Being Healthy — Year 2 Lesson Plan
National Curriculum: PSHE — Health and Wellbeing: what keeping healthy means; the importance of physical activity, diet, sleep and hygiene
Overview
Pupils explore what it means to be healthy in body and mind. They consider the importance of sleep, exercise, nutrition, and hygiene, and understand that making healthy choices supports their wellbeing.
Learning Objectives
- Identify the main components of a healthy lifestyle: sleep, exercise, nutrition, and hygiene.
- Understand that healthy food gives our bodies energy and helps us grow and concentrate.
- Recognise how physical activity and sufficient sleep help our bodies and minds feel well.
- Make simple healthy choices and understand why they matter.
Key Vocabulary
Suggested Lesson Structure
Ask pupils to mime their favourite physical activity for a partner to guess. Then ask: why is moving our bodies important? Collect ideas. Introduce the four pillars of health: sleep, exercise, nutrition, and hygiene — explain we are going to explore each one today.
Using visuals, discuss each pillar in turn. Sleep: children need about 10–11 hours; what happens when we don't sleep enough? Exercise: 60 minutes of activity a day keeps our hearts strong and helps our brains work. Nutrition: use a simple food groups visual — explain that fruit, vegetables, protein, and carbohydrates all play different roles; occasional treats are fine in balance. Hygiene: washing hands after the toilet and before eating prevents the spread of germs; brushing teeth twice a day prevents decay.
Pupils work in groups to sort activity cards into the four pillars of health. Some cards are tricky — e.g. 'sleeping 5 hours' goes under 'not healthy sleep'. Groups present one finding each.
Pupils design a 'Healthy Day' — drawing or writing a timetable showing what a healthy day for a child might look like, including meals, activity, hygiene, and bedtime.
Discuss: is it possible to be perfectly healthy all the time? Introduce the idea of balance — one late night or one treat is not harmful; what matters is what we do most of the time. Ask each child to share one healthy habit they already have.
Common Misconceptions
- Healthy eating means never having treats — balance is key; the focus is on habitual choices, not occasional ones.
- Exercise only means sport — walking, dancing, and active play all count.
Prior Knowledge
Pupils should already be able to:
- Year 1 PSHE: naming feelings and basic self-care.
- Science KS1: understanding that humans need food, water, and air to survive.
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