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Health & Physical Education Curriculum – Mental Health Literacy Lesson Plans - School Mental Health Ontario

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The HPE lesson plans are designed to support the development of basic mental health literacy and social-emotional learning skills for grades 1-8. Each lesson includes: Mental health is an essential component of overall health. Learning about mental health from a young age and developing skills to support positive mental health throughout their lives will help students to be […]

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Personal, Mental, and Emotional Health | PBS LearningMedia

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Find lessons on Personal, Mental, and Emotional Health for all grades. Free interactive resources and activities for the classroom and home.

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Elementary School Resources | Alberta Health Services

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The Grade 3 Lessons include six 45-minute lessons that support the Alberta Education Program of Studies, 2002.

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How to feel feelings.

Feelings are something we all experience. Sadness, happiness, fear, hope, anger, peace. These are just a few examples of the thousands of different feelings we might experience over our lifetime.

As humans, we spend most of our time thinking about or talking about our feelings, instead of feeling them. Our feelings are on our minds a lot, but having feelings and actually feeling them are two different things.

So what are feelings and why is feeling your feelings important?

Feelings are actually messages that your body and mind are sending you about how you are emotionally experiencing something. That means that feelings are actually never right or wrong or good or bad. They are just a reflection of the sensations that are happening in the moment.

Sometimes we may have lots of different sensations or feelings at the same time. We may often ignore or try to get rid of feelings we don't like. We may also cling too hard or chase the feelings that make us feel good. Both of these approaches can affect our ability to see things clearly. And what you do with feelings can have an impact on other areas of your life.

Trying to pretend that feelings aren't there, or to distract yourself, doesn't make them go away. They're already here. Instead of trying to get rid of your feelings, it may be helpful to identify and care for your feelings. Just like a text, you have options for what you'd like to do with it when you get the notification. You can read it. Not read it. Respond. Not respond. You can also wait until you have better reception. What's important is to recognize that a text came in and make a decision.

Like a text, we don't need to react to every feeling right away. Maybe you're doing something really important. Or maybe you don't have the energy to deal with it in this moment, but do consider coming back to it later.

It can be easier to let them go once the feelings have said what they needed to.

Feelings are things that can tell you that something matters to you. What we value can make us feel vulnerable. If we become numb to our feelings, it can dull all of our experiences. The uncomfortable ones and the incredible ones. When we allow ourselves to feel blue in sad moments, we also allow ourselves to feel true joy in happy moments.

Ignoring or pushing away our feelings can lead to coping strategies that may be harmful to ourselves or others, like taking feelings out on others, avoiding those around you, disordered eating and substance use. Constantly trying to break away from feelings can be exhausting. It may be helpful to experience temporary discomfort from our feelings than to develop long-term unhelpful habits.

Remember, feeling your feelings takes practice, but with time effort and a little patience, caring for our feelings and working with them will become easier.

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30+ videos & mental health activities for kids

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Kids Help Phone shares videos, games, tools and other mental health activities for kids ages 5-12 and beyond across Canada to explore.

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These cards offer practical advice to take action on school wellness. Use them to spark your imagination, and adapt them to suit your school community. Align your actions with the comprehensive school health framework to improve student health and education outcomes.

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get ideas that work - take action - healthier together schools

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These cards offer practical advice to take action on school wellness. Use them to spark your imagination, and adapt them to suit your school community.

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Start every Monday with a mindfulness activity. This can range from guided meditation, deep breathing exercises, or a short walk in silence around the school. It's a great way to set a positive tone for the week.

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Create an emotion wheel with students where they can express how they're feeling each day. This promotes emotional literacy and allows teachers to gauge the classroom mood.

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Introduce a gratitude journal where students can write down three things they're grateful for each day. This can help foster a positive mindset and improve mental wellness.

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Set up a quiet, comfortable space in the classroom where students can go to relax or regroup when they feel overwhelmed. Include cozy seating, soothing music, and stress-relief toys.

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Incorporate short stretching sessions into the day to help students manage stress and focus better. Video guides can be helpful for this.

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Start the day with positive affirmations. This can be done as a group or individually, where students repeat positive statements about themselves to build confidence and self-esteem.

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Incorporate art therapy sessions where students can express their feelings through art. This can be a great way for them to deal with stress and understand their emotions.

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Use storytimes to discuss themes related to emotions, resilience, and coping strategies. Choose books that are appropriate for different grade levels and spark discussion.