Fifth and sixth grade ELA instructor and college librarian Amy Brownlee is aware of how highly effective it may be when college students join with a lesson in surprising methods. When she introduced Ask, Pay attention, Be taught‘s underage consuming and hashish use prevention assets into her fifth grade classroom, what began as a easy lesson plan turned a day filled with engagement and studying. The lesson hooked her college students instantly, sparking curiosity and dialog about decision-making and psychological well being.
The dialogue flowed naturally into “teachable moments” about decisions, peer stress, and the way alcohol and hashish usually are not solely unlawful, however how they have an effect on creating brains and psychological well being. Amy discovered that the mixture of interactive content material and science-backed classes gave her college students the arrogance to ask trustworthy questions and mirror on their very own decision-making. Right here’s her Trainer Picks evaluate of Ask, Pay attention, Be taught‘s classes and assets.
What grade ranges and topic areas do you assume the Ask, Pay attention, Be taught classes are greatest suited to?
These classes are nice for well being lessons for fifth and sixth grade college students. They’d additionally work nicely for college kids in grades 4 by way of 8. They’re participating and invite participation.
How did you employ these classes in your classroom?
Psychological well being is such an vital subject—and it’s linked to prevention schooling. It’s important for lecturers and counselors to present college students the chance to speak about their psychological well being and stressors. Moreover, they want to have the ability to share how they cope with the pressures they face. Broaching this topic as a category lets college students know that this isn’t a taboo topic and encourages them to speak about it. It makes them extra prone to really feel snug speaking to a trusted grownup about psychological well being struggles they could be dealing with.
How did your college students react to the lesson?

Many college students weren’t conversant in the time period “psychological well being,” however they did have prior information about methods for relieving stress.
College students actually responded to the opening exercise, the place they listed stressors of their lives and the way they cope. It led to some wonderful discussions. So many college students wished to share in the course of the dialogue that I prolonged the time for that a part of the lesson and pushed a number of the actions to a separate session. The youngsters had lots to say, and I feel anytime we are able to normalize speaking about psychological well being, that’s a win-win.
The scholars actually favored the animations within the video. One scholar stated she had by no means seen an image of a mind earlier than and was curious. It gave me an opportunity to introduce the time period “mind stem.” Then, I talked a bit about how the mind connects to the backbone.
This lesson led to teachable moments that allowed me to take additional time for teenagers to share extra specifics after they expressed curiosity. The lesson was undoubtedly participating and obtained youngsters speaking and considering.
How simple was it to make use of and implement in your classroom?
Ask, Pay attention, Be taught‘s writers laid out the lesson plans very nicely. I really like all of the totally different assets just like the video, comprehension questions, and vocabulary assets. The wholesome coping technique toolbox is a wonderful method to get college students to use what they’re studying to their lives.
What had been the highest two options you favored most concerning the Ask, Pay attention, Be taught lesson?

I favored the number of actions. It was useful to have vocabulary help as there are quite a lot of scientific phrases launched within the lesson. I additionally beloved the Kahoot! exercise and the way it could possibly be performed in quite a lot of methods: as a big group but in addition individually as a studying exercise or in three totally different sport modes.
What makes the Ask, Pay attention, Be taught lesson particular or distinctive in comparison with different psychological well being assets you’ve seen or used?
Ask, Pay attention, Be taught focuses on neuroscience and talks about elements of the mind and their features. It provides college students science-backed the reason why alcohol and marijuana use usually are not efficient methods to alleviate stress and offers them instruments to learn to cope with stress in a wholesome means, preserving their psychological well being. There are additionally guardian elements to ship house so the scholars can proceed these conversations with their households.
How do you propose to make use of Ask, Pay attention, Be taught classes once more sooner or later?
These classes are wonderful for well being lessons to assist college students discover wholesome methods to cope with stress and study accountable decision-making. They’d be very helpful to counselors. Academics can use them throughout morning conferences to cowl vital matters like peer stress.
How would you sum up your total expertise?

Ask, Pay attention, Be taught offers a complete assortment of assets that saves lecturers time. It consists of each part you would wish, together with dialogue starters, comprehension questions, vocabulary actions, and an in depth lesson plan aligned with nationwide academic requirements. The video and gaming elements captivate college students, and the written assets assist them join the content material to their lives. These instruments are wonderful for educating very important wholesome matters.
What else would you want different lecturers to find out about your expertise?
The USA is presently experiencing a psychological well being disaster with kids and younger individuals. These classes serve an vital objective in destigmatizing the dialogue of psychological well being points.
Watch Amy’s evaluate of Ask, Pay attention, Be taught classes beneath:
Be taught extra on the Ask, Listen, Learn website.
Plus, read more about Ask, Listen, Learn‘s lessons and play their game right here on We Are Academics.
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