Mental wellbeing

 

 

Helping you teach mental wellbeing topics to both primary and secondary students, with flexible, ready-to-use content co-created with teachers and young people.

 

While you support students, Every Mind Matters is here to support you by providing simple, practical advice for a healthier mind.

 

Every Mind Matters top tips Your Mind Plan

 

Browse by topic

What is wellbeing?

Explore actions we can take to look after our physical and mental wellbeing.

What is wellbeing? assembly

Pupils learn that our physical and mental wellbeing are an important aspect of our overall wellbeing.

Activities include:

  • PowerPoint for use in assembly
  • differentiated options to offer support or challenge

Get assembly for KS1 and KS2

Emotions

Help pupils to recognise how they are feeling and express it to those around them.

Emotions KS1 and KS2 lesson plans

Pupils learn about how emotions, thoughts, physical feelings and behaviours can affect each other, and ways of managing challenging emotions.

Lesson plan includes:

  • PowerPoint for use in class
  • core peer-to-peer activities and supporting worksheets
  • different options to offer support or challenge
  • films featuring young voices to support the activities

Get lesson plan for KS1

Get lesson plan for KS2

Kindness

Explore how kindness to oneself and to others is an important part of wellbeing.

Pupils learn about how kindness impacts on themselves, others and the world around them.

Lesson plan includes:

  • PowerPoint for use in class
  • core peer-to-peer activities and supporting worksheets
  • different options to offer support or challenge
  • films featuring young voices to support the activities

Get lesson plan for KS1

Get lesson plan for KS2

Self-care lesson plans

Help pupils to understand the importance of self-care and develop self-care techniques.

Self-care KS1 and KS2 lesson plans

Pupils learn to identify what self-care is, try out different self-care activities and create a wellbeing plan for someone.

Lesson plan includes:

  • PowerPoint for use in class
  • core peer-to-peer activities and supporting worksheets
  • differentiated options to offer support or challenge
  • films featuring young voices to support the activities

Get lesson plan for KS1

Get lesson plan for KS2

Vaping

Vaping – KS3 form time activities

Across 3 form time sessions, students learn about social pressures around vaping, its impact factors, and the effects of nicotine on the adolescent brain.

Activities include:

  • 3 bitesize PowerPoint sessions
  • 3 films to support the activities
  • teacher guidance document

Get activities for KS3

One-to-one relationships

Explore the qualities and signs of positive relationships.

Students learn about positive relationship behaviours, and explore how to identify the features of unhealthy, unsafe or abusive relationships.

Lesson plan includes:

  • PowerPoint for use in class
  • core peer-to-peer activities and plenaries
  • activities to help students extend their learning 
  • a film to support the activities

Get lesson plan for KS3 and KS4

Positive friendships

Help students identify the key features of positive friendships, and practise skills to be a good friend.

Students learn about the different ways of being a good friend, and identify places someone struggling with friendship could get support.

Lesson plan includes:

  • PowerPoint for use in class
  • core peer-to-peer activities and plenaries
  • activities to help students extend their learning 
  • a film to support the activities

Get lesson plan for KS3 and KS4

Bullying and cyberbullying

Explore the meaning and impact of bullying and cyberbullying.

Bullying and cyberbullying lesson plan pack

Students learn about the meaning and impact of bullying and cyberbullying, and explore appropriate ways of responding to hurtful or intimidating behaviour.
 
Lesson plans include:

  • PowerPoint for use in class
  • core peer-to-peer activities and plenaries
  • activities to help students extend their learning 
  • a film to support the activities (KS3&4 only)

Get lesson plan for Year 6

Get lesson plan for KS3 and KS4

Self-care

Self-care form time activities

Students discover and try out self-care actions to support their physical and mental wellbeing in these short form time sessions which follow the framework of the 5 Ways to Wellbeing.

Lesson activities include:

  • PowerPoint for use in class
  • print-out journal for students
  • activities to help students extend their learning beyond the classroom
  • differentiated options to offer support or challenge
  • films to support the activities

Get activity for Year 6

Get activity for KS3 and KS4

Physical and mental wellbeing

Explore the link between physical and mental wellbeing.

