Overview

This 180-minute lesson aims to engage Year 12 students in Victoria with healthy lifestyle choices grounded in the Victorian Curriculum for Health and Physical Education. The lesson will incorporate investigation, critical thinking, collaboration, and practical application to deepen understanding of health behaviours that influence wellbeing personally and within communities. The lesson plan is designed for 20 students and paced to allow for reflection, discussion, and assessment.

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Curriculum Alignment

Victorian Curriculum Health and Physical Education - VCE equivalent outcomes related to Year 12

• ACPPS123: Evaluate how participation in physical activity influences an individual's sense of self, connection and wellbeing.
• ACPPS124: Analyse and evaluate factors that influence healthy and respectful relationships and wellbeing.
• ACPPS125: Critique health information, services and media messaging about relationships, lifestyle choices, health decisions and behaviours to evaluate their influence on individual attitudes and actions.
• ACPPS126: Analyse community strengths and resources and how they contribute to improved health and wellbeing.

(Note: For Year 12 Health and Physical Education outcomes, the above reflect higher-order thinking about health literacy, critical analysis of media and health services, and understanding community health dynamics)【11:AC9HP10P09.md】.

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Lesson Plan: Healthy Lifestyles Exploration

Duration: 180 minutes

Class size: 20 students

Year Level: 12 (VCE equivalent)

Subject area: Health and Physical Education

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Learning Objectives

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

1. Analyse and critique health information and media messages relating to healthy lifestyle choices.
2. Evaluate the influence of personal behaviours on their own and community health and wellbeing.
3. Investigate and identify strategies to promote healthy lifestyles in their school community.
4. Reflect on the impact of respectful relationships and health decisions on wellbeing.

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Materials Needed

• Projector or interactive whiteboard
• Computers/tablets for research
• Printed handouts of selected media advertisements and health information excerpts
• Chart paper and markers
• Survey template for lifestyle habits
• Case study materials

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Introduction and Hook (20 minutes)

• Begin with a short interactive poll: "What does a healthy lifestyle mean to you?" Collect student responses via an online tool or whiteboard.
• Show a brief video compilation (~5 mins) of common media health messages and advertisements influencing lifestyle choices (e.g. food ads, fitness trends, digital detox campaigns).
• Facilitate a quick discussion about initial perceptions. Ask “How do these messages shape the way we think about health?”

Victorian Curriculum link: Introduces critical analysis of health information and media messages【11:AC9HP10P09.md】.

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2. Activity 1: Media Message Critique (40 minutes)

• Divide students into 4 groups; each group receives a different health-related advertisement or promotional material.

• Task: Analyse the message for accuracy, target audience, emotional appeal, and impact on health behaviours.

• Guiding questions:

  • Is this message credible? Why or why not?
  • How might this influence a person’s lifestyle choices?
  • What biases or stereotypes are present?
  • Suggest improvements for delivering a more balanced message.

• Groups present their critiques to the class, followed by a brief Q&A.

Curriculum: Critiquing health information and media messaging to evaluate influence on attitudes and actions【11:AC9HP10P09.md】.

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3. Activity 2: Personal Lifestyle Survey & Reflection (35 minutes)

• Individually, students complete a confidential survey on their lifestyle habits (nutrition, sleep, physical activity, screen time, mental health practices).

• After surveys, students write a brief reflection on which habits support healthy living and which need improvement, linking to Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines and dietary practices.

• Discuss in pairs: “What barriers exist for maintaining healthy behaviours? What supports can help?”

Curriculum: Encourages self-assessment related to health behaviours and understanding of guidelines to promote wellbeing【10:AC9HP6P10.md】.

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4. Break (15 minutes)

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5. Activity 3: Community Healthy Lifestyle Project Design (50 minutes)

• Present the challenge: Design a mini-project to promote a healthy lifestyle initiative in the school community (e.g., awareness campaign, healthy eating week, physical activity events, stress reduction strategies).

• Groups brainstorm and outline:

  • Objectives of their initiative
  • Target audience
  • Key messages and methods of delivery (e.g. posters, social media, events)
  • How they will evaluate success

• Each group creates a simple action plan and a visual poster to present their project idea.

Curriculum: Applying strategies to promote health in local communities and analyse community strengths to improve wellbeing【11:AC9HP10P09.md】.

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6. Presentations and Peer Feedback (25 minutes)

• Groups present their projects (5 minutes each).
• Peers provide constructive feedback focusing on feasibility, inclusivity, and engagement potential.

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7. Wrap-Up and Assessment (15 minutes)

• Summarise key learnings from today’s lesson about critical evaluation of health information, personal responsibility, and community health promotion.
• Exit ticket: Students write down:
  • One personal change they will commit to for a healthier lifestyle.
  • One new insight about health messages or community health they learned.
• Collect exit tickets for teacher review.

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Assessment and Evaluation

• Formative assessment through group presentations and peer feedback
• Written personal reflection and exit ticket responses
• Teacher observation of group discussion and engagement
• Optional: Follow-up journal entry assessing progress on lifestyle change commitment

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Extension ideas

• Invite a local health professional or First Nations community health worker for a guest talk.
• Create a digital campaign based on one of the student projects for school Instagram or newsletter.
• Link to nutrition and cooking practical class to design healthy meals informed by Australian Dietary Guidelines.

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This lesson plan encourages high school seniors to deeply engage with and challenge the health messages they encounter daily, supported by Victorian Curriculum standards focused on critical thinking and community health promotion. The lesson employs collaborative, reflective, and creative strategies suitable for their maturity and educational level, aiming for lasting impact beyond the classroom.

Should you require, I can adapt this with more detailed links to the Victorian Curriculum codes or provide sample survey tools and media examples.