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Healthy Habits

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Lesson Plan

Cultivating Joyful Routines

Students will identify and explore positive habits that contribute to overall well-being, and begin to develop a plan for incorporating these habits into their daily lives to foster resilience and reduce the likelihood of substance use.

Establishing healthy habits early helps students build a strong foundation for their physical, mental, and emotional health. By focusing on positive choices, students can develop coping mechanisms and a sense of self-worth that acts as a protective factor against negative influences and the temptation to turn to substances.

Audience

6th Grade Group

Time

40 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion and practical application.

Materials

Prep

Preparation Steps

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: My Awesome Moment

5 minutes

  • Ask students to think about one thing that made them feel good recently, big or small.
    - Go around the group and have each student share their "awesome moment."
    - Introduce the idea that these moments often come from positive choices and habits.

Step 2

Introduction: What Are Healthy Habits?

5 minutes

  • Use the My Daily Dose of Awesome Slide Deck (slides 1-3) to introduce the concept of healthy habits.
    - Discuss how habits are routines we do regularly and how they can be good for us.
    - Connect healthy habits to overall well-being and making good choices for our bodies and minds, emphasizing how they help us feel good and avoid needing other things to make us feel better.

Step 3

Exploring Healthy Habits

10 minutes

  • Continue using the My Daily Dose of Awesome Slide Deck (slides 4-6) to brainstorm different categories of healthy habits (e.g., physical activity, healthy eating, good sleep, positive thinking, connecting with others, creative expression).
    - Facilitate a group discussion, asking students for examples within each category.
    - Emphasize that different habits work for different people, and it's about finding what brings them joy and well-being.

Step 4

Activity: Habit Tracker Challenge

15 minutes

  • Distribute the Habit Tracker Challenge Activity.
    - Explain the activity: students will choose one or two healthy habits they want to focus on for the next week and track their progress.
    - Guide students through filling out their tracker, helping them think of specific, achievable habits.
    - Encourage them to choose habits that are personally meaningful and will contribute to their

Step 5

Wrap-Up & Reflection

5 minutes

  • Bring the group back together.
    - Ask students to share one habit they chose and why they think it's important for their well-being.
    - Reiterate that building healthy habits is a journey, and every small step counts.
    - Encourage them to continue using their habit trackers at home and reflect on how these habits make them feel.
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Slide Deck

My Daily Dose of Awesome: Building Healthy Habits!

What makes you feel awesome? Let's find out how our daily choices create our best selves!

Welcome students and introduce the topic of habits and how they can make us feel great. Ask them to think about what 'awesome' means to them.

What Are Habits?

Habits are things we do regularly. They can be small or big!

Healthy habits are routines that help our bodies and minds feel good.

Explain that habits are things we do regularly, sometimes without even thinking. Give a simple example like brushing teeth or eating breakfast. Then, introduce the idea of 'healthy habits' – routines that are good for our body and mind. Connect these to our 'Awesome Moments' from the warm-up.

Why Do Healthy Habits Matter?

Healthy habits help us:

  • Feel energetic and happy
  • Learn and focus better
  • Be strong and stay healthy
  • Handle tough feelings
  • Make smart choices for our future!

Discuss why healthy habits are important. Emphasize how they contribute to our overall well-being, energy, mood, and ability to handle challenges. Explain that when we feel good naturally, we're less likely to look for other things (like substances) to try and make us feel better.

What Healthy Habits Can We Build?

Let's brainstorm!

  • Physical Habits: (e.g., exercise, healthy eating, sleep)
  • Mental Habits: (e.g., reading, puzzles, mindfulness)
  • Emotional Habits: (e.g., talking about feelings, gratitude)
  • Social Habits: (e.g., spending time with friends, helping others)
  • Creative Habits: (e.g., drawing, music, writing)

Transition to brainstorming. Ask students to shout out ideas for different types of healthy habits. Prompt them with categories like physical, mental, emotional, social. Use this slide to organize their ideas. Provide examples if they get stuck: e.g., 'What about exercise?' 'What helps your brain feel good?'

Your Daily Dose of Awesome!

These habits aren't just good for you, they make you feel awesome!

  • More energy
  • Better mood
  • Stronger body
  • Calmer mind

What habits make YOU feel awesome?

Focus on the positive impact of these habits. Ask students to share how specific habits make them feel. Connect back to the idea of a 'daily dose of awesome' – how these habits contribute to their happiness and well-being. Emphasize personal choice and what works for them.

Challenge Time: Track Your Awesome!

Now it's YOUR turn to try out some awesome habits!

We're going to pick one or two healthy habits to focus on for the next week.

Let's see how they make you feel! Ready for the Habit Tracker Challenge?

Introduce the next activity, the Habit Tracker Challenge. Explain that they will choose one or two habits they want to try and track for a week. Encourage them to pick something achievable and meaningful to them. Distribute the Habit Tracker Challenge Activity here.

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Activity

Habit Tracker Challenge: My Daily Dose of Awesome!

Hey Super Star! Get ready to discover how awesome you can feel by building some healthy habits!

Your Mission: For the next week, you're going to choose 1 or 2 healthy habits you want to focus on. Every day you complete your habit, you get to check it off!

Think about what makes you feel good, energized, happy, or calm. These are your 'Awesome Moments' waiting to happen!

Step 1: Choose Your Awesome Habits

What healthy habits do you want to try this week? Be specific! (For example, instead of just "exercise," try "take a 15-minute walk after school" or "do 10 jumping jacks before breakfast.")

My Awesome Habit #1:


My Awesome Habit #2 (Optional):


Step 2: Track Your Awesome!

Color in a star or check the box each day you complete your chosen habit(s).

DayHabit #1 Completed?How I Felt (Notes)Habit #2 Completed?How I Felt (Notes)
Day 1[ ]

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Day 2[ ]

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Day 3[ ]

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Day 4[ ]

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Day 5[ ]

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Day 6[ ]

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Day 7[ ]

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Step 3: Reflect on Your Awesome Week!

  1. Which habit was easier to stick with? Why do you think that is?


  2. How did focusing on these healthy habits make you feel throughout the week? (Think about your energy, mood, focus, etc.)




  3. Do you want to continue with these habits, or try new ones next week? Why or why not?





Remember, building healthy habits is like planting a garden – it takes time and care, but the results are beautiful and make you feel amazing!

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Healthy Habits • Lenny Learning