Healthy Living Basics

Overview

This 45-minute lesson introduces Year 7 students to the fundamental concepts of healthy living, focusing on nutrition, exercise, and mental well-being. Grounded in the National Curriculum for England's PSHE guidance, the class will explore making informed decisions to improve personal and community health.

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National Curriculum Links

Health and Wellbeing (Key Stage 3):

• Pupils learn how to maintain physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing.
• Explore the impact of diet, exercise and lifestyle on health and fitness.
• Develop strategies to manage feelings and mental health.
• Recognise how choices affect health and wellbeing and how to make informed decisions.

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Learning Objectives

Objective Type	Objective
Secure	Identify and classify healthy foods.
Developing	Explain the benefits of regular exercise.
Emerging	List practical ways to improve mental health.

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Vocabulary

• Nutrition
• Exercise
• Well-being

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Resources

• Food group flashcards or printed pictures
• Whiteboard and markers
• Mental well-being scenario cards (simple situations)
• Sticky notes for exit tickets
• Prepared worksheet with differentiated questions

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Lesson Structure

1. Starter Activity (5 minutes)

“Healthy or Not?” Quick Quiz

• Show images or flashcards of various foods (apple, chocolate bar, chips, broccoli).
• Students vote by standing on either side of the room: “Healthy” or “Not healthy”.
• Brief whole-class discussion: Why is this food healthy/not?

Curriculum Link: Recognising healthy lifestyle behaviours

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2. Introduction (Explanation / Teach) (10 minutes)

• Define Nutrition, explaining the role of different food types in bodily health.
• Introduce key food groups briefly (fruit, vegetables, protein, carbs, fats).
• Briefly explain Exercise: physical activities that keep the body fit. Present simple benefits (strength, heart health, mood).
• Explain Well-being, focusing on mental health: feelings, stress, happiness.
• Use a simple infographic or whiteboard diagram linking nutrition, exercise, and well-being.

Curriculum Link: Understanding physical and mental health components

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3. Main Activity (20 minutes)

Activity A: Nutrition Sort (Secure & Developing)

• Distribute food flashcards or printed images to pairs.
• Students classify foods into “healthy” or “less healthy” and link to benefits (developing students write or explain benefits of exercise along with the food group).
• Discuss as class how nutrition and exercise work together to improve health.

Activity B: Mental Well-being Brainstorm (Emerging)

• Present 3 scenario cards (stress at school, feeling sad, difficulty sleeping).
• Groups brainstorm and list ways to improve mental well-being in response (e.g., talking to someone, exercise, sleep hygiene).
• Each group shares one idea with the class.

Curriculum Link: Evaluating choices and strategies for health maintenance

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4. Plenary / Assessment (10 minutes)

Exit Ticket – Differentiated

• On sticky notes, students answer one of the following:

  • Secure: Name 2 healthy foods you would eat daily.
  • Developing: Explain one benefit of exercise in your own words.
  • Emerging: List one thing you can do to improve your mental well-being today.

• Collect and review to gauge understanding.

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Additional Notes for Teachers

• Inclusion: Use visual aids for EAL learners; provide vocabulary supports.
• Extension: Encourage developing students to explain the link between exercise and mental health.
• Cross-curricular links: Suggest follow-up science lessons about nutrition or PE lessons that focus on fitness.
• Community relevance: Discuss briefly how healthy choices benefit the wider community (less illness, better mood, social cohesion).

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Reflection & Next Steps

• Prepare for Lesson 2: “Food and Community” by gathering local food samples or conducting a survey on favourite family meals.
• Consider use of a guest visitor (nutritionist or community health worker) in future lessons to deepen student engagement.

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By structuring this lesson precisely according to the National Curriculum and offering differentiated outcomes, teachers can confidently deliver tailored content that fosters foundational knowledge and sparks curiosity for healthier living.