Summary:

This is a four section lesson. The first section is a self-reflection where students think about how well they sleep, how much they exercise, and how well they feel they take care of themselves. The second section is on sleep– how much teens should be getting, how much they are getting, challenges with teens sleeping, and ideas for sleeping better. The third is on exercise– recommendations on amounts, challenges, and solutions. The final section is an extension activity where students think about what else self-care means to them and then create individual self-care plans.

Teaching notes: The sleep section tends to be the key element of this lesson as many teens report having difficulty sleeping. The challenge is keeping the conversation focused on things they can do to sleep better– besides melatonin which comes up often. The lesson does not delve into drugs/alcohol and other life style choices, but they can come up in the course of the lesson. 

Approximate length: 60-80 minutes

About the curriculum: School success relies on key skills that students are rarely taught. The goal of this curriculum is to level the playing field and to directly teach the executive functioning, self-regulation, and life skills that all students need to succeed in school. Through 20 lessons across four units, this year long curriculum will help students build a foundation for success in school and life– and leave them with an individualized success workbook at the end of the program.