Mental Health Awareness TED Talks and Bulletin Board

How do you promote mental health awareness in your school? Is it purely the domain of school counselors and nurses or do classroom teachers play a role?

If you've thought about incorporating the topic of mental health into your classroom but aren't sure how to do it, I have a few simple suggestions. Everyone is aware of TED Talks. Did you know there are many middle and high-school-appropriate TED Talks about mental health?

The Ted Talk I most often share with my high school students related to the topic of mental health is Shane Koyczan's talk, "To This Day." It is incredibly powerful. (I built an entire lesson around this talk which I used with my juniors and seniors several years ago.) If you plan to share this talk with your students, preview it. It may not be appropriate for your students. I also encourage you to engage in a conversation about the talk when you are finished viewing. If you aren't sure where to begin, check out the lesson I created for this talk.

Clean version of Shane's talk:

Some other recommendations include "Getting Stuck in the Negatives" by Allison Ledgerwood, Nancy Lublin's talks on mental health, "Why We All Need to Practice Emotional First Aid" by Guy Winch.

I also use a more "passive" method to both raise awareness and educate my students about mental health topics--my Mental Health bulletin board (which often stays up all year long. My bulletin board is interactive, meaning it includes QR codes on most of the cards that can be easily (and discreetly scanned) allowing students to learn more about many mental health topics.

Interested in this bulletin board. Click here to learn more.

Comments

10 Creative One-Pager Ideas for Social Studies

10 Creative One-Pager Ideas for Social Studies As a social studies teacher, you understand that the subject is one of the most important aspects of education, and it is vital to keep your students engaged and motivated in their learning. One way to achieve this is through the use of one-pagers, a creative and visually appealing way to summarize information and showcase understanding. One-pagers offer a chance to showcase a student’s creativity, critical thinking skills, and grasp of the subject. In this blog post, we will explore ten creative one-pager ideas for social studies that will not only maximize your students’ learning but also spark their creativity and critical thinking skills. Why Use One-Pagers in Social Studies? One-pagers are an excellent way to get students engaged in the learning process. They are a creative and visually appealing way to summarize information and showcase understanding. By utilizing one-pagers, you can help your students to: Process information more ef...

Examples of Map Legends and Map Symbols (Plus Creative Tips and Project Ideas!)

Creative tips and projects for teaching students about legends (keys) on a map: 1. Create a scavenger hunt: Give students a map with a key and have them find different landmarks or features on the map. For example, you might ask them to find a park, a school, and a river. This is a fun way to get students engaged with maps and help them learn how to read legends. 2. Make your own map: Have students create their own maps of their school or neighborhood. They can include symbols for different features like buildings, parks, and roads. This is a great way to get students thinking about the different elements that go into making a map. 3. Use technology: There are many online tools that allow you to create custom maps with your own symbols and legends. Have students use these tools to create their own maps of their community or a fictional place. 4. Create a legend matching game: Create cards with different symbols from a map legend and have students match them to the correct definition. T...

Ripped Paper World Map Project - Middle or High School Geography

Earlier this week I presented my students with a challenge. Create a world map using construction paper, glue, and a sharpie. No scissors. Students were not allowed to use any tools to cut out their continents. They had to tear their continents from construction paper. After their continents were ready, students were asked to label them and then glue them in place. Each student's map needed a title, compass rose, key, symbols, Equator, and Prime Meridian, and all the continents and oceans had to be labeled. Most of my students had a blast creating their maps. Of course, a couple students were anxious; worried their continents wouldn't look nice. With some reassuring, they proceeded and did just fine. This activity is a perfect back-to-school or sub-day activity. It required very little prep and materials. I let my students use any color construction paper they wanted as long as they selected two different colors. The results were fantastic! Grab your copy of the ...

Social Studies Toolbox

Search This Blog