WELLBEING & BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS - LESSON 1:

LINKING WELLBEING TO ACHIEVEMENT

STUDENTS CAN LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER. SOMETIMES IT IS EASIER TO LEARN FROM A PEER THAN IT IS FROM THE TEACHER! THIS ACTIVITY IS ABOUT SHARING WELLBEING STRATEGIES WITH ONE ANOTHER AND LEARNING HOW OTHER LOOK AFTER THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.EQUIPMENT: SMALL…

STUDENTS CAN LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER. SOMETIMES IT IS EASIER TO LEARN FROM A PEER THAN IT IS FROM THE TEACHER! THIS ACTIVITY IS ABOUT SHARING WELLBEING STRATEGIES WITH ONE ANOTHER AND LEARNING HOW OTHER LOOK AFTER THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

EQUIPMENT: SMALL BUTCHERS PAPER X 1 SHEET FOR EACH STUDENT, STICKY TAPE, MARKERS X 1 FOR EACH STUDENT (NOT PERMANENT), A CLEAR OPEN SPACE WHERE STUDENTS CAN WALK AROUND.

INSTRUCTIONS:

● EXPLAIN TO STUDENTS THAT ONCE THEY HAVE FINISHED THEIR CONVERSATION THEY NEED TO TAKE IT IN TURNS TO WRITE ONE COPING STRATEGY OR ONE THING ONE ACTIVITY THEIR PARTNER DOES TO STAY HAPPY ON THEIR CAPE.

ONCE THIS IS DONE STUDENTS CAN WALK AROUND AND FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO TALK TO AND REPEAT THE PROCESS. STUDENTS SHOULD TRY TO WRITE SOMETHING NEW ON THE BACK OF THEIR PARTNER’S CAPE. FOR EXAMPLE IF THE PERSON THEY ARE TALKING TO ALREADY HAS “LISTEN TO MUSIC” WRITTEN ON THE BACK OF THEIR CAPE THEY WILL NEED TO ASK THEIR PARTNER WHAT ELSE THEY DO.

● ONCE EVERYONE HAS TWO OR THREE THINGS WRITTEN ON THEIR CAPES THEY CAN TAKE THEM OFF AND VOLUNTEER TO SHARE THEM WITH THE CLASS.

PART 1- (5 MINUTES)

Rationale

  • wellbeing is linked to success in every domain in our lives, including marriage, friendship, careers, businesses, creativity and health (Lyubomirsky, King, & Diener, 2005)

  • Students with high wellbeing tend to gain higher grades and have lower rates of absence (Suldo, Thalji, & Ferron, 2011)

Learning objectives

By the end of this lesson, learners should:

  • compare and contrast happiness and wellbeing

  • link their own wellbeing to performance

PART 2- watch clip, reflect, discuss, venn diagram- (15 MINUTES)

The Happiness Advantage is based upon Shawn's research in 40 countries on how happiness raises business and educational outcomes.

DISCUSS: What is happiness? What is success?

Students are to complete the following in their workbooks.

- Complete the VENN diagram in your workbook for happiness and success.

- Happiness and  success are related- which comes first?

DISCUSS: Teacher facilitates sharing of student workbook responses, and then poses the question- How might happiness and success impact each other?

PART 3- SCATTEGORIES CHALLENGE - (10 MINUTES)

Instructions: divide students into pairs or small teams. Display the scattegories list below for students. Teacher chooses any letter A-Z. Students must then fill every category with an appropriate word that starts with the chosen letter. 4 minutes maximum work time. Once complete, invite teams to mark the work of another team and declare a winner (first group completely finished, or group with most answers at the end).

Teachers note: the prupose of the activity is to encourage engagement, group work, thinking creatively and having fun. Use  your own discretion as to whether you would like to leave this until the end of the lesson or keep it placed here to allow for a change of pace.

 

1. A boy's name
2. A City
3. Things that are cold
4. School Supplies
5. Pro Sports Teams
6. Insects
7. Breakfast foods
8. Furniture
9. TV Shows
10. Things that are found in the ocean
11. Words with a double letter
12. Product Names

PART 4- read, respond, discuss- (15 MINUTES)

Students are to read this article "Wellbeing and Performance".

Then, reflecting on Part 2’s you tube clip and the above article, respond to and discuss the following:

What is wellbeing?

How could wellbeing lead to higher performance? (Provide examples to justify your answer)