Module

5
Health and Well-being in Schools

Overview
In this session we will discuss about the concept of health and
well-being and its importance in schools by following various
modalities. The session will reflect on physical development,
related myths, physical fitness and its components. The types
of activities which help in the development of physical fitness
will also be covered in this session. Yoga, being very important
not only for physical but also for emotional and physiological
development and for holistic health, has also been included
in the module. Healthy eating habits and hygiene which
are important factors affecting the health of children are
also covered. Activities related to emotional well-being, self
awareness, social awareness, violence and abuse, and injuries
are also part of the module. Gender cut across throughout the
module. Care has also been taken to be inclusive.

Learning objective
At the end of this session you will be able to:
• Understand the concept of health and wellness.
• Understand the importance of a healthy environment for
children in school.
• Develop and understand about pedagogical processes
to be adopted in order to develop healthy attitudes and
behaviours among children.
• Develop life skills for achieving enhanced Learning
Outcomes related to health and wellness.

Resources and Pedagogy

• Case studies, experiences and role play situation along with
the accompanying questions, charts, photographs, videos,
games etc.
• Group work, discussion, demonstration, interaction, games,
self-reflection, self-learning activities like question-box, Role
Play, Case Study, and quiz contest for providing accurate
and adequate information to learners and inculcating in
them positive attitude and developing the ability to apply
the concerned life skills.

Health and Wellness

• What is health? What does holistic health include? When
most people are asked about health, what is their usual

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response? Ask a few participants to share their views. After

listening to them, share that good health refers to a state of
physical, social, emotional, and mental well-being and not
mere freedom from diseases. All are on the same continuum
and influence each other. Let us discuss each one.
• Physical health is only one aspect of our overall health. It is
the state of being free from illness or injury. Understanding
of physical health need awareness about physical
development, physical fitness, healthy and hygienic eating
habits, etc.
• Social health includes the ability to interact with others
and the environment, work in a team and to have satisfying
personal relationships.
• Emotional health is said to be stable when a person can
control and manage emotions in order to feel comfortable.
People are emotionally healthy if they are able to express
their feelings successfully.
• Mental health and Well-being is “a state of well-being in
which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can
cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively
and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her
community.” (WHO). Mental health can affect daily life and
relationships. Even physical health can be influenced how
one thinks, feels, and behaves. Mental health also includes
one’s ability to enjoy life by balancing between life activities
and efforts in order to achieve psychological resilience.
• Distress includes fear, guilt, nervousness, shame,
helplessness, doubting self, confusion, loneliness, sadness,
and anger. This is a phase where the individual facing a
challenge or under stress can find a solution and act
positively, or might require support or help. One can observe
distressed feelings in many ways such as decline in academic
performance, hyper activity, anger, or misbehaviour, etc.
• Illness or Disorder is a state along the continuum, when
distress lasts for a longer period of time. A person shows
symptoms such as, difficulties with sleeping and/or eating,
suicidal tendencies, increased social withdrawal, physical
symptoms of anxiety, substance misuse, aggressive
behaviour, etc. Mental illness or disorders need to be treated
by a professional.
• This state can keep changing along a continuum. An
individual could be at different levels on the continuum
based on the situations he or she might face at different

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times of his or her life. Their ability to manage and overcome

distress also depends on their physical, emotional, social,
and intellectual health. Let us discuss these one by one.
Physical Development
Physical development of children is one of the important
components of health. Ask participants to think and write
about all the changes that they have noticed in themselves
since their childhood (when they were 6-8 years old onwards or
observed in their siblings). Ask 6-8 participants to share their
observations. Show them Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 — Different stages of life

Draw five columns on the black board with the headings —
infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and aged as shown
in the table below. Note book can also be used. Ask them to list
approximately four to five changes in each phase of life. Give 5
minutes to them and then have a discussion.

Activity 1 — Changes in different Stages of Human Being

Changes during the different phases of life
Infancy Childhood Adolescence Adulthood Aged

After discussion, you can summarise that the

• changes in our bodies are natural, normal, and healthy.
These are essential parts of human growth and development.
It can be extremely interesting to experience these changes.
• all changes do not take place at the same time. As a result,
it is possible that physical changes may take place early,
but psycho-social changes take place later in the same
individual. It may also happen the other way around.

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Two children of the same age may have different levels of

maturity and experience changes at a varying pace.
• sometimes we can influence changes in our lives and at
other times we have little control over them.
• some of the changes in our lives are predictable. If we are
prepared for them, we may be able to influence some of
these processes and manage them better. For example,
growth and maturation is a continuous process.
• sometimes, children feel stressed if they look different from
their peers. They could be maturing faster or slower than
the others, and this difference may become the focus of
teasing and ridicule among peers.
• there are a lot of prejudices and harmful stereotypes attached
to the growing up process, which need to be discussed.

Note: chapter in science of class VIII discusses these changes in detail.

