Teacher Script: Your Wellness Wheel

Warm-Up: What is Wellness? (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to embark on a really important journey – exploring what it means to be truly well. When you hear the word 'wellness,' what comes to mind? Take a moment to think or jot down a quick word or two."

Teacher: "Anyone want to share what they thought of?" (Call on a few students. Acknowledge and affirm their responses, linking them to broader concepts of health and happiness.)

Introduction to the Wellness Wheel (10 minutes)

Teacher: (Display Slide 2: Wellness: More Than Just Being Healthy?)
"That's great! Many of you mentioned things like being fit, eating well, or feeling happy. And you're right, those are all parts of wellness! But true wellness is even bigger than that. It’s about a balanced and healthy lifestyle in all areas of your life, not just one or two. It’s a holistic approach, meaning it looks at the whole person."

(Display Slide 3: The Six Dimensions of Wellness Wheel)
"Think of it like a wheel. For a wheel to roll smoothly, all its spokes need to be strong and in good shape, right? Our well-being is similar. Today, we're going to look at the 'Six Dimensions of Wellness' – these are like the spokes of your personal wellness wheel. Each part is important and connected to the others."

Teacher: "Let's dive into each one!"

(Display Slide 4: 1. Emotional Wellness)
"First up is Emotional Wellness. This is all about understanding and managing your feelings. It's about how you cope with stress and life's challenges, and how you build healthy relationships. It doesn't mean you're always happy, but it means you know how to navigate all your emotions."

Teacher: "Quick thought: How do you manage your emotions when you're feeling stressed or upset? What helps you?" (Allow for a few student responses.)

(Display Slide 5: 2. Physical Wellness)
"Next, we have Physical Wellness. This is probably what many of you thought of first! It includes eating nutritious foods, getting regular exercise, and making sure you get enough sleep. It's also about staying safe and making healthy choices for your body."

Teacher: "What's one small change you think you could make this week to boost your physical health?" (Take a few answers.)

(Display Slide 6: 3. Social Wellness)
"Then there's Social Wellness. This dimension focuses on connecting with friends, family, and your community. It's about building and maintaining positive relationships and communicating effectively with others. We are social beings, and strong connections are vital."

Teacher: "Who in your life helps you feel connected and supported? Why are those connections important?" (Brief discussion.)

(Display Slide 7: 4. Intellectual Wellness)
"Our fourth dimension is Intellectual Wellness. This is about keeping your mind active! It involves engaging in creative and mentally stimulating activities, learning new things, and being curious. It’s also about thinking critically and solving problems."

Teacher: "What's something new you've learned recently, just for fun, that sparked your intellectual wellness?" (Share personal example if appropriate.)

(Display Slide 8: 5. Spiritual Wellness)
"Moving on to Spiritual Wellness. This might sound a bit different, but it's really about finding purpose and meaning in your life. It's about developing your personal values and beliefs and practicing mindfulness or reflection. It doesn't have to be religious; it's about what gives your life meaning."

Teacher: "What makes you feel connected to something bigger than yourself, or gives your life a sense of purpose?" (Give time for silent reflection, or allow brief shares.)

(Display Slide 9: 6. Occupational Wellness)
"Finally, we have Occupational Wellness. This dimension is all about finding satisfaction and enrichment in your school, work, or daily activities. It's about how you contribute your skills and talents, and how you balance your responsibilities with your personal life. It encourages you to explore your interests and find meaning in what you do."

Teacher: "What activities (school, clubs, hobbies) make you feel productive and engaged?" (Brainstorm a few ideas.)

Reading & Discussion: Diving Deeper (10 minutes)

Teacher: (Display Slide 10: Connecting the Dots: It's All Linked!)
"Excellent! So, as you can see, all six of these dimensions—Emotional, Physical, Social, Intellectual, Spiritual, and Occupational—work together to create your overall well-being. A strong wheel needs all its spokes! Now, to help us dive a little deeper, I'm going to hand out a Wellness Wheel Reading."

(Distribute the Wellness Wheel Reading.)

Teacher: "Please take about 5 minutes to read this silently. After that, we'll have a brief Wellness Wheel Discussion about what you read and how these dimensions connect to your lives."

(After 5 minutes, initiate discussion using prompts from the Wellness Wheel Discussion material.)

