lenny

Healthy Habits Blueprint

user image

Lesson Plan

Healthy Habits Blueprint

Students will explore the interconnectedness of physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and emotional well-being, learning how daily choices impact their overall health. The objective is to empower students to identify and adopt sustainable healthy habits, promoting energy, focus, and a positive mood throughout their academic and personal lives.

Understanding healthy habits is crucial for students to thrive academically and personally. This lesson empowers them with knowledge and practical tools to make informed choices that positively impact their energy, focus, and emotional well-being.

Audience

K-12 Students

Time

60-90 minutes (adaptable)

Approach

Interactive discussion, guided activities, and a personal project will foster understanding and application.

Materials

Healthy Habits Blueprint Slide Deck, My Daily Habits Worksheet, Healthy Choices Activity Cards, and My Healthy Habit Project Guide

Prep

Review Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: What Fuels You?

10 minutes

  • Begin by asking students: "What does 'healthy' mean to you?" Allow for a brief class share.
    - Introduce the idea that health isn't just about food or exercise, but a blueprint for our whole lives. (Refer to Healthy Habits Blueprint Slide Deck - Slide 1)

Step 2

Introducing the Blueprint

15 minutes

  • Present the core components of the Healthy Habits Blueprint: Physical Activity, Nutrition, Sleep, and Emotional Well-being. (Refer to Healthy Habits Blueprint Slide Deck - Slides 2-5)
    - Facilitate a short discussion on why each component is important and how they are connected.

Step 3

My Daily Habits Worksheet

20 minutes

  • Distribute the My Daily Habits Worksheet.
    - Guide students through the worksheet, prompting them to reflect on their current habits in each blueprint area.
    - Encourage honest self-assessment without judgment.

Step 4

Healthy Choices Activity

20 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups.
    - Distribute the Healthy Choices Activity Cards to each group.
    - Instruct groups to categorize the cards under the four blueprint components and discuss why each choice is healthy or unhealthy.
    - Bring the class back together for a brief debrief and share-out of interesting discussions. (Refer to Healthy Habits Blueprint Slide Deck - Slide 6)

Step 5

Introducing the Project: My Healthy Habit Goal

15 minutes

Step 6

Cool Down: One Healthy Step

5 minutes

  • Ask students to silently reflect on one small, healthy step they can take today or tomorrow based on what they learned.
    - Have a few students share their
lenny
0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Slide Deck

Healthy Habits Blueprint: Mind, Body, & Being

What does 'healthy' mean to you? How do your daily choices affect how you feel, think, and learn?

Greet students and start with the warm-up question. Encourage varied responses and validate all contributions. Transition to the idea of a holistic view of health.

Pillar 1: Physical Activity

Moving your body daily helps with:

  • Energy levels
  • Focus and concentration
  • Strong bones and muscles
  • Reducing stress

Think: What's your favorite way to move?

Introduce physical activity as the first pillar. Emphasize that it's not just about sports, but any movement. Ask students for examples of physical activity they enjoy.

Pillar 2: Nutrition

Eating a variety of healthy foods fuels your body and brain:

  • Provides energy for school and play
  • Helps you grow strong
  • Keeps you focused
  • Boosts your immune system

Think: What are some 'fuel' foods you love?

Discuss nutrition. Focus on the idea of 'fuel' for the body. Avoid specific diets and instead promote balanced eating. Ask students for examples of 'fuel' foods.

Pillar 3: Sleep

Getting enough rest is super important for:

  • Your brain to process what you learned
  • Your body to repair and grow
  • Boosting your mood
  • Helping you stay focused

Think: How do you feel when you haven't slept enough?

Explain the importance of sleep. Highlight its role in learning and mood. Ask students why they think sleep is so important for students.

Pillar 4: Emotional Well-being

Taking care of your feelings and thoughts helps you:

  • Manage stress
  • Build strong relationships
  • Feel positive and resilient
  • Understand yourself better

Think: What helps you feel calm or happy when you're stressed?

Introduce emotional well-being as the final, but equally important, pillar. Discuss how feelings are normal and how to manage them. Ask students for healthy ways they cope with big emotions.

Healthy Choices Activity

In your groups, you'll categorize different choices under our four blueprint pillars. Discuss: Is this choice healthy or unhealthy? Why?

Transition to the activity. Explain the grouping and what they'll be doing with the Healthy Choices Activity Cards.

My Healthy Habit Project

Time to put your learning into action! You'll choose one area from our blueprint and set a personal, achievable goal to build a healthy habit.

Introduce the project. Explain that they will choose ONE area to improve and set a personal goal. Emphasize 'achievable' and 'personal'.

lenny

Worksheet

My Daily Habits Worksheet

Name: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________


We all have habits, some are super helpful, and some might need a little tweaking! Let's think about your daily routines and how they connect to our Healthy Habits Blueprint.