Since all children do not grow at the same pace (physically

as well as intellectually) there may be some myths and
misconceptions related to growing up.
Myths and Misconceptions Related to Growing Up

Activity 2
Myths and Misconceptions Related To Growing Up, Peer
Influence and Gender
The following case studies aims at clarifying stereotypes
and myths and misconceptions related to growing up, peer
influence and gender stereotype by following case studies.
Case Study 1: Variation in growth and development
Rakesh and Mihir, are walking home together from school.
Rakesh begins to tease Mihir, saying that he speaks in a girl’s
voice. He also laughs at the fact that Mihir has got no hair on
his upper lip. “Look at me,” Rakesh says, “I am a real man.
My voice is strong and my face is manly- I have so much facial
hair. My father calls me sher.” This really embarrasses Mihir.
He recalls that his mother still calls him ‘my sweet boy’. He
decides to go home and ask his mother why he is so different
from Rakesh and whether something is wrong with him.
Questions for discussion
• Although they are of the same age, why do Rakesh and
Mihir look so different?

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• Do you think that there is something wrong with Mihir?

Why?
• How do you think Mihir feels about himself?
• What should Mihir’s mother tell him?
Case Study 2: Positive and Negative Peer Influences
Raju used to study all the time, whether at school or at home. He
always scored good marks. He did not have any other interests
or hobbies. When he joined a new school in Class XI, he became
friends with Zaheer and Moti. Both were keen cricketers. Raju
started to play cricket with them and discovered that he was
a good spin bowler. His parents are now concerned that he is
spending too much time in the playground which may affect
his studies.
Questions for discussion
1. Do you think Zaheer and Moti are a good influence on Raju?
2. Do you think that Raju’s parents are justified in being
concerned about his new hobby?
3. What role can Raju’s teacher/s play in decreasing his
parents’ anxiety?
4. Should Raju continue playing cricket? Why?
Case Study 3: Stereo typed body image
Shalini and her friends in class seven were preparing for the
school’s annual function. All of them were very excited. Shalini
was taking part in the classical dance, while her classmates
Anita and Farah were in the play. One day Anita said mockingly
to her, “You are so dark. We will need additional light to be
able to see you on stage.” Shalini made no reply to her. Farah
felt bad for Shalini and said, “You dance so well. Why don’t
you use a fairness cream, to get a fair complexion? Can you
imagine how nice you will look on the stage if you had a lighter
complexion?”
Shalini smiled and said, “Thank you, Farah. I appreciate
your concern but I am happy with my complexion as it is. My
teacher and I are working hard on my dance practice and I am
confident that our efforts and your good wishes will lead to a
good performance.”
Questions for discussion
1. What do you think of Anita’s remark about Shalini?
2. Do you think Farah’s remark is based on a false stereotype
(light complexion is essential for being beautiful), or is it
based on facts? Explain your answer.

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3. Does Shalini’s response indicate that she has a positive or a

negative self-image? Give reasons for your answer.
4. Do you think Shalini is a mature person with a positive
style of communication?
Case Study 4 — Friendship and Bullying
Sujit and Manoj were buying a music CD at a shop just outside
the school gate. They spotted Sharad going home. They caught
hold of him and bullied him for money to buy the CD. Sharad
refused because he had often been forced to lend money to
them since he had joined this school in class 9 almost a year
ago. The two boys never returned the money they borrowed.
When Sharad refused, the two bullies pushed him around
until he fell, then, snatched his money and ran away. Sharad’s
class teacher, who was returning home, saw him lying on the
ground and helped him back to his feet. Despite being asked,
Sharad did not reveal how he hurt himself. The next day,
Abid, who was Sharad’s classmate, and had witnessed the
whole incident, asked him to complain to the teacher. Sharad
hesitated, but agreed when Abid offered to accompany him to
the teacher’s room.
Questions for discussion
1. Why do you think Sharad did not complain against the
bullies for so long?
2. Why do you think that he agreed to complain this time?
3. Why did Abid get involved in this matter?
The teacher should explain
• Peer relationships can have both positive and negative
dimensions
• Self-confidence and assertiveness are essential for
maintaining positive relationships
• Adolescents and their parents and teachers should interact
more so that they appreciate one another’s concerns and
understand each other better
• In most situations, feelings should be recognised rather
than pretending they do not exist.
• Adolescents learn a lot from adults. It is very important for
adults to model healthy, honest, and wise (mature) ways to
express feelings.
• Due to prejudices and ignorance children are sometimes
drawn to harmful or ineffective commercial products which
claim to hasten the growing up process. For instance some

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products claim to increase height and muscle mass very

quickly, without any additional input of diet and exercise.
• Similarly, advertisements for cosmetics and beauty
parlours reinforce prejudices and over-emphasizse physical
appearance, leading to feelings of anxiety, inadequacy
and low self-esteem. It is important to counter all such
prejudices and pressures, and be confident about who you
are and how you look.
• Children should recognise and learn to express their
thoughts and feelings (communicate) in a clear, honest, and
respectful manner without putting down either themselves
or the other person/s.
Questions to assess/reflect
• What kind of physical changes do girls and boys experience
during growing up?
• Do physical changes among children occur at the same
time for everyone?
• What should we do if we are concerned about any changes
in our body?
Change among Boys and Girls
Provide sheets with columns as drawn below to the participants
or ask them to draw the columns as shown below in their
notebook or a sheet of paper.
Activity 2 — Changes in Children
Change Boy Girl Both Girl and Boy
• Enjoying friends’ company more
• Can cross the road independently
• Becoming taller
• Becoming heavier
• Broadening of shoulders
• Can run faster
• Sweat more
• Oily skin
• Can solve more difficult sums
• Can concentrate for a longer period
• More conscious about appearance
• Facial hair begins to appear
• Breasts beginning to develop
• Become more brave and more shy
• Add changes