Activity: Applying the Dimensions (15 minutes)

Teacher: (Display Slide 11: Your Personal Wellness Reflection)
"Fantastic discussion, everyone! Now it's time to make this personal. I'm going to give each of you a Wellness Wheel Worksheet. On this worksheet, you'll have a chance to reflect on your own wellness in each of these six dimensions."

(Distribute the Wellness Wheel Worksheet.)

Teacher: "For each dimension, I want you to think about how strong that 'spoke' is for you right now. There are no right or wrong answers, just honest reflection. Use the prompts on the worksheet to guide your thinking. I'll be walking around if you have any questions or want to discuss anything."

(Allow students 10-12 minutes to work. Circulate and provide support.)

Game: Wellness Challenge (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Alright, let's have some fun and quickly review what we've learned! We're going to play the Wellness Wheel Game. I'll explain the rules now..."

(Lead the Wellness Wheel Game activity.)

Cool-Down: One Takeaway (5 minutes)

Teacher: (Display a blank slide or return to a summary slide.)
"Great job today, everyone! Before we wrap up, I want you to take one last moment to reflect. On your worksheet, or on a separate slip of paper, write down one key takeaway from today's lesson. It could be something new you learned, something that surprised you, or something you plan to try."

Teacher: "Would a few brave souls like to share their takeaway with the class?" (Allow 2-3 students to share. Thank them for their participation.)

Teacher: "Excellent! Remember, your wellness is a journey, not a destination. Keep thinking about your personal wellness wheel and how you can keep all those spokes strong. Have a wonderful rest of your day!"

Wellness Wheel Warm-Up: What is Wellness?

Instructions: Take a moment to think about the word "wellness."

What does wellness mean to you? Write down 1-3 words or a short sentence that comes to mind when you hear the word "wellness."

Understanding Your Six Dimensions of Wellness

Wellness is about living a healthy, balanced, and fulfilling life. It's more than just not being sick; it's about actively working to improve all aspects of your well-being. Think of your wellness like a wheel, with different spokes that need to be strong for the wheel to roll smoothly. There are six main dimensions of wellness that work together to create your overall health and happiness.

1. Emotional Wellness

Emotional wellness involves understanding and managing your feelings. It's about being aware of your emotions, both positive and negative, and knowing how to cope with them in healthy ways. This includes being able to handle stress, bounce back from setbacks (resilience), and maintain a positive outlook on life. Good emotional wellness also means you can express your feelings appropriately and build strong, healthy relationships with others.

Example: Taking time to write in a journal when you're feeling overwhelmed, talking to a trusted friend about your feelings, or practicing deep breathing when you feel stressed.

2. Physical Wellness

Physical wellness focuses on the health of your body. This dimension includes making choices that help you maintain a healthy lifestyle, such as eating nutritious foods, getting regular physical activity, and ensuring you get enough restful sleep. It also involves making safe choices, avoiding harmful substances, and seeking medical care when needed. Taking care of your body helps you have the energy and strength to do the things you enjoy.

Example: Eating a balanced breakfast, going for a bike ride with friends, or making sure you get 8-10 hours of sleep each night.

3. Social Wellness

Social wellness is all about your relationships and connections with others. It involves building and maintaining a strong support network of friends, family, and community members. Being socially well means you can communicate effectively, respect others, and feel a sense of belonging. It's about contributing positively to your community and allowing others to contribute to yours.

Example: Spending quality time with family, participating in a school club, or helping a classmate with their homework.

4. Intellectual Wellness

Intellectual wellness encourages you to engage in creative and mentally stimulating activities. It's about being curious, eager to learn new things, and open to new ideas. This dimension involves critical thinking, problem-solving, and continuous learning, whether through school, reading, or exploring hobbies. Keeping your mind active helps you grow and adapt to new challenges.

Example: Reading a book on a new topic, trying to solve a puzzle, or learning a new language.

5. Spiritual Wellness

Spiritual wellness involves finding purpose, meaning, and values in your life. It's about developing a set of guiding beliefs that give your life direction and inner peace. This doesn't necessarily mean being religious; it can involve connecting with nature, practicing mindfulness, or reflecting on your personal values and what truly matters to you. It's about living in alignment with what you believe is important.

Example: Volunteering for a cause you care about, spending time in nature, or practicing gratitude.

