Objectives
- Recall that children need 9-12 hours of sleep each night.
Lesson Plan
The lessons in this unit teach kids that recharge is all about energy—and that your energy is a key influencer of healthy choices. You recharge your energy two ways:
- Sleep 9–12 hours each night to restore energy.
- Relax and do a quiet activity without screen time (e.g., draw, write, read, do puzzles, etc.).
Set The Stage
Ask students, “Why do you think people and animals need to sleep? What do the places where animals and people sleep look like?” This will give kids the opportunity to talk about everything they already know about sleep—which is a lot.
To use this with your students click here.
Captivate
How Much Sleep Do We Need?
Ask students to predict the amount of sleep different animals need to recharge their energy.
- A giraffe only sleeps about two hours.
- Children between the ages of six and 12 need 9–12 hours of sleep each night.
- Rabbits sleep 11–12 hours.
- A brown bat sleeps nearly 20 hours.
Educate
What Does Sleep Do For the Body?
Highlight the key points about sleep:
- Your body and brain need 9–12 hours of sleep every night to restore energy, which helps you make healthy choices.
- Sleep gives you energy to play and have fun.
- Sleep helps you recall what you have learned.
- Sleep helps your body and brain grow.
Check for understanding: How many hours of sleep do you need to get a full recharge?
Activate
How Can You Get Enough Sleep?
Calculate the time students need to go to bed to get the 9–12 hours of sleep they need.For those students who find falling asleep difficult, practice the “I Can’t Sleep” activity. Encourage students to try the same activity at home when they need help falling asleep.
Close the Lesson
Grade: 3-5
Time: 20 Minutes
What You'll Need
Resources
Materials
- Slideshow
- Poster Board or White Board
- Markers
Health Education Standards
- Standard 1: Core Concepts - Get an appropriate amount of sleep and rest.
- Standard 4: Interpersonal Communication
- Standard 5: Decision-Making
Social and Emotional Learning Competencies
- Responsible Decision-Making
Extend the Lesson
- Play the fitGame, Energy Tag.
- Do a fitBoost or a fitFlow yoga. Have kids talk about their energy before and after each activity.
- Read Bedtime Relaxation for Kids to learn about different ways to help kids relax before bed to get a great night's sleep.
- Watch the video, What Happens to Your Body When You Sleep, to learn why sleep is so important.