Overview

Through this learning sequence, you will investigate controllable and uncontrollable factors on your mental health. You will explore the role of hormones in the body and the influence they have on physical and mental health. You will aim to experience happy hormones through participation in physical activity, mental fitness activities and self care.  

You will develop a stronger understanding of mental health through use of a case study. The case study will allow you to investigate influences on putting mental health first and the benefits of making your mental health a priority. You will review the influence of the media on mental health and adopt the role of a tv show producer to identify what makes people suitable to meet the challenges of reality tv shows based on their overall health, wellbeing and strengths.  

Learning intentions

During these lessons, students will:

• recognise factors or life events that are within and outside of our control 

• identify actions we can take to increase how many happy hormones we experience  

• propose ways to promote our own mental health 

• assess what affects our ability to put our mental health first 

• analyse the role the media plays in educating the community and supporting community mental health 

• assess the suitability of physical activities for physical and mental health benefits and lifestyle. 

Success criteria for the overall sequence

• Identify the role of hormones in the body. 

• Participate in physical activity in your home or local community. 

• Reflect on your participation by recording the benefits to your physical and mental health.  

• Apply understanding of fitness to identify the components of mental fitness. 

• Design and participate in a physical activity to improve a component of physical fitness. 

• Participate in a mental fitness activity and assess its suitability for a personal mental fitness plan. 

• Record pluses, minuses and point of interest for the increased availability of self care strategies through media. 

• Create promotional material to cast people onto a reality TV show.  

Syllabus outcomes

• PD4-6 recognises how contextual factors influence attitudes and behaviours and proposes strategies to enhance health, safety, wellbeing and participation in physical activity 

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

• PD4-8 plans for and participates in activities that encourage health and a lifetime of physical activity 

All outcomes and content referred to in this unit come from the PDHPE K-10 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2018.

Students will investigate what is within and outside of our sphere of control when it comes to stress and mental health. They will explicitly focus on how hormones influence mental health and what actions can be taken to promote happy hormones to benefit our mental and physical health. Finally, students are given the opportunity to participate in physical activity and reflect on the implications their new knowledge has on future physical activity levels. 

• PD4-6 recognises how contextual factors influence attitudes and behaviours and proposes strategies to enhance health, safety, wellbeing and participation in physical activity 

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

• PD4-8 plans for and participates in activities that encourage health and a lifetime of physical activity 

Students will explore the difference between health and illness to address misunderstandings about mental health and promote positive attitudes. They will investigate self care and action which can be taken to improve and maintain physical and mental health. These will be considered critically to compare whether perceptions and management of mental health and physical health are the same or different.  

• PD4-6 recognises how contextual factors influence attitudes and behaviours and proposes strategies to enhance health, safety, wellbeing and participation in physical activity 

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

• PD4-8 plans for and participates in activities that encourage health and a lifetime of physical activity 

Students will explore the role that media plays on community messaging and perceptions of mental health. They will propose ways to overcome negative influence and review the role of media to positively influence the health of the community.  

Students will adopt the role of producer for a reality tv show. They will create a casting call to identify suitable people to meet the challenges of the show based on their overall health, wellbeing and strengths. 

• PD4-6 recognises how contextual factors influence attitudes and behaviours and proposes strategies to enhance health, safety, wellbeing and participation in physical activity 

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