The Teaching of Wellness – SECONDARY Instructional Strategies and Activities #2

This post continues a series of secondary instructional strategies and activities that can be integrated into units of study and class cultures.

• Strength Content Database – The Let It Ripple database of 24 character strengths is loaded with articles, books, media, etc. from which you can find content to use in your lessons.

• Strength of the Day – At the start of the day students choose one character strength that they want to focus on to use throughout the day. Students choose a partner or two who check in on each other’s efforts during the day. If possible, provide some time at the end of the day for students to reflect with their partner(s) about their efforts and learning. An additional reflection activity could be to have students add a journal entry into the wellness section of their portfolio and/or standalone journal.

• Superhero Creation – Challenge your students to create a superhero who maximizes this strength. One approach is to have your students draw a picture of the character with a biography that describes how the superhero uses the strength in his/her life. You can provide categories such as physical, intellectual (thinking), emotional and social as to how the superhero demonstrates the strength. This activity could take the form of playing cards that students then create games around.

Image Sources: Strength Content Database | Strength of the Day | Superhero Creation