Sleep and Health

Overview

This 30-minute lesson for Year 4 students (aged 8–9) is lesson 8 of the unit Healthy Habits for Life. It focuses on understanding the vital role sleep plays in maintaining overall health, reflecting the objectives of the National Curriculum for England, particularly within the PSHE and science frameworks.

National Curriculum Links

PSHE Education:
- Health and Wellbeing (Key Stage 2)
  - Recognise what constitutes a healthy lifestyle including the benefits of physical activity and sleep.
  - Understand how sleep supports wellbeing.
Science:
- Animals, including humans (Year 4)
  - Describe the importance of nutrition and hygiene for health, which aligns closely with understanding sleep as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Learning Objectives

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

Explain why sleep is important for physical and mental health.
Identify how much sleep is recommended for their age group.
Describe everyday habits that support good sleep hygiene.
Reflect on their own sleep routines and consider improvements.

Resources Needed

Interactive whiteboard or flipchart
Sleep cycle visual aids (simple diagrams)
"Sleep Detective" worksheet (age-appropriate self-reflection)
Healthy Habits posters (including sleep tips)
Soft timer or alarm for activity pacing
Small whiteboards and pens for students

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction and Engagement (5 minutes)

Starter Question: Ask pupils “How many hours of sleep do you think you need each night?” and record answers on the board.
Show a simple, illustrated diagram of the sleep cycle (including REM and deep sleep) tailored for children.
Briefly explain that sleep helps their bodies grow, their brains learn, and keeps them feeling happy and healthy.

2. Explore: Why is Sleep Important? (10 minutes)

Facilitate a group discussion using prompts:
- What happens if we don’t get enough sleep?
- How does sleep help us at school and at play?
Share interesting facts: For example, “Children aged 8-10 need around 9-11 hours of sleep every night to feel their best.”
Use a simple drama activity: Pupils volunteer to act out two scenarios — one person is well rested (happy and energetic), another is sleep deprived (tired and cranky). Reflect on differences.

3. Activity: Sleep Detective (10 minutes)

Pupils complete a "Sleep Detective" worksheet answering questions like:
- What time do you usually go to bed?
- Do you use screens before sleep?
- What could you change to improve your sleep?
In pairs, pupils share what they learned about their habits and suggest one new healthy sleep habit.
Create a class "Sleep Tips" poster based on their ideas.
- E.g. “No screens 30 minutes before bed,” “Keep bedtime regular,” “Make your bedroom comfy and dark.”

4. Plenary and Assessment (5 minutes)

Quick quiz on whiteboards: True or False
- “Sleep helps your brain remember things.”
- “It’s fine to get only 5 hours of sleep as a child.”
Recap key messages from the lesson and praise pupils for their efforts.
Set a simple "Sleep Challenge" for the week: Try to follow one sleep tip and notice how you feel.

Differentiation and Inclusion

Provide vocabulary support for learners needing additional help (e.g., flashcards with key words like “rest”, “routine”, “energy”).
Encourage use of drawings for pupils who find writing difficult in the "Sleep Detective" activity.
Support discussions to ensure all pupils can participate comfortably.

Teacher Reflection and Next Steps

Monitor pupils’ understanding through worksheet responses and discussion contributions.
Gather feedback on the sleep challenge next lesson and connect with lessons on nutrition and physical activity to reinforce the holistic healthy lifestyle message.
Plan to integrate a mindfulness or relaxation activity in a following session to support healthy bedtime routines.

This lesson exemplifies how PSHE and Science learning objectives intersect to encourage children to build sustainable, healthy habits grounded in evidence from the National Curriculum.

Teaching Instructions