Activity 4

Innovating for Health

In today's fast-paced world, it's crucial for students to grasp how physical activity contributes to their overall physical health and well-being. This lesson plan aligns with the Australian Curriculum (v9.0) for Health and Physical Education, specifically focusing on movement, physical activity and making healthy and safe choices. Throughout this lesson, students will explore the historical and contemporary perspectives on active lifestyles, investigate how messages about physical activity have evolved, and develop innovative strategies to promote the benefits of exercise.

This session focuses on the evolution of physical activity messages and their practical applications, ensuring that the content is both engaging and informative. Students will explore how societal attitudes toward active lifestyles have transformed, learn about various ways to stay active, understand the benefits of regular exercise, and recognise the importance of maintaining physical health. The lesson also integrates broader cultural and community perspectives, including insights from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities on health and wellness.

Through engaging discussions, collaborative research, and creative projects, students will reflect on how societal views on physical activity have changed and will envision future trends in promoting active living. They will utilise digital tools to create campaigns that inspire others to embrace the benefits of exercise and physical health.

Upper Primary Health & Physical Education Lesson Plan: Learning Objectives

Level 1

Understand how messages around physical activity have evolved over time.

Level 2

Reflect on how messages about physical activity have changed over time and use this understanding to propose strategies to increase physical activity levels in your community.

Australian Curriculum Health and Physical Education Links

Movement and physical activity

• Making healthy and safe choices
• Interpret the nature and intention of health information and messages and reflect on how they influence personal decisions and behaviours (AC9HP4P07)
• Investigate different sources and types of health information and how these apply to their own and others’ health choices (AC9HP6P09)
• Making active choices
• Explore recommendations about physical activity and sedentary behaviours, and discuss strategies to achieve the recommendations (AC9HP4M06)
• Propose and explain strategies to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour levels in their lives

Teacher Material Needed

• Laptops
• Video production platform such as Flipgrid
• Recording hardware such as iPads, digital cameras

Understanding the Evolution of an Active Lifestyle

1. As a class, discuss how social ideas around leading an active lifestyle have changed over time, both within your local area and nationally across Australia.
   • Some websites that may be useful are this article on the history of health clubs in a global sense, and this article on physical fitness in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. It is recommended that schools engage with their local land council for specific Community history relating to the Country on which the school resides.
2. Together, research how active lifestyle options have evolved and broadened and how messages about people’s physical health and recommendations for physical activity have been interpreted by and communicated to the population.

Learning Activity 1: Creating a Future-Focused Active Lifestyle Campaign

1. In small groups, support students to discuss the following questions:

   a. How will people be encouraged to lead an active lifestyle 100 years from now?

   b. What physical activities or sports might be offered?

   c. How will messages and recommendations be communicated to promote physical activity?

   d. What new research will be used to back this up?

2. Create a new active lifestyle campaign using a video production platform such as Flipgrid, encouraging people 100 years from now to Stay Active! This task allows students to apply their understanding of future trends in physical activity and physical health.
3. Post the campaigns on your class blog or school website. This not only showcases students' creativity but also extends the reach of the active lifestyle message to a broader audience, fostering greater community engagement with the benefits of physical activity.

Lesson Wrap Up: Advocating for an Active Lifestyle

1. As a class, discuss the importance of an active lifestyle and review the campaigns to ensure all the key messages have been included. Evaluate the campaigns to ensure that all key messages about the benefits of physical activity are effectively communicated and understood. This helps students' learning and highlights the impact of their work.
2. Write a persuasive letter to your local council or Land Council, detailing your findings and your campaign projects. From this, suggest some possible community initiatives aimed at promoting an active lifestyle and increasing physical activity in your local area. This exercise encourages students to apply their learning to real-world contexts and advocate for people to stay active and healthy in their communities.