Activity (11-14 Years)

It is important to include a variety of different activity in everyday living, supporting physical, social and mental wellbeing.

Meeting the physical activity recommendations is a vital component of living a healthy, active lifestyle as it supports physical, social and mental wellbeing.

Being active goes beyond just participating in sport and it is important that pupils can recognise the different ways people can be active in everyday living. Pupils will also need to identify that the activity recommendations differ for people of different ages.

Nutritional requirements also differ when someone is very active and pupils should understand how they differ and what nutrients are crucial in meeting the changing requirements.

This area covers:

• the benefits of activity;
• the activity guidelines for different groups;
• everyday activity;
• nutritional requirements in those who are very active.

• To introduce the benefits of physical activity, show the Benefits of physical activity presentation. Task the pupils to complete the Benefits of physical activity worksheet.
• As a starter or plenary activity, ask the pupils to complete the Get active Kahoot quiz. Use the Get active Kahoot answers to check their responses.
• Challenge the pupils to create a short video or write an article or blog for your school website to inform young people and adults about the benefits of physical activity.

For more information about mental wellbeing, go to the Knowledge centre.

• There are different activity recommendations for different life stages. Show the Activity guidelines presentation to explain these. Task the pupils to complete the Activity guidelines worksheet.
• Challenge the pupils to discuss their physical activity with a partner. Do they meet the recommendations for their age/life stage? Ask each pair to suggest one way to increase physical activity in order to meet the recommendations. Create a classroom display with the pupils’ suggestions.

• Discuss with the pupils the three different types of physical activity:
• moderate, e.g. brisk walking, riding a bike on level ground, gardening; vigorous, e.g. jogging or running, football, rugby, gymnastics, martial arts; muscle strengthening, e.g. lifting weights, Pilates, yoga, heavy gardening.
• Task the pupils to keep an Activity diary, get the pupils to compare their activity charts with each other. Discuss with them how they could improve and what steps they could take.
• If you are a form tutor, why not create a class activity chart on the wall?
• Task the pupils to design and produce a poster to encourage young people to keep active in school and out. They should include the benefits of activity and some suggestions for building activity into everyday life.
• Challenge the pupils to make a pledge to increase their physical activity. You could use the Physical activity pledge or ask the pupils to write their pledge on a sticky note and make a display in your classroom or form room. Monitor the pledges, how did they do? How did they achieve it?

• People who are very active require more energy. To introduce this concept, show the Sports nutrition presentation. Check understanding using the Sports nutrition Kahoot quiz and Sports nutrition Kahoot answers Q&A.
• To remind pupils about the importance of good hydration when being active, show the Hydration presentation. Ask the pupils to complete the Hydration worksheet.
• Challenge the pupils to complete the Hydration Kahoot quiz. Discuss the answers they have given using the Hydration Kahoot quiz answers. Alternatively, show the short Hydration video to explain where good hydration sits within the Eatwell Guide.
• The Healthy hydration BNF poster is available as a useful teacher/adult resource and can be used as part of a display on healthy hydration.
• Some ‘sports and energy drinks’ are a cause for concern when consumed by children and young people. Discuss with the pupils who they think these products are aimed at. Compare the list of ingredients for a variety of drinks and identify what is different. Many pupils will consume extra energy (calories) and/or caffeine through consuming these products; some can also be very acidic and harmful to teeth. Provide a container of sugar cubes and ask the pupils to weigh out the amount of sugars provided in the drinks using the information on the nutrition labels.
• Set up a hydration station to encourage pupils to drink more. Provide a variety of herbs, fruit and vegetables to add flavour and interest to the water. Avoid using acidic fruits such as lemons, limes and oranges as the acid can be harmful to teeth.

For more information about Should children be drinking energy drinks? go to the Knowledge centre.

Use the Food route active lifestyles journal for pupils up to 14 years as an extended piece of homework or cover work. There is a Certificate which can be awarded once pupils have completed all four Food route journals.

Reviewed November 2023