Lesson Title: Healthy Habits and Fun Activities for Kids to Practice Good Habits

Once you get into a good, healthy habit routine - like 10k steps a day, regular physical activity, a healthy eating plan, and 8 hours of sleep - aren’t you just kicking yourself for not starting earlier? Think of all the mental clarity, energy, and balance you could have had all this time!! I doubt this is a unique experience.

You can help students avoid the same by starting them early on developing healthy habits. And we're not just talking about avoiding processed sugar (at least some is almost necessary for emotional health, we think!) or being able to run a 10-minute mile. We're also talking about breathing exercises, mindfulness, and finding physical activities they genuinely look forward to.

In this engaging and interactive lesson, students will explore the building blocks of a healthy lifestyle-from nurturing mental well-being to enjoying fun activities promoting physical fitness. Through lively discussions, hands-on activities for students, and an interactive scavenger hunt, your K-12 learners will learn the "why" behind healthy habits and practice the "how."

This is your chance to encourage students and help children to make healthy choices by giving them practical tools and motivation to build good habits that last a lifetime

Grade: 7 - 12

Subject: Health

Learning objectives of developing healthy habits:

• By the end of this lesson, students will:
  • Understand the importance of developing and maintaining healthy habits that support overall health.
  • Identify mindfulness, stress management, and anxiety control strategies to support mental health.
  • Explore physical health habits, including active and healthy eating, good hygiene, regular exercise, and sleep hygiene.
  • Participate in a Goosechase Scavenger Hunt to apply their knowledge of healthy habits through group and school activities.

Materials required for activities for kids:

• Mobile devices with the Goosechase app downloaded (one per team).
• Projector or smartboard
• Computers/tablets for research (if possible)
• Printed handouts or digital links

Preparation for a healthy lifestyle lesson plan:

• Create an Experience on the Goosechase app with a series of health-focused Missions to help students develop healthy routines.
• Develop Missions that require students to demonstrate their understanding of healthy activities and how they plan to implement these habits in daily activities.
• Example Missions:
  • Photo Mission: Take a picture of something you would use for mindfulness (e.g., a journal, yoga mat).
  • Text Mission: Share one healthy breakfast or snack idea you want to try.
  • Video Mission: Record yourself doing a quick 30-second workout (e.g., jumping jacks, push-ups).
  • Quiz Mission: What is the recommended amount of sleep for teens? (Answer: 8-10 hours)
  • Photo Mission: Capture an example of a healthy snack or good eating habit (real or drawn).
  • Creative Mission: Write a quick mantra or positive affirmation to boost mental health.
  • Find Example Missions in the Goosechase Templates below

• Adapt the difficulty of the Missions based on your students' proficiency levels to keep the activity inclusive and engaging for everyone.
• Prepare hints or resources that might help students solve the Missions if needed.
• Divide students into teams and assign each team a mobile device with the app, or have students complete the scavenger hunt individually.
• Run your Experience during one class period or for the entire week.
• App Set-Up
  • Dedicate time to ensuring all students have the Goosechase app downloaded and joined to the Experience to avoid tech issues.

Lesson Plan Outline for Healthy Habits for Students:

Introduction to healthy habits for kids

• Begin with a class discussion:
  • Ask students: "What does being healthy mean to you?"
  • Write their answers on the board, categorizing them as mental or physical health.
  • Explain the lesson objectives and how both psychological and physical health are interconnected.

Teach the importance of mental well-being and mindfulness to support it

• Mindfulness practices (e.g., deep breathing, journaling)
• Managing stress with time management and seeking support
• Building connections with family, friends, and trusted adults

Teach the importance of regular physical activity

• Emphasize healthy eating, balanced nutrition, and good eating habits.
• Teach the importance of regular physical activity—at least 30 minutes daily.
• Highlight sleep hygiene and how getting enough sleep improves focus and overall health.
• Encourage students to limit screen time and get kids involved in group activities that promote movement and teamwork

Goosechase Scavenger Hunt for Good Habits

• Read through Missions with students, emphasizing the importance of evidence and analysis in their responses.
• Monitor progress and assist as necessary.
• If working in teams, encourage them to strategize and collaborate to solve the Missions.
• Please sit back and enjoy watching your students collaborate and demonstrate their learning.

Debrief and Reflection

• Review the activity and discuss which Missions were most fun.
• Highlight how small, consistent changes lead to long-term healthy lifestyles.
• Ask students to choose one positive habit to practice that week.
• Discuss teamwork and collaboration outcomes.

Optional post-experience fun activities to help students

• Create a PSA: Individually or in groups, students will design a public service announcement (poster, video, or digital slideshow) promoting the importance of a specific healthy habit. These can be presented in class or shared online. Documentation can be done through a physical journal or via photo/video missions in a secondary Goosechase Experience. Have students make a public service announcement on a healthy habit, such as healthy eating or good hygiene.
• Recipe Creation: Students will create and share a healthy meal or snack recipe. Please encourage them to include photos or videos of the preparation process.
• Peer Interviews: Students will interview a family member or friend about their own healthy habits and write a report summarizing the insights they gained and how they might apply them.

Assessment

• Informal assessment through participation in the discussion and activity brainstorming.
• Monitor engagement and creativity during the Goosechase Scavenger Hunt.
• Formal assessment of students journals, PSA, Recipe, and Interviews.

Healthy eating habits and good choices for students.

Teaching students to build healthy habits early helps them make good daily choices. Encourage learners to set small goals like drinking more water, eating healthy snacks, or stretching during breaks. These simple actions promote a healthy lifestyle and help students stay active at school and home.

Limit screen time to stay active.

• Limiting screen time encourages kids and students to move more and stay active.
• Spending less time on devices allows for more outdoor play and physical activities.
• It helps improve their fitness, focus, and overall well-being.

Physical activities and active habits to help children.

Incorporate regular physical activity into school activities to help students stay energized. Physical activities improve focus and overall well-being, whether it’s a quick walk, a classroom fitness break, or group activities like relay races. Encouraging movement throughout the day helps students develop healthy habits that last a lifetime.

Ready Made Experience Templates to Try

Healthy Living Challenge

Promote healthy living with nutrition, exercise, and wellness activities. This template is ideal for 4-H members and families to learn and adopt balanced lifestyle habits.

Get your own copy!

Kitchen Skills

This template is designed to engage high school students in practical, enjoyable learning experiences related to kitchen skills, nutrition, and budgeting.

Get your own copy!

Health and Wellness

A great Health or Physical Education class Experience for K-12 students to complete. Students complete these Missions to learn about their bodies and nutrition!

Get your own copy!

Want a copy of this lesson plan to use with your class?

What is Goosechase for Educators?

Goosechase is an online platform that helps educators create and run interactive learning experiences in their classrooms and beyond. Sign up and try creating an Experience, or contact us to learn more about our school and district-wide solutions!