Health and Wellbeing

Year Level

Year 11 (Australian Curriculum v9)

Duration

60 minutes

Class Size

20 students

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Unit Overview

This unit, "Health and Wellbeing Exploration," comprises 30 lessons aimed at deepening students’ understanding of health, wellbeing, and their multidimensional aspects. This first lesson introduces foundational concepts, focusing on holistic health, encompassing physical, mental, and social dimensions.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Define and differentiate the key concepts of health and wellbeing, including physical, mental, and social dimensions.
2. Explain the importance of a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.
3. Reflect on factors that influence their own health and wellbeing.
4. Engage in respectful discussion about health as a dynamic and personal state.

Australian Curriculum Alignment:

• Content Description:
  • AC9HP10P01: Investigate and analyse the dimensions of health and wellbeing, and describe strategies to enhance personal and community health and wellbeing (Health and Physical Education, Year 10–12) .
• General Capabilities:
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
• Cross-Curriculum Priorities:
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
  • Health Literacy

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Lesson Plan Breakdown

1. Introduction & Engagement (10 minutes)

• Activity: Warm-up Brainstorm
  • On the whiteboard, write the terms: "Health" and "Wellbeing".
  • Ask students to brainstorm in pairs what these words mean to them personally.
  • Share a few responses with the class.
• Purpose: Activate prior knowledge and personalise learning.
• Teacher Notes: Highlight that health is more than absence of illness; wellbeing is a holistic concept.

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2. Interactive Mini-Lecture (10 minutes)

• Content: Define and explain the three key dimensions:
  • Physical Health: Body functioning, fitness, nutrition, sleep.
  • Mental Health: Emotional wellbeing, managing stress, resilience.
  • Social Health: Relationships, community connections, communication.
• Use real-life relatable examples and data on youth wellbeing in Australia, emphasising diversity and cultural contexts.
• Visual Aids: Display a Venn diagram showing overlap of the three dimensions and holistic health.

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3. Group Activity: Holistic Health Case Studies (15 minutes)

• Task: In groups of 4, students receive short person-case sketches (fictional scenarios) representing different health and wellbeing challenges (e.g., physical injury, anxiety, social isolation).
• Challenge: Identify which dimensions are affected and suggest holistic strategies for improvement.
• Groups present their analysis briefly (2 minutes each).
• Purpose: Apply concepts and encourage empathy and problem-solving.
• Teacher Notes: Include First Nations perspectives on health where relevant, e.g., connection to community and land.

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4. Whole Class Discussion: Why Holistic Health Matters (10 minutes)

• Facilitate discussion on:
  • How do these three dimensions interact?
  • Why is it important to consider all dimensions rather than just one?
  • How does this holistic understanding impact daily choices?
• Encourage reference to students’ own lives and communities.
• Teacher Tip: Prompt thinking on influences such as culture, media, and environment.

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5. Reflective Individual Activity: My Health Map (10 minutes)

• Students sketch a ‘Health Map’ visually representing their own physical, mental, and social wellbeing — noting strengths and areas for growth.
• Include influences like family, school, friends, environment.
• Encourage honesty and self-awareness, emphasising the non-judgemental nature of the activity.
• Collection: Optional, for teacher to gauge student understanding and wellbeing.

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6. Wrap-Up and Homework (5 minutes)

• Summarise key points learnt today.
• Homework Task: Write a one-page reflection:
  • What does holistic health mean to you now?
  • Identify one practical strategy you will try to improve your wellbeing in one dimension this week.

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Assessment

• Formative: Observation during group discussions and presentations.
• Individual: Health Map and reflective homework provide insight into student understanding and engagement with personal wellbeing.

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Resources Needed

• Whiteboard or smartboard
• Printed case study cards
• Paper and coloured pencils for Health Map
• Projector for visuals (Venn diagram, data)

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Teacher Reflection Tips

• Ensure a supportive classroom environment, acknowledging sensitivity around personal wellbeing.
• Be inclusive by incorporating diverse cultural understandings of health, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander holistic views.
• Use open-ended questions to deepen discussion.
• Provide additional support for students who may find reflecting on wellbeing challenging.

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This lesson plan aligns closely with the Australian Curriculum (v9) Health and Physical Education learning area for senior secondary students, fostering critical awareness and personal connection to the multidimensional nature of health and wellbeing.