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Ask participants to tick mark () the correct option in

appropriate column for the changes mentioned in the above table
as per age and observations. Participants may be encouraged
to add some more changes and identify changes specific to boys
and girls and common changes. The facilitator can summarise
by explaining that certain changes are common while certain
changes are specific to boys or girls. Variations are seen even
within same age groups of girls or boys. Such variations may
be due to heredity, differences in diet and physical exercises.
Such variation is normal and should not be allowed to have
impact on self-image. Some qualities like brave, shy, weak and
strong are not about ‘male’ or ‘female’. Qualities don’t have
a gender.
Activity 3 — Related to height and weight for students.
The teacher asks students to compare heights of different
children as per the table given below:

Table — Height and Weight of Students

Age Height Weight
S.No. Name
(Years) (cm.) (kg.)
1
2
3
4
5
N
Average

Students can compare and record changes in the height and

weight after six months in a similar table to see their growth
from the two tables and to try to find reasons for variations.
The teacher emphasises that such variation is normal. Teacher
may also encourage them to prepare a graph of the data and
encourage them to interpret data from the graph. Based on
the analysis, teacher can discuss the variations in growth and
development and linked to the importance of physical fitness.
How to remain physically fit?
Proper growth and development in children lead to good
health. Just knowing about height and weight, and growth
and development is not enough for good health. The best way
to achieve good health is to remain physically fit, emotionally
strong and mentally alert. Physical fitness activities improve

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the shape and size of the body and efficiency of the heart,
blood circulation and all internal organs and systems of the
body. It helps in improving learning skills, promotes general
well being and also improves performance in games and sports.
Age appropriate physical activities should be organised by
the teachers for keeping children healthy and fit. The major
components of physical fitness are strength, speed, endurance,
flexibility, and agility.
Physical fitness is defined as the general capacity to adapt
and respond favorably to physical efforts. It also means the
capacity to carry out daily work with vigor and alertness. Doing
work without undue fatigue and also having ample energy
to enjoy leisure time and to meet unforeseen emergencies is
also part of physical fitness. To be healthy, one requires doing
physical activities including playing games and sports doing
yoga, and having healthy eating and hygienic habits. All these
activities need to be modified as per the age and the ability of
the child.
Components of Physical Fitness
• What are the components of physical fitness?
• Can you name them?
• How these can be improved?
• What types of activities helps in the development of
physical fitness?
After a brain storming session for 5–6 minutes, you can
discuss the components of physical fitness. These are as follow:
Strength — It may be defined as the ability of the muscle to
overcome resistance or act against resistance. Push-ups and
standing broad jump helps in developing strength.
Speed — It is measured by rate of movements. Speed is
the ability of a child to cover a certain distance in a minimum
possible time. For example, how much time does a child require
for 20-50 meters sprint on a plane surface?
Endurance — It is defined as the ability to perform movements
for longer duration under the condition of fatigue (tiredness).
Flexibility — It is defined as the ability to perform movement
with greater amplitude (wide range) or in other words it may be
defined as the range of movement possible around a specific
limb joint, or even the body as a whole. Sit and Reach Test
helps in developing flexibility.
Agility — It pertains to ability for making quick movements
(ability to change). A 4×10 meters shuttle-run test may be
organised to check the agility of students.

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Activity 4
Think about the activities we perform in daytoday life. Prepare
a list of those activities which help in fitness. Examples of some
activities are given below. Add more activities to the list.
Indoor activities
• Crawl under tables
• Use a object to practice balance
• Jumping jacks
• Dancing
• Yogic activities
• -----------------
• -----------------
• -----------------
Outdoor activities
• Climbing a ladder
• Jumping, crawling, and walking from one area to another.
• Zig-zag running between obstacles.
• Jump over various objects
• Walking
• -----------------
• -----------------
• -----------------
Calisthenics, mass fitness and rhythmic activities involve a
variety of bodily movements performed repeatedly in a
coordinated manner in tune with music. It involves variety of
free hand exercises, exercises with light apparatus, marching
drills, aerobics, action song and dances. For the purpose of
such activities equipments like balls, dumbbells, hoops,
umbrellas, wands, etc., can be used.

Fig 2A — Attention Fig. 2B — Steps for Turn Fig 2C — March pass Steps

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Development of a Good Posture

You have seen some children do not have right posture while
walking, standing, sitting, running, etc. Let us look at some of
the postures. Which one of the following is good posture?
Posture in Sitting Position—the feet should be flat on the
floor at a comfortable distance apart. Sit with back into the
chair as shown below.

Fig. 3A — Sitting Posture Fig. 3B — Lifting Posture

If we do not sit, stand, or sleep properly, we may develop

long standing aches and pains in our neck and back. This may
need help from medical expert.
• The following exercises are recommended for correcting
above posture —
■ Bhujang Asana

■ While walking, keep head in such a position that eyes are

looking forward.
■ Walk balancing a book on the head.