Pillar 1: Physical Activity

  1. How do you typically move your body each day? (e.g., playing sports, walking, dancing, gym class, recess)






  2. On average, how many minutes do you spend being active each day?



  3. What is one physical activity you enjoy doing?



  4. What is one small change you could make to be more active?






Pillar 2: Nutrition

  1. Describe what you typically eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (No judgment, just describe!)











  2. Do you usually eat fruits and vegetables every day? If so, what are some of your favorites?





  3. How much water do you usually drink in a day? (Think about glasses or bottles)



  4. What is one small change you could make to eat or drink more healthily?






Pillar 3: Sleep

  1. What time do you usually go to bed on a school night?



  2. What time do you usually wake up on a school morning?



  3. On average, how many hours of sleep do you get each school night?



  4. What is one small change you could make to get more or better sleep?






Pillar 4: Emotional Well-being

  1. What are some things that make you feel happy or joyful?





  2. What do you do when you feel stressed, sad, or angry? (e.g., talk to someone, listen to music, draw)






  3. Do you have someone you can talk to when you have big feelings? Who?



  4. What is one small thing you could do to take better care of your feelings?







My Biggest Takeaway: From thinking about all these habits, what is one thing you learned about yourself or healthy living?











lenny
lenny

Activity

Healthy Choices Activity Cards

Instructions: Cut out each card below. In your groups, discuss whether each choice is healthy or unhealthy and under which pillar(s) of the Healthy Habits Blueprint it belongs: Physical Activity, Nutrition, Sleep, or Emotional Well-being.


Card 1Card 2
Playing tag at recessEating a balanced lunch with fruits and veggies
Pillar(s):
Healthy/Unhealthy:
Why:
Pillar(s):
Healthy/Unhealthy:
Why:

Card 3Card 4
Staying up late to play video gamesTalking to a trusted adult when you feel upset
Pillar(s):
Healthy/Unhealthy:
Why:
Pillar(s):
Healthy/Unhealthy:
Why:

Card 5Card 6
Drinking water throughout the daySpending an hour reading quietly before bed
Pillar(s):
Healthy/Unhealthy:
Why:
Pillar(s):
Healthy/Unhealthy:
Why:

Card 7Card 8
Skipping breakfast to save timeTaking deep breaths when you feel anxious
Pillar(s):
Healthy/Unhealthy:
Why:
Pillar(s):
Healthy/Unhealthy:
Why:

Card 9Card 10
Helping with chores around the houseEating too many sugary snacks
Pillar(s):
Healthy/Unhealthy:
Why:
Pillar(s):
Healthy/Unhealthy:
Why:

Card 11Card 12
Going for a walk with familyWatching TV right before trying to sleep
Pillar(s):
Healthy/Unhealthy:
Why:
Pillar(s):
Healthy/Unhealthy:
Why:

Card 13Card 14
Practicing mindfulness or meditationSpending several hours on social media
Pillar(s):
Healthy/Unhealthy:
Why:
Pillar(s):
Healthy/Unhealthy:
Why:

Card 15Card 16
Eating a variety of colorful foodsGetting 8-10 hours of sleep most nights
Pillar(s):
Healthy/Unhealthy:
Why:
Pillar(s):
Healthy/Unhealthy:
Why:

Card 17Card 18
Ignoring your feelings when you are sadLearning a new skill or hobby you enjoy
Pillar(s):
Healthy/Unhealthy:
Why:
Pillar(s):
Healthy/Unhealthy:
Why:
lenny
lenny

Project Guide

My Healthy Habit Project Guide

Name: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________

Goal: Adopt One Healthy Habit!

Now that you've explored the four pillars of the Healthy Habits Blueprint, it's time to put your learning into action! For this project, you will choose ONE specific healthy habit you want to work on and create a plan to implement it.

Project Steps:

Step 1: Choose Your Pillar & Habit (Due: [Date])

Based on what you learned and reflected on in the My Daily Habits Worksheet, choose ONE of the four pillars (Physical Activity, Nutrition, Sleep, or Emotional Well-being) and identify a specific, achievable healthy habit you want to adopt or improve.

Example Ideas:

  • Physical Activity: Go for a 15-minute walk after school three times a week.
  • Nutrition: Eat one piece of fruit with breakfast every day.
  • Sleep: Turn off screens 30 minutes before bedtime.
  • Emotional Well-being: Practice deep breathing for 5 minutes when feeling stressed.

My Chosen Pillar:




My Specific Healthy Habit Goal:






Why is this habit important to you? How will it help your mind, body, or being?











Step 2: Develop Your Action Plan (Due: [Date])

How will you make this habit happen? Think about the steps you need to take and any challenges you might face.

  1. What steps will you take to achieve your habit goal? (List at least 3 specific actions)










  2. When and where will you practice this habit? (Be specific!)



  3. What challenges might you face? (e.g., forgetting, lack of time, feeling tired)





  4. How will you overcome these challenges? (Strategies to stay on track)






Step 3: Track Your Progress (Due: [Date])

You will track your progress for one week. Create a simple chart or journal to record if you met your goal each day. You can use checkmarks, happy/sad faces, or write a short note.

My Progress Tracker (Example - you can create your own!):

DayDid I achieve my habit today?Notes/How I Felt
Monday




Tuesday




Wednesday




Thursday




Friday




Saturday




Sunday




Step 4: Reflect & Share (Due: [Date])

After one week, reflect on your experience.

  1. How did it feel to work on your new healthy habit?






  2. What did you learn about yourself during this project?






  3. Do you plan to continue this habit? Why or why not?






  4. Share your experience with a small group or the class (optional, but encouraged!). What advice would you give to someone trying to adopt a new healthy habit?











Assessment Criteria:

  • Clearly identified healthy habit goal (Step 1)
  • Detailed and realistic action plan (Step 2)
  • Consistent tracking of progress (Step 3)
  • Thoughtful reflection on the experience (Step 4)
lenny
lenny