Students discover self-care actions to support their physical and mental wellbeing – whether by getting active, eating well or getting good quality sleep.

Lesson plan includes:

  • PowerPoint for use in class
  • print-out activities for students
  • core peer-to-peer activities
  • differentiated options to offer support or challenge
  • films to support the activities

Get lesson plan for Year 6

Get lesson plan for KS3 and KS4

Unhelpful thoughts

Students learn examples of unhelpful thoughts and tools to tackle them.

This short activity can be used in form time or equivalent to explore unhelpful thoughts and support students to practise "reframing" them.

Lesson activities include:

  • PowerPoint for use in class
  • differentiated options to offer support or challenge
  • activities to help students extend their learning beyond the classroom
  • discussion questions and a plenary
  • animated film to support the activities

Get activity for KS3 and KS4

Building connections

Students explore the meaning of loneliness and connection.

Building connections lesson plan pack

Help students to understand that everybody feels lonely at times, but there are actions they can take to help build connections.

Using peer-to-peer discussion, videos and activities, students will explore the meaning of loneliness and connection.

Lesson plan includes:

  • PowerPoint for use in class
  • starter activities – carry out a baseline assessment of students' prior knowledge, skills and understanding
  • options to extend and support learners
  • a film to support the activities

Get lesson plan for Year 6

Get lesson plan for KS3 and KS4

Worry

Help students to identify worry and actions they can take if they feel worried.

What to do about worry Year 6 lesson plan pack

Using peer-to-peer discussion, videos and activities, students will identify what worry might feel or look like and describe different actions that a person can take if they are worried.

Lesson plan includes:

  • accompanying PowerPoint for use in class
  • print-out activities for pupils
  • core peer-to-peer activities
  • plenaries and exciting extension ideas
  • a film to support the activities

Get lesson plan for Year 6

Get activity for KS3 and KS4

Social media

Support students to explore the topic of social media and learn actions a person can take to look after their wellbeing online and offline.

Social media Year lesson plans

Using peer-to-peer discussion, videos and activities, students explore social media, evaluate how social media might impact wellbeing and understand the importance of balancing online and offline activity. 

Lesson plan includes:

  • PowerPoint for use in class
  • starter activities – carry out a baseline assessment of students' prior knowledge, skills and understanding
  • core peer-to-peer activities, differentiated discussion questions and exciting extension ideas
  • a film to support the activities

 

Get lesson plan for Year 6

Get lesson plan for KS3 and KS4

Sleep

Encourage students to explore the benefits of sleep on the brain and the body as well as learn strategies for better quality sleep.

Sleep lesson plans

Using peer-to-peer discussion, videos and activities, students discover the importance of sleep and learn about simple actions that can improve a person’s quality of sleep.

Lesson plan includes:

  • PowerPoint for use in class
  • activities to help students extend their learning beyond the classroom
  • starter activities – carry out a baseline assessment of students' prior knowledge, skills and understanding
  • core peer-to-peer activities, plenaries and exciting extension ideas

Get lesson plan for Year 6

Get lesson plan for KS3 and KS4

Dealing with change

In this lesson, students explore the nature of change.

Using peer-to-peer discussion and activities, students will explore the nature of change, identify challenges that can arise in managing changing situations and learn where to get support.

Lesson plan includes:

  • PowerPoint for use in class
  • starter activities – carry out a baseline assessment of students' prior knowledge, skills and understanding
  • core peer-to-peer activities, plenaries and exciting extension ideas
  • 2 films to support the activities

Get lesson plan for KS3 and KS4

Transition to secondary school

Help students consider the transition to secondary school and identify some of the challenges that can arise.

Transition to secondary school lesson plan pack

Using peer-to-peer discussion and activities, students will explore the transition to secondary school.

Lesson plan includes:

  • PowerPoint for use in class
  • starter activities – carry out a baseline assessment of students' prior knowledge, skills and understanding
  • core peer-to-peer activities, plenaries and exciting extension ideas
  • a film to support the activities

Get lesson plan for Year 6

Puberty

In this lesson, students learn about the physical and emotional aspects of puberty.

Puberty lesson plan pack

Using peer-to-peer discussion and activities, students will be encouraged to examine the impact of puberty and find ways in which they can seek support if they are finding puberty challenging.