Importance of Games and Sports

Think for a moment, what you really do for making children
play games? Have they ever seen any national match?
Do they also aspire to play like them?
What is the status of physical education class in your area?
Is there a regular period for physical education for
every class?
Do you think, it is the responsibility of Physical Education
teacher only to conduct physical fitness activities in schools at
the elementary level?
Discuss with the participants about the games they play.
Also ask them the local games which are popular in their area.

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Tell them that there are individual sports and team games.
The individual sports are track and field events, gymnastics,
swimming, etc. Track and field events comprise running,
jumping and throwing. Running events include sprints, middle
and long distance runs, while field events consist of jumps and
throws. Every event requires certain fundamental skills for
efficient performance.
Team games require a number of players to play in specific
positions. These games develop sportspersonship, cooperation
and positive attitude towards diverse group. Team games
includes like football, kabaddi, kho-kho, volleyball, basketball,
cricket etc. Depending upon the facilities available children
should be encouraged to take any games including indigenous
games and practice yoga.
Integration of Physical Education in Different Subjects
• Make groups of 5-6 participants in each group.
• Name the groups in the name of different subjects. Such
as–Language, EVS, Mathematics’, Science, Social Sciences.
• Ask them to prepare a chart showing physical activities they
would conduct while teaching that subject at the primary
and upper primary levels.
• Give them 10 minutes and then ask each group to present.
While one group is presenting, asks other groups to add any
suggestion if any. After the presentation conclude that it is
the responsibility of every one to integrate physical activities
while transacting their own subject area.

Yama and Niyama are principles that help us in following standards

in our personal and social lives. The five principles of Yama are:
Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness); Asteya (non-stealing);
Brahmcharya (abstinence) and Aparigraha (non-collectiveness).
The five principles of Niyama are: Shaucha (cleanliness); Santosha
(satisfaction); Tapas (austerity); Swadhyaya (study of good
literature and knowing about the ‘self’) and Ishwar pranidhana
(dedication to Supreme power).

Yoga for holistic health

To know, how much the participants are aware about yoga, the
following questions may be raised.
• What do they understand by yoga?
• Should yoga be introduced at the primary level?
• How can yoga help in promoting health among children?
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• What are some of the benefits of yoga for children?

• About what one should be careful while doing yoga?
Have a brain storming session with them. After discussion,
the following may be presented:
Generally people think that yoga means asana, pranayama
only. Yoga includes several practices such as yama, niyama,
asana, pranayama, pratyahara, kriya (cleansing practices),
mudra, bandha, dharana, dhyana (meditation).
Yoga may be introduced from the primary level onwards
in informal ways, but formal introduction of yogic exercises
should begin only from Class VI onwards.
Yoga is to encourage a positive and healthy lifestyle for
physical, mental and emotional health of children. Yoga helps
in the development of strength, stamina, endurance and high
energy at physical level. It also empowers oneself with increased
concentration, calm, peace and contentment at mental level
leading to inner and outer harmony. There is need to organise
yogic practices with children. Names of some Asana, Pranayama
and Kriya are given below.

Fig. 4: Practicing Yoga

Asanas
Standing Posture — Tadasana, Vrikshasana, Trikonasana,
Garudasana
Sitting Posture — Yogamudrasana, Badha, Padmasana,
Pachimattanasana, Supta Vajrasana, Gamukhasana,
Ardhamatsyendrasana

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Prone Posture — Bhujangasana, Shalabhasana,

Dhanurasana, Makarasana
Supine Posture — Setubandhasana, Ardhahalasana,
Matsyasana, Chakrasana, Pawanmuktasana
Pranayama — Anulomaviloma, Sitkari, Bhramari
Kriya — Kapalabhati and Agnisara

Yogamudrasana Bhujangasana Dhanurasana

Ardhahalasana Bhastrika Pranayama

General Guidelines for Yogic Practices

• Most of the asanas, pranayamas and kriyas should be practiced
on an empty or on a very light stomach.
• Early morning is the ideal time for yoga practice but it can
also be practiced in the evening on empty stomach about three
hours after lunch.
• Yoga should not be practiced in hurry or when you are
exhausted.
• Select a well-ventilated, clean and peaceful place for your
practice.
• Yogic practices should performed on a durry or a mat.
• Taking a bath before the practice is ideal. Use cold or warm
water as per the requirement of the individual and season.

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• Clothes should be loose and comfortable while performing the

yogic practices.
• Breathing should be as normal/natural as possible.
• There are limitations of yogic practices. If you are suffering from
any problem or chronic disease, inform your teacher before
starting yogic practices.
• At initial stage, easy practices should be adopted. Later on more
difficult ones can be practiced.
• Yogic practices can be carried out at home once they are
properly learnt in the school.
• Yoga has a broader meaning. Therefore, apart from asana
and pranayama, one should practice moral and ethical values
in life.

