Wellbeing and Open-Mindedness

Lesson Overview

This 40-minute lesson is designed for Year 9 students (ages 13-14) to develop their understanding of wellbeing and open-mindedness in the context of digital challenges. The focus will be on recognising the impact of digital media on mental health, practising mindful digital habits, and developing open-minded attitudes towards different online perspectives.

Class size: 23 students
Curriculum Links:

PSHE Association Programme of Study (Key Stage 3):
- Health and Wellbeing: Mental health and emotional wellbeing.
- Relationships: Respecting differences, tolerance, and open-mindedness.
- Living in the Wider World: Digital resilience and managing online risks.
British Values: Mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs.

Learning Objectives

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

Define wellbeing in the digital age and explain how digital challenges can impact mental health.
Demonstrate an understanding of open-mindedness when interacting with diverse views online.
Reflect on their own digital habits and suggest strategies to improve digital wellbeing.
Collaborate respectfully and empathetically during discussions about digital challenges.

Resources Needed

Whiteboard/interactive board
Post-it notes (two colours per student)
Printed scenario cards outlining different digital challenges
Timer or stopwatch
“Digital Wellbeing Pledge” handouts (one per student)
A classroom space arranged to facilitate group discussions

Lesson Breakdown

1. Introduction and Starter (5 minutes)

Activity: Write the words Wellbeing, Open-Mindedness, and Digital Challenges on the board.
Quick class brainstorm: What do you think each term means? Invite 3-4 students to share brief ideas. This primes thinking and engages the whole class.
Establish a safe and respectful classroom environment—remind students that different opinions should be respected.

2. Interactive Mini-Input: Wellbeing + Digital Challenges (7 minutes)

Explain how time online can affect mental health—both positively (connection, information) and negatively (stress, cyberbullying, misinformation).
Share 2 real-life age-appropriate examples/scenarios of common digital challenges (e.g., cyberbullying, misinformation or digital overload). Keep it brief but relatable.
Emphasise why recognising your feelings and digital habits is essential to wellbeing.

3. Group Exploration: Scenarios and Open-Mindedness (12 minutes)

Set-up: Divide the class into 6 groups of 3-4 students.
Hand each group a different scenario card describing a digital challenge where open-mindedness is key (e.g., encountering opposing views, responding kindly to negative comments, managing peer pressure online).
Task: Discuss the scenario and answer these questions:
1. What is the digital challenge?
2. How could this affect someone’s wellbeing?
3. How can practising open-mindedness help manage it?
4. What are 2 strategies they could use to stay mentally healthy?
Groups appoint a spokesperson to share back.

4. Sharing and Reflection (10 minutes)

Each group spokesperson shares a summary of their discussion with the class (2 minutes each).
After each share, write key strategies and concepts on the board to build a collective “Digital Wellbeing and Open-Mindedness Toolkit.”
Encourage others to add small suggestions after each presentation using the coloured Post-It notes (e.g., blue = helpful strategies, yellow = questions or new ideas).

5. Personal Action and Close (6 minutes)

Distribute the “Digital Wellbeing Pledge” handouts.
Students spend a few minutes privately reflecting on their personal digital habits and write down 3 concrete actions they will take to protect their wellbeing and be more open-minded online.
Invite 3-4 volunteers to share their pledges aloud if comfortable.
Teacher closes by reinforcing the power of self-awareness and respect in digital spaces.

Assessment

Formative assessment via group discussions and spokesperson presentations—observe understanding and engagement.
Post-It note contributions gauge individual reflections and class participation.
Personal pledges demonstrate application of learning.

Differentiation

For students who may struggle with verbal expression, allow them to write notes or provide sentence starters for their group discussions.
Challenge more confident students to suggest additional peer-support or mental health resources linked to digital wellbeing.

Extension and Cross-Curricular Links

English: Analyse how language can be used respectfully or aggressively online.
Computing: Explore digital footprints and privacy settings as part of responsible online behaviour.
Citizenship: Discuss British Values of mutual respect and tolerance in relation to online diversity.

Reflection for Teachers

How did the group discussions enhance students’ understanding of empathy and respect online?
Were there any surprising insights in the pledges about students’ digital habits?
Could this lesson be supplemented with a digital detox challenge or a wellbeing journal for longitudinal work?

This lesson builds crucial digital resilience skills while fostering a respectful and open-minded classroom culture, vital for navigating the complexities of the digital world with a healthy mindset.

Teaching Instructions