Spending time in nature offers a range of physical, mental and emotional benefits. In this lesson, students explore these benefits, reflect on their relationship with nature, create a personal Nature Action Plan, and explore strategies for getting their friends to join them in nature.

Year level

7-10

Duration

60 minutes

Type

In class activity

SEL Competencies

Social awareness

Learning intention

Students learn about the positive impact that spending time in nature can have on their mental health and wellbeing, and explore ways to incorporate nature into their own, and their peers’, lives.

Key outcomes

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

  • understand the mental health and wellbeing benefits of spending time in nature

  • create a personal action plan for incorporating nature into their day-to-day lives

  • develop strategies to encourage their friends to spend time in nature.

Materials needed

  • Students’ notebooks

  • Students’ devices

Mapped to

Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education

  • Participate in physical activities that utilise community spaces and outdoor settings, and evaluate strategies to support increased use of these spaces (AC9HP8M05)

  • Participate in physical activities that promote health and social outcomes to design and evaluate participation strategies for themselves and others (AC9HP10M05)

Australian Curriculum: General Capabilities

  • Personal and social capability:

    • Self-management

NSW PDHPE Syllabus

  • Investigates health practices, behaviours and resources to promote health, safety, wellbeing and physically active communities (PD4-7)

  • Plans, implements and critiques strategies to promote health, safety, wellbeing and participation in physical activity in their communities (PD5-7)

Victorian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education

  • Plan and implement strategies for connecting to natural and built environments to promote the health and wellbeing of their communities (VCHPEP131)

  • Plan and evaluate new and creative interventions that promote their own and others’ connection to community and natural and built environments (VCHPEP150)

Show details

Activity 1

Think, pair, share: Nature reflection

15 minutes

  1. Ask students to take a moment to reflect on a positive experience or memory related to spending time in nature. It could be a specific place, an outdoor activity or a particular moment that left a lasting impression. 

  2. After a few minutes of silent reflection, ask students to pair up with a classmate and share their reflections. Encourage them to discuss why these experiences were meaningful and how they felt at the time. 

  3. Bring the class back together and invite a few pairs to share their reflections with the whole class. 

  4. Introduce the idea of how connecting with nature can positively impact your mental health and wellbeing. Share that studies have shown that spending time in nature can help with:

    • restoring mental energy

    • improving mood

    • reducing stress levels

    • feeling more relaxed

    • connecting with people

    • being physically active

    • boosting concentration 

    • improving short-term memory.

Activity 2

Mind maps: ‘My Nature Action Plan’

25 minutes

  1. Have students create, either in their notebooks or in a digital tool such as Miro or Figma, a mind map with the title ‘My Nature Action Plan’ (or similar) at the centre.

  2. Instruct students to add branches radiating outwards from the centre for different aspects of their lives, such as ‘Daily Activities’, ‘Weekend Plans’ and ‘Special Moments’. 

  3. Encourage students to include specific nature-related activities under each branch. Examples might include taking a mindful walk, kicking a footy with friends, having a family picnic, or creating art in the backyard. 

  4. After students have created their mind maps, give them time to walk around the room and review each other’s mind maps. Encourage them to jot down any ideas that resonate with them and to add them to their own mind map.

Activity 3

Connecting in nature: Positive Post-it notes

20 minutes

  1. Begin by reminding students about the positive impacts of spending time in nature and of the power of using positive messages to support their friends.

  2. In small groups, students brainstorm creative ways to encourage their friends to spend time in nature.

  3. Provide students with Post-it notes and have them write down an idea that resonates with them that incorporates a positive message. For example:

    • ‘Need to clear your head? Take a little walk in the park.’

    • ‘Embrace nature – it’s the best medicine for a busy mind.’

    • ‘Your mental health matters. Take a nature break today!’

  4. Encourage students to stick these notes in places where their friends will find them (e.g. lockers, notebooks, desks, computer screens, cafeteria tables, etc.).

Print

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              Aboriginal flagTorres Strait islander flagRainbow flagAustralian flag

              We acknowledge the traditional owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders past and present. We recognise connection to Country as integral to health and wellbeing.

              We acknowledge people with lived experience of mental ill-health and recovery and the experience of people who have been carers, families, or supporters.

              ReachOut values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.

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