However, children with special needs should perform these

activities in consultation with yoga experts/yoga teacher as per
their capacity.
The facilitator can go through the following materials
related to physical fitness, games and sports and other related
information.
Note: NCERT has developed resource book on Assessment
on Health and Physical Education for Primary Stage and
Teacher’ Guide in Health and Physical Education for Class VI,
VII, and VIII.
Healthy Eating Habits and Hygiene
Along with physical activities, healthy eating habits and hygiene
is also essential. The body keeps fit only when various organ
systems function properly. The organ systems remain fit and
healthy when nutritious diet is taken regularly, hygienic habits
and regular physical exercises are undertaken and healthy life
style is observed. A healthy and fit body helps in developing a
positive attitude towards oneself and others.
• Divide the learners into small groups such that no group
has more than five to six participations. Give task to each
group. Same task can be given to more than one group.
• The groups should be given 15 minutes to complete the
task assigned to them.
Task for Group 1
• Prepare a menu for any one healthy meal (breakfast, lunch
or dinner) and justify why the group considers it as healthy

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Task for Group 2

• Develop at least six slogans on promoting healthy eating
habits and justify why the group thinks these slogans are
important
Task for Group 3
• Create an advertisement for selling health food and suggest
how you can build awareness on healthy eating habits
among your peers.
Task for Group 4
• How do you think media influences the eating habits of
young people? Please share at least three examples.
Task for Group 5
• Make a list of healthy foods that you are aware of from your
homes/families/friends’ families. Along with the food item,
write one health benefit it has. (These can include health-
promoting ingredients as well as prepared or cooked food ).
After the presentation by all groups, the teacher should
emphasise that —
• children need a carefully planned diet so that they remain
healthy
• balanced diet means inclusion of proteins, carbohydrates,
fats, vitamins in requisite proportion, as shown below—

Fig. 5 — The Food Pyramid

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• every region has locally available nutritious food items.

These should be identified and consumed as part of daily
meals. For example, the millet Ragi is a very rich source of
calcium and is easily available across many parts of India.
• packed and junk food may be tasty, but should never
replace the regular meal as they do not have adequate
nutritional value.
• drastic diet plans and slimming medication can be harmful,
unless prescribed by a qualified professional (nutritionist,
doctor) for health reasons. Advertisements that promote
girls as being thin and boys as being tall and muscular can
mislead young people into making unhealthy eating choices.
• healthy eating habits include:
■ Eating slowly, chewing properly

■ Avoiding TV viewing or reading while eating

■ Eating a balanced meal that contains different food

groups in adequate proportions

■ Eating moderate proportions at proper intervals

■ Never skipping meals nor overeating

■ Drinking sufficient water (8 to10 glasses per day)

Healthy Hygienic Habits

Ask learners to think of factors other than food habits that
impact a person’s health. Learners may talk about physical
exercise, clean environment, personal hygiene etc.
Are there are any challenges one faces to practice these
personal hygiene habits?
What can happen if one does not maintain personal hygiene?
There will be multiple responses. Announce that they are going
to play a game called ‘passing the parcel’.
• Ask all learners to stand in a circle. In case the size is big,
ask only 10-12 learners to come in front and form a circle.
The others will guess.
• Place 15 chits on healthy hygiene practices at the centre of
the circle.
• One of the volunteer will clap hands.
• As soon as the clapping starts, the rest of the learners will
start passing the ball to the person standing next to them.
• When the clapping stops, the learner who has the ball will,
pick up a chit from the bowl and try to convey the practice
by acting (they cannot utter words).
• Other learners in the group and in class will need to guess
the activity being demonstrated.

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• If acting is not done correctly, get another volunteer to

perform. Ensure learners are able to guess the act otherwise
reveal the practice.
• Ensure everyone understands the practice, explain if
required. Ask learners if they follow this practice? How
often? What is the benefit of this practice? This will ensure
that they self-reflect while playing the game.
• Before moving to the next practice, get all learners to repeat
the action once.
• Continue the game till all 15 chits are completed.
1. Washing hands with soap and water after going to the toilet
2. Brushing teeth twice a day
3. Bathing daily
4. Clipping nails of hands and feet
5. Cleaning eyes while washing face
6. Keeping ears clean
7. Covering mouth while coughing
8. Turning head or covering mouth while sneezing
9. Wearing clean clothes
10. Rinsing the mouth after a meal
11. Flushing the toilet after use
12. Not biting nails
13. Not digging the nose
14. Combing the hair everyday
15. Keep the surrounding clean

Based on the picture given, similar activities can be

organised with students. The teacher can prepare a chart with
names and place it on the classroom wall.
• Ask each student to put a star on the habit they are following.
This can continue for a week as shown in the picture.
• Ask them to share their list with the student sitting next
and vice versa.
• By the end of the week take an update on the sheet and
see whether practices are becoming a habit. If not they can
continue this exercise.
The facilitator or the teacher explains that
• while eating a balanced diet with right amounts of all three
types of foods: Energy giving, body building and protective
foods including micronutrients is critical for staying

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healthy, equally critical is to

follow good hygiene practices to
avoid infections.
• Maintaining personal hygiene
prevent illness and infection
from bacteria or viruses.
• Simple activities can be done to
maintain personal hygiene like
washing hands (before eating
or preparing food, after playing
or going to the toilet), brushing
teeth at least twice a day,
rinsing mouth after every meal,
clipping finger nails when long,
having bath daily, avoiding
biting nails or digging the nose,
changing under garments daily, wearing footwear when
going out, turn head away when coughing or sneezing.
• good personal hygiene is a habit that must be practiced by
everyone to maintain good health.
Questions for assessment
1. Describe healthy eating habits.
2. Why is personal hygiene important for good health?
3. What are the personal hygiene practices one must follow at
least once daily?
Emotional Well-being and Mental Health
Conduct a brain storming session with the participants
on various emotions. Encourage them to come up with as
many emotions as possible. Write down the emotions on the
blackboard. Show them the Table having list of emotions.