6. Occupational Wellness

Occupational wellness is about finding satisfaction and enrichment in your work, school, or daily activities. It's about how you contribute your skills and talents, and how you balance your responsibilities with your personal life. This dimension encourages you to explore careers, pursue meaningful hobbies, and manage your time effectively, recognizing the importance of personal fulfillment and growth in your chosen path.

Example: Doing your best in school assignments, joining a club that uses your skills (like a coding club or debate team), or helping out with chores at home to contribute to your family.

Wellness Wheel Discussion Questions

Part 1: Initial Reflections (After Reading)

1. What was one new thing you learned about wellness from the reading that you hadn't considered before?
   
   
   
   
2. Which of the six dimensions resonated with you the most, and why?
   
   
   
   
3. Do you think any of these dimensions are more important than others? Why or why not?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 2: Connecting to Life

4. Can you think of a time when one dimension of your wellness (e.g., physical) affected another (e.g., emotional)? How did they connect?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. What are some simple things you already do that contribute to your wellness in any of these dimensions?
   
   
   
   
6. How might focusing on all six dimensions of wellness help you in your daily life, both inside and outside of school?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 3: Looking Forward

7. Is there one dimension you feel you could pay a little more attention to? What's a small step you could take to improve it?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Wellness Wheel Self-Reflection Activity

Objective: To help you reflect on your current well-being across the six dimensions of wellness.

Instructions:

1. You have just learned about the six dimensions of wellness: Emotional, Physical, Social, Intellectual, Spiritual, and Occupational.
2. You will now receive a Wellness Wheel Worksheet.
3. For each dimension, read the description and think about how well you are currently doing in that area.
4. On your worksheet, you will mark on the 'spoke' how strong that dimension feels to you right now. The closer to the center, the less strong; the closer to the outer edge, the stronger.
5. Then, answer the reflection questions for each dimension. Be honest with yourself – this is for your understanding, not a test!
6. After you've reflected on all six, look at your completed wheel. What does it tell you about your overall wellness? Is your wheel balanced, or are some spokes stronger than others?

Materials:

• Wellness Wheel Worksheet
• Pen or Pencil

Time: 10-15 minutes

My Wellness Wheel Reflection

Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________

Instructions:

For each dimension of wellness, read the description and think about how well you are currently doing in that area. Mentally (or with a drawing if you like!), consider a wheel where the center is 0 (not strong in this area) and the outer edge is 10 (very strong in this area). Then, answer the reflection questions for each dimension honestly.

1. Emotional Wellness

This is about understanding and managing your feelings, coping with stress, and building healthy relationships.

1. How well do you feel you understand your emotions? (Circle one: Not well / Sometimes / Pretty well / Very well)
   
   
   
   
2. What is one healthy way you cope with stress or difficult feelings?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Physical Wellness

This is about taking care of your body through healthy eating, exercise, sleep, and safety.

1. On a scale of 1-10 (1 = poor, 10 = excellent), how would you rate your current physical health habits (eating, exercise, sleep)?
   
   
   
   
2. What is one small change you could make to improve your physical wellness this week?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Social Wellness

This is about connecting with friends, family, and your community, and building positive relationships.

1. How connected do you feel to your friends and family? (Circle one: Not very / Somewhat / Well-connected / Very connected)
   
   
   
   
2. Describe one way you contribute positively to your community or a group you belong to.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Intellectual Wellness

This is about engaging your mind, learning new things, and being curious.

1. What is one new thing you've learned recently (inside or outside of school)?
   
   
   
   
2. How do you challenge your mind or learn new things for fun?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. Spiritual Wellness

This is about finding purpose and meaning in your life, and developing your personal values.

1. What is one thing that gives your life a sense of purpose or meaning?
   
   
   
   
2. How do you spend time reflecting on what is important to you?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

6. Occupational Wellness

This is about finding satisfaction and enrichment in your work, school, or daily activities.

1. What is one activity (school, club, or hobby) that makes you feel productive and engaged?
   
   
   
   
2. How do you balance your responsibilities (like homework or chores) with time for things you enjoy?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

My Overall Wellness Wheel

Looking at your answers, what do you notice about your overall wellness? Are some areas stronger than others? What is one area you would like to focus on improving?

Wellness Wheel Challenge Game

Objective: To quickly review and identify the six dimensions of wellness through interactive scenarios.

Materials:

• Wellness Wheel Game Cards
• Optional: Whiteboard or projector to display dimensions, small prizes.