Lesson plan includes:

  • accompanying PowerPoint for use in class
  • starter activities – carry out a baseline assessment of students' prior knowledge, skills and understanding
  • core peer-to-peer activities, plenaries and exciting extension ideas
  • 4 films to support the activities, including YouTuber KickThePj talking about growing up

Get lesson plan for KS3

Online stress and FOMO

In this lesson, students explore the impact of using social media and the stresses it can cause, including FOMO ('fear of missing out').

FOMO lesson plan pack

Using peer-to-peer activities based on 2 films, students will discuss how they might manage any online stress and understand the importance of asking for help when needed.

Lesson plan includes:

  • accompanying PowerPoint for use in class
  • starter activities – carry out a baseline assessment of students' prior knowledge, skills and understanding
  • core peer-to-peer activities, plenaries and exciting extension ideas
  • 2 films to support the activities – "Online stress and FOMO" and "Online vs real world"

Get lesson plan for KS3 and KS4

Alcohol

In this lesson, students explore the reasons why some young people choose to drink alcohol and the impact this can have on them.

Alcohol lesson plan pack

Using peer-to-peer discussion, scenarios and videos, students will be encouraged to identify and assess the risks associated with underage or irresponsible drinking, and how to deal with pressure from peers.

Lesson plan includes:

  • accompanying PowerPoint for use in class
  • starter activities – carry out a baseline assessment of students' prior knowledge, skills and understanding
  • core peer-to-peer activities, plenaries and extended learning projects
  • 2 films to support the activities – "Up to you game" and "Advice on pressure and role models"

Get lesson plan for KS3 and KS4

Exam stress

In this lesson, students identify the signs and symptoms of exam stress and develop strategies to help them manage it.

Exam stress lesson plan pack

Using the concept of designing an "exam buddy" app, students develop helpful strategies for managing their own exam stress and learn how to be supportive of friends who may also be experiencing stress.

Lesson plan includes:

  • accompanying PowerPoint for use in class
  • starter activities – carry out a baseline assessment of students' prior knowledge, skills and understanding
  • peer-to-peer activity, plenaries and exciting extension ideas
  • 3 films to support the activities, including "Dealing with exam stress"

Get lesson plan for KS3 and KS4

Body image in a digital world

Encourage students to explore what body image is, how social media can impact it and ways to reduce stress or anxiety caused by online pressures.

Body image lesson plan pack

Using peer-to-peer discussion and activities, students discuss the impact of social media on body image and identify techniques for minimising stress that may arise from negative body image.

Lesson plan includes:

  • accompanying PowerPoint for use in class
  • starter activities – carry out a baseline assessment of students' prior knowledge, skills and understanding
  • core peer-to-peer activities, plenaries and exciting extension ideas
  • 2 films to support the activities – one featuring opinions from students and another featuring photographer and Instagrammer Tobi Shinobi

Get lesson plan for KS3 and KS4

Delivering engaging lesson plans on mental wellbeing

Our mental wellbeing resources can help teachers deliver lessons that engage young people on a variety of key health issues including smoking, body image in a digital world and exam stress. We will be adding further lesson plans over the academic year.

Engaging film content

Our films on mental wellbeing feature positive role models (influencers and vloggers) and act as conversation starters to facilitate student-led discussion on multiple issues to build resilience.

The films support teachers in their teaching, learning outcomes and delivery of key health messages. All film content is co-created with and tested by young people.

Flexible lesson plans

Our flexible lesson plans cover a wide range of resources, including video, that you can tailor to your pupils' needs. Carry out a baseline assessment of students' skills and knowledge using our specific starter activities, which will also help you track and evaluate their progress.You can also adapt the PowerPoints we offer to make lesson planning even easier.

Exploring sensitive topics

Core activities are designed to be used on a peer-to-peer basis to help students explore sensitive topics like fear of missing out and risk-taking. Pupils can also access more content, including advice, tips and videos on mental health and wellbeing, on the Every Mind Matters website. This content is aimed at parents and young people, and offers the option of exploring sensitive subjects on their own, or with parents or carers.

Visit Every Mind Matters