Emotions
Happy Shy Surprised Scared
Angry Joyful Sad Puzzled
Content Hurt Confused Hopeful
Loved Jealous Frustrated Guilty
Excited Worried Irritated Silly
Disappointed Proud Tensed Embarrassed

• Now ask them What happens to the body when:

■ We are angry?

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■ We feel happy?
■ We feel sad?
■ We feel excited?

■ We feel scared?

• Use information below to add to the responses from

the  learners —
■ angry – we may begin to feel hot, start sweating or get a

headache
■ happy – we may feel energised, our body may feel light

■ sad – we may feel lethargic

■ excited – our heart beat may become fast

■ fear – we may start sweating, may experience goose

bumps on the skin.

• Becoming aware of our emotions and labelling them, is the
first step and helps in managing them better and taking
good decisions. Emotions are a part of everyone’s lives -
they are neither good nor bad; but how they get expressed
is more important.
• Developing awareness of emotions is a skill that builds over
time and needs to be practiced. It is also important to know
one’s strength as an individual as well as a group
My Core Strengths— ‘I have, I am, I can, we have, we are,
we can’
• Everyone has different core strengths, be it values, traits,
dispositions, characteristics, attitudes, beliefs or resources.
Some of the core strengths can be forgiveness, kindness,
teamwork, athletic ability, musical talent, humility,
creativity, curiosity, courage, kindness, team work, humour,
and so on. Let us find out those strengths.
Draw a table with three column headings on the blackboard–
‘I Am’, ‘I Have’, ‘I Can’. In the column – some examples are
given in the table below:
I am I have I can
(internal personal strengths- (external support, resources, (social and interpersonal
feelings, attitudes and beliefs help that promotes resilience skills- learnt or acquired by
that can be strengthened by and well-being) interacting with others)
support) E.g.: I have a loving aunt E.g.: I am able to express my
E.g.: I am honest, and I who supports and guides me. feelings and needs with people
believe that we should work I have 2 close friends with around me
hard if we want to achieve our whom I share everything. - Most of my peers trust me
dreams.

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Make groups of 5–7 participants in each and ask them

to write strengths that they derive in a group and fill up the
similar columns as ‘We Are’, ‘We Have’ and ‘We Can’ in their
notebooks. Some questions are given in the box which can
help you to identify your individual and as group strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Give the groups 10
minutes to discuss and have a presentation in the larger group.
Based on the discussions you can highlight main points.
• Identifying and using one’s strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities, and threats can promote wellbeing. Strengths
can also be applied to manage personal challenges as well
as make good use of available opportunities.

• Strengths — what are my/our strengths?

• What achievements am I/we are most proud of?
• What are the things I/we do that help stay happy and deal with
challenging situations?
• Weaknesses — What learning or skills am I lacking or need to
improve?
• What do my teachers or classmates/friends or parents say are
my weaknesses?
• Opportunities — What opportunities available to me to learn
new skills?
• Who are the people who can support me.
• Threats — What external resources do I/we lack (guidance/peer
support/parental support etc.) which inhibit my progress?
• What external factors (demands made by friends/teachers/
parents, bullying, conflicts) block me from achieving success in
work and relationships?

• Identifying areas of improvement or weaknesses helps

individuals grow and become better so that they are better
prepared to deal with personal challenges.
• It is important that one identifies people who can support
them to learn new skills and abilities, can help create
opportunities for new learnings and personal growth.
Activity 5 — Role Play on how one behaves
in different situations
• Divide the participants into groups of 5–6 members.
• One situation can be given to more than one group.
• Give 10 minutes for preparation of role play.
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• A classmate lodges a false complaint against you to a strict

class teacher.
• There is a problem at home and your best friend comes to
visit you.
• You do not do well in a subject at school.
• Your father scolds you without any reason.
• Your team wins an interschool sports competition.
After role play and discussion the teacher summarises that
• We experience a range of emotions from positive to negative
in different situations, for example happiness, satisfaction,
sadness, anger, frustration, etc.
• These are further reinforced by people around us
• It is necessary to express these emotions but there are both
positive and negative ways of expression
• It is important to recognise that stress and anger are
emotions that can be tackled, controlled, and decreased
• Rather than comparing oneself with others, it is far more
healthy and productive to compete with our own selves and
steadily improve our own performance/ behaviour
• Generate a discussion on what other healthy reactions can
they use when they experience challenging emotions and
add to the list on the board. Add some from the reference
list below.
■ Listening to music

