When do you notice screen time starts to have a negative impact on you (e.g., feeling tired, stressed, distracted, missing out on other activities)?
-
What non-screen activities do you enjoy doing?
Part 2: Mindful Moments & Observations
Consider our Mindful Moments Activity from class.
-
What was one thing you noticed or felt during the mindful moment when you weren't looking at a screen?
-
How did it feel to step away from your device, even for a short time?
Part 3: My Digital Balance Plan
Thinking about what we discussed and reflected on, create a small plan to bring more balance to your digital life.
-
What is ONE specific, small change you can make to your screen time habits this week?
(e.g., "No phone at the dinner table," "Read a book for 30 minutes before bed instead of watching videos," "Go for a 15-minute walk without my phone").
-
Why is this change important to you?
-
What is one non-screen activity you want to make more time for this week?
-
How will you remind yourself to stick to your digital balance plan?