Setup:

1. Divide the class into 3-4 small teams. Give each team a way to write down or signal their answer (e.g., small whiteboards, index cards).
2. Briefly review the six dimensions of wellness with the class before starting.
3. Explain that you will read out scenarios, and teams will identify which dimension of wellness is primarily being described. Emphasize that sometimes more than one might fit, but they should choose the best fit. The goal is quick recall and understanding.

How to Play:

1. Teacher reads a scenario card aloud to the class.
2. Teams discuss the scenario quietly for 30 seconds and decide which of the six dimensions (Emotional, Physical, Social, Intellectual, Spiritual, Occupational) it best represents.
3. Teams reveal their answer simultaneously (e.g., hold up their whiteboards/cards).
4. Teacher checks answers.
   • If a team is correct, they earn 1 point.
   • If a team is incorrect, briefly explain the correct answer and why. No points are deducted.
5. Continue playing through all the cards. The team with the most points at the end wins!

Wellness Wheel Game Cards

Instructions for Teacher: Print these cards and cut them out before the game. Each card includes a scenario and the correct answer for your reference.

Card 1
Scenario: You feel really nervous about a big test coming up, so you talk to your teacher about what you can do to prepare, and you also do some deep breathing exercises to calm down.
Question: Which dimension of wellness is being highlighted?
Answer: Emotional Wellness

Card 2
Scenario: You decide to walk to school instead of taking the bus because it's a sunny day, and you choose to bring an apple and some carrots for a snack instead of chips.
Question: Which dimension of wellness is being highlighted?
Answer: Physical Wellness

Card 3
Scenario: Your friend is feeling down, so you invite them to sit with you and your group at lunch, and you listen carefully to what they have to say.
Question: Which dimension of wellness is being highlighted?
Answer: Social Wellness

Card 4
Scenario: You're fascinated by how birds build their nests, so you check out a book from the library and watch a documentary to learn more.
Question: Which dimension of wellness is being highlighted?
Answer: Intellectual Wellness

Card 5
Scenario: You spend some quiet time reflecting on what truly makes you happy and decide to volunteer for a local charity because it aligns with your personal values.
Question: Which dimension of wellness is being highlighted?
Answer: Spiritual Wellness

Card 6
Scenario: You notice a lot of litter around the school playground, so you gather a few friends to help pick it up and put it in the recycling bin.
Question: Which dimension of wellness is being highlighted?
Answer: Environmental Wellness

Card 7
Scenario: You feel overwhelmed because you have too many after-school activities, so you sit down with your parents to figure out how to balance your schedule better.
Question: Which dimension of wellness is being highlighted?
Answer: Emotional Wellness

Card 8
Scenario: You make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day and stretch before and after playing sports.
Question: Which dimension of wellness is being highlighted?
Answer: Physical Wellness

Card 9
Scenario: You collaborate with your classmates on a group project, making sure everyone's ideas are heard and respected.
Question: Which dimension of wellness is being highlighted?
Answer: Social Wellness

Card 10
Scenario: You enjoy solving challenging puzzles and riddles in your free time, and you're always asking "why?" or "how does that work?"
Question: Which dimension of wellness is being highlighted?
Answer: Intellectual Wellness

Card 11
Scenario: Before making a big decision, you take a moment to consider how it aligns with your personal beliefs and what kind of person you want to be.
Question: Which dimension of wellness is being highlighted?
Answer: Spiritual Wellness

Card 12
Scenario: You help your family sort recyclables and compost food scraps to reduce waste.
Question: Which dimension of wellness is being highlighted?
Answer: Environmental Wellness

Card 13
Scenario: After an argument with a friend, you take a deep breath, think about your feelings, and then calmly express what made you upset.
Question: Which dimension of wellness is being highlighted?
Answer: Emotional Wellness

Card 14
Scenario: You make sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep most nights and choose water over sugary drinks.
Question: Which dimension of wellness is being highlighted?
Answer: Physical Wellness

Card 15
Scenario: You volunteer your time to read to younger students at the elementary school once a week.
Question: Which dimension of wellness is being highlighted?
Answer: Social Wellness

Wellness Wheel Cool Down: One Takeaway

Instructions:

Think about everything we discussed and explored today regarding the six dimensions of wellness. On the lines below, write down:

• One key idea or concept that stuck with you.
• One thing you learned about yourself or about wellness.
• One small action you might consider taking to improve one of your wellness dimensions.