■ Taking deep breaths when I am nervous

■ Playing a sport, running up and down stairs when I

am angry
■ Meditating or praying

■ Leave the scene

■ Talk about your feelings with someone you trust who is

preferably not directly involved in the incident

■ Listen to your favourite music

■ Exercise or do some physical activity

■ Write and then destroy a letter to the person you are

angry with
■ Watch a funny movie

■ Spend time on your favourite hobby

■ Do something creative

■ Help somebody else

Factors like nutrition, physical activity, stress-coping

methods, good relationships, and a sound mind influence our
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state of wellness. When faced with challenges, some return

to the state of wellbeing by themselves, while others might
require help.
Questions for Self-reflection:
Every participant should be encouraged to record at least three
traits in response to each of the two questions.
• I am valuable and important because _________________
• My family, friends and teachers are valuable and important
because _________________
The facilitator should emphasise the following:
• Awareness of positive traits/ qualities makes one feel good
and enhances self-esteem
• Positive feedback from important people in our lives (for
example, friends, family, teachers) also helps us to feel good
about ourselves
• Appreciating others also makes us feel good
• When we feel good, we respond to everyday situations more
positively
• Positive outlook helps us to recognise and work on our
failings and shortcomings and continually improve ourselves
without being hard on ourselves
Safety and Security in Schools
‘School Safety’ has been defined as the creation of safe
environments for children starting from their homes to their
schools and back. This includes safety from large-scale ‘natural’
hazards of geological/climatic origin, human-made risks,
pandemics, violence as well as more frequent and smaller-scale
fires, transportation and other related emergencies that can
adversely affect the lives of children.’
School Safety efforts need to take into account all kinds of
hazards such as floods and earthquakes, dilapidated buildings,
loosely placed heavy objects such as almirahs, invasion of the
campus by snakes and any other pests, broken or no boundary
walls, uneven flooring, blocked evacuation routes, poorly
designed and placed furniture, inadequate sanitation facilities
and road safety etc. Safety of children, their teachers and
parents needs to be approached holistically to include visible
as well as invisible risks

• For road safety, Children should

• Know Signals
• Stop, Look, and then Cross. ...

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• Pay Attention and Listen

• Not Run On Roads. ...
• Always Use Sidewalks. ...
• Crossroads and Pedestrian Crossing. ...
• Never Stick Hands Outside The Vehicle. ...
• Never Cross Road At Bends

School administration
• Allocate time for weekly knowledge and life-skill building
activities.
• Incorporate school safety issues in the school
development plan.
• Ensure that teachers and non-teaching staff receive
appropriate training in disaster risk reduction.
• Involve PRIs/ Urban Local Bodies and line departments in
safety planning exercises.
• Ensure that relevant norms and standards for school safety
are applied in their own school building and functions.
• Ensure active and equitable participation of school
community, including children and elected representatives
for preparing and implementing SDPs.
• Deploy appropriate strategies to encourage and support
children to participate in spreading disaster risk reduction
knowledge to families and communities.
Activity
Prepare a chart on the Roles and Responsibilities of Different
Stakeholders about disaster management.
• State Disaster Management Authorities
• District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs)
• National level Education Authorities
• State level Education Authorities
• District and Block level Education Authorities
• SCERT and DIETs
• School administration
• Accreditation and Registration Authorities for schools
• PRIs / Urban Local Bodies and Line Departments
• School Children

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Right of school children to a safe learning environment

cannot be the responsibility of one institution. The National
Policy on Disaster Management reinforces that disaster
management is everyone’s business.
Activity 6 — Violence and Harassment
Read each story given below slowly while showing the cartoon
strips to the learners.
If possible, make photocopies of the cartoon strips and
share with the participants.
After each story is read out, use the discussion questions
given below each story to facilitate the discussion.

School based story

Neighbourhood based story

Questions for discussion

Is violence there in both the story? Why do you think so?
• How do you think Usha would have felt in this situation?
• Could the teacher have acted differently in school based
story? If yes, how?
• How would the girl feel in this situation given in second
story?
• Do such incidents happen often with women and girls?

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• What can be done to stop such incidents?

• What can the girl do to seek help and stop this harassment?
The teacher can also organise a quiz using the statement
given below.
Activity 7 — Conduct a Quiz
• A father helps his child to study.
• When Radha makes a mistake in her home homework, the
teacher calls her ‘stupid’.
• A big boy pushes a smaller boy while playing.
• The girls in her class make fun of Komal, because she has
short hair.
• A mother helps her daughter to get ready.
• Boys start whistling when they see girls.
• Sonu’s mother beats him because a book gets torn.
• A child does not like the way a neighbour touches him/her.
• Ali’s friends make fun of him because he does not pass
comments on girls.
• An adult person shows vulgar photographs to a child.
• Neighbours tease Rupesh because he helps with the
household chores.
• A tutor touches James inappropriately.
• Robert and Meena play kho-kho together.
Activity 8 (for Students)
Ask students to reflect on the observation of surroundings-
school, home, community
• Do they see any acts of violence around you? What forms of
violence do they see? Ask them to discuss with friends and/
or parents on what can be done to prevent such incidents?
• Read newspapers from the last two weeks and cut out
articles that have any forms of violence. Discuss with your
friends and/or parents on what can be done to stop these?
• Have you done anything, either alone, or with someone’s
help, to intervene and stop any of acts of violence around
you? Write, or draw, about such experiences, and discuss
with your friends or class teacher.
• Encourage children to make a list of trusted adults from
whom they can seek help for any unsafe situations
• Create a poster for your school with key messages on
responding and seeking help in case of violence and abuse.

