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Hot off the presses: the November Teachers.Net Gazette....

#2032. Benefits of Physical Activity

Health, level: all
Posted Mon Nov 27 09:02:58 PST 2000 by kathie smyers (mskf@grove.iup.edu).
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, USA
Materials Required: poster board, markers, magazines
Activity Time: 30 minutes
Concepts Taught: to teach the health benefits, the students can get from physical activity

Benefits of Physical Activity

Goal: to teach the health benefits, the students can get from physical activity.

Objectives: 1. After the lesson, the students will list three positive effects
that effects that exercise can have on mental health.

2. While working in groups of four, the students will design a
poster that promotes physical activity.

Student Activities:

During class time the students will work with a partner and discuss how they handle stress in their everyday lives. They will present their stress relievers to the class. After the lesson, the students will get into groups of four and start working on their posters promoting physical activity.

Instructional Strategies:

First, explain how being active can reduce stress and depression and also raise energy levels.
Then put the students into partners and have them discuss what they do to deal with stress. Give the students about 5 minutes to discuss with their partners. If the students are having problems, help them along by telling them the healthy ways to relieve stress as opposed to unhealthy ways. Some examples of healthy ways to deal with stress would be, talking to friends or exercise, or taking a couple of deep breathes. Some unhealthy ways would be yelling at a loved one, punching a wall, or driving fast in a car.
The next concept is self-image. Explain to the students how exercising can help them feel better about themselves. Also how exercising can reduce tension. Tell the students that exercise can give them a feeling of accomplishment. Ask the students to share their feelings on how exercise has changed their lives. Or made them feel better about them selves.

Then, using what they have learned in the lesson the students will list three positive effects that exercise has on mental health. This will be turned in as class participation points.
Once the students have accomplished that the students will get into groups of four and create a poster that promotes physical activity. The following day the students will present the poster with their groups. Have each student use any material they wish to use to finish their posters.

Materials: Poster board
Markers
Magazines