Healthy Habits Start Here

Lesson Overview

Subject: Health
Year Group: Year 1
Lesson Duration: 30 minutes
Unit Title: Healthy Habits for Kids (Lesson 1 of 20)
Curriculum Area: Physical Health and Mental Wellbeing – KS1 (UK National Curriculum)
Learning Objective:
Students will understand what healthy habits are and why they are important for their bodies and minds.

---

Learning Outcomes

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

• Identify at least three healthy habits.
• Explain why these habits help their bodies and minds.
• Participate in a simple activity to demonstrate a healthy habit.

---

Resources

• A soft toy (for introductory activity)
• Large pictures of different healthy habits (brushing teeth, eating fruit, drinking water, sleeping, exercising)
• A simple "Healthy Habit Actions" song (can be sung to a familiar tune)
• Small whiteboards and markers (optional)
• Pre-cut smiley and sad face cards

---

Lesson Structure

1. Warm-Up (5 minutes) – "Meet Healthy Harry"

• The teacher introduces "Healthy Harry" (a soft toy).
• Explain that Healthy Harry loves to take care of his body and mind.
• Ask children: "What do you think Healthy Harry does every day to stay happy and strong?"
• Allow students to share ideas before revealing today's topic: Healthy Habits!

---

2. Main Teaching (10 minutes) – "What Are Healthy Habits?"

Discussion (5 minutes)

• Show large pictures of healthy habits one by one, asking:
  • "What do you see in this picture?"
  • "Why do you think this is good for you?"
• Explain in simple terms:
  • Eating fruit and vegetables gives energy!
  • Brushing teeth keeps them strong!
  • Sleeping helps our brains grow!
  • Moving our bodies makes us feel happy!
  • Drinking water keeps us fresh!

Interactive Actions (5 minutes)

• Teach the "Healthy Habit Actions" song using simple movements:
  • Eating – Pretend to eat an apple
  • Brushing – Pretend to brush teeth
  • Sleeping – Rest head on hands
  • Exercising – Jump up and down
  • Drinking water – Pretend to drink

(Tune suggestion: "If You’re Happy and You Know It")

---

3. Group Activity (10 minutes) – "Healthy or Not?"

• Each child receives a set of smiley face and sad face cards.
• The teacher describes an action (e.g., "Drinking lots of fizzy drinks" or "Playing outside").
• Students hold up a smiley face if it's a healthy habit or a sad face if it's not.
• Reinforce the correct answers with a short explanation.

---

4. Plenary (5 minutes) – "Healthy Habit Pledge"

• Ask students: "Which healthy habit will YOU try today?"

• Each child shares one habit they will practise.

• End by repeating the Healthy Habit Pledge together:

  “I will eat, drink, move and rest,
  To make me feel my very best!”

---

Assessment & Differentiation

Assessment (Informal & Ongoing)

✔ Observing participation in discussions and activities.
✔ Checking understanding through the Healthy or Not game.
✔ Listening to student pledges.

Differentiation

✨ For extra support: Use visual prompts and model responses.
🚀 For advanced learners: Ask why certain habits are good or bad.

---

Reflection for Next Lesson

• Were students excited and engaged?
• Did they grasp the importance of healthy habits?
• Consider revisiting concepts before introducing the next lesson on Healthy Eating Choices.

🌟 Teacher Tip: Have a "Healthy Habit Star of the Week" to encourage students to practise daily!