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The teacher reinforces as follows:

• Any act that causes harm (physical, mental, emotional or
sexual) to another person, against whom the act is directed,
is violence.
• People with power use violence as a means to control people
with less power.
• Anyone can face violence at different times in their life.
However, the ones who are in a position of less power in
society due to their gender, age, caste, class, etc. are more
likely to face violence.
• Violence and abuse can be emotional violence, sexual
harassment physical violence corporal punishment,
bullying, etc.
• There can be many other situations of violence. Violence in
any form or in any situation is never acceptable. One needs
to challenge the violence in everyday lives to help make our
surroundings safe for ourselves as well as for others.
• One should always try to seek help when faced with violence.
Keeping quiet and not reporting violence may make matters
worse.
• There are various people, services and institutions that
should help us in such situations. It is important to
collectively respond to situations of violence.
• Say No assertively. If you are finding it difficult to say “No”
– start thinking “No, Thinking NO” –
• Go away from that person when you get a chance. Get to
a safe place which has more people around, or go offline if
you are being bullied online.
• There are laws to protect children from abuse.
■ United Nations Convention on the Rights of Child provides

that no one is supposed to hurt children in any way.

■ The Government of India has created a law called

Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO)

to support children in case someone sexually abuses
them.
Anyone (be it an adult or a child) who sexually abuses children
or breaks their Article 34, will have to bear consequences under
this law.
Promotion of Safe Use of Internet, Gadgets and Media
Nowadays, many people use new media like Internet to quickly
find information. At the same time, they spend a good deal of

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time on media. Although media is a rich source of information,

all of it may not be true or reliable. We should not believe
everything shown in advertisements. It is important to clarify
information. False information affects our attitudes and
behaviors. It is advisable to seek guidance from a trusted adult
while accessing media and internet.
Activity 9 — Time Diary for proper use of Media
Guidance to the facilitators
• Tell the participant that through this activity, we will try
to develop the ability to discriminate between positive and
negative messages. We also learnt that there is a huge gap
between ‘real’ and ‘reel’, hence we should not be influenced
by appealing advertisements or believe everything we see
on media.
• Tell the learners that all of us have only limited number of
hours per day within which we have to do all that we want
to -- work, leisure, time, with parents and so on.
• It is for this, that we will be making a time diary.
• Draw the following table on the Blackboard.
Media/ Gadget
Time you spend on media/
Time Activity that you access
gadget and for what reason
during this time
E.g., 6.00 - 7.00 a.m Wake up and get Newspaper 15 minutes, read news on first
ready page and sport news
7.00- 7.30 a.m Breakfast and Radio 5 minutes, listened to music
leave for school

• Ask the participants to draw the table in their copies as

well. Similar activities can be organised for children also.
• Tell them to think over their day and recall all their activities
and put those activity and time in the column.
• Generate a discussion on the time spent on media. Encourage
everyone to participate actively in the discussion.
• Now ask them to adjust the time spent on various activities,
so to make better use of their day.
Think over it
• Out of the total time how much time you are spending on
various media?

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• Do you think you are devoting enough time to physical

activities, hobbies and learning new skills?
• What is the impact of spending more time on media, on our
health and relationships?
Time is limited, therefore it is very important to use
productively. It is healthy to allocate reasonable time for each
activity such as play and exercise, hobbies etc rather than
spending all the time sitting indoors, watching TV/on the
internet/etc.
Try to follow the plan for one week. Record any difference in
your physical and mental health. Share the changes with other
teachers.
After going through this module the participants/learner will
be able to enhance their holistic development by responding to
real life situation effectively. Participatory process oriented and
non-judgmental approach adopted during the transaction of
this module will provide opportunity to think critically, analyse
various issues and concerns and draw influences related to
health and wellbeing.

References
Expression India: Booklets and Some Reference Material
Health and Wellness Curriculum Framework. 2018. NCERT
Health and Wellness Facilitator Guide, NCERT. 2019
Health and Wellness Training Material, NCERT. 2019
National Disaster Management Authority. 2016: National
Disaster Management Guidelines School Safety Policy,
Government of India, New Delhi
Simmi’s Journey Toward Cleanliness, Primary Stage, NCERT.
2017, New Delhi Sanitation and Hygiene, Upper Primary
Stage, New Delhi, NCERT. 2017
Teacher’s Guide on Health and Physical Education, Class VI.
NCERT. 2016, New Delhi
Teacher’s Guide on Health and Physical Education, Class VII,
NCERT. 2017, New Delhi
Teacher’s Guide on Health and Physical Education, Class VIII.
NCERT. 2019, New Delhi
Training and Resource Material-Revised, NCERT. 2019
Yoga— a Healthy Way of Living, Upper Primary Stage, English.
NCERT. 2015
Yoga— a Healthy Way of Living, Secondary Stage, English.
NCERT. 2015

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