Media Health Messages wellbeing lesson plan
A primary wellbeing lesson for Years 1 and 2 that helps Australian teachers introduce media literacy and healthy choices through a structured, ready-to-teach lesson. Students learn to notice advertisements they see around them and begin to understand how ads can influence the food, drinks and activities people choose. The lesson keeps the focus practical, helping young students build early skills for looking at messages critically rather than accepting them at face value.
Online Safety, AI & Digital Literacy
Snapshot
Media Health Messages
The lesson gives teachers a structured way to introduce early media awareness alongside simple, age-appropriate health and lifestyle examples.
Prep time:
5 to 10 minutes
Lesson length:
45 to 50 minutes
Key Focus
Recognising how advertising can influence health and lifestyle choices
Lesson Format
Teacher-led discussion and structured activities
What students will learn
By the end of the lesson, students will be supported to:
Recognise
recognise that advertisements are designed to encourage people to buy or choose something
recognise examples of health and lifestyle messages in ads for food, drinks or activities
recognise that not all ads show a healthy or balanced choice
Understand
understand that advertisements can influence how people feel about food and lifestyle choices
understand that healthy choices can look different from what is shown in an ad
Practise
practise asking simple questions about an advertisement, such as what it is trying to sell
practise describing a healthy choice in their own words
practise talking about advertising using respectful, non judgemental language
Who this lesson is for?
This lesson is designed for younger primary students in Years 1 and 2 who are beginning to notice advertising in everyday life and are building early understanding of healthy eating and lifestyle choices.
It is suitable for:
primary wellbeing lessons
Health or PDHPE teaching
pastoral care or advisory sessions
early digital literacy or media awareness lessons
classroom discussions about healthy eating and lifestyle
Suitability should be based on more than age alone. Teachers should consider the lesson focus, student maturity, cohort needs, classroom culture, existing discussion norms and available support pathways.
Best used when
Use this lesson when students need clear, practical language for recognising unkind behaviour and knowing what to do next.
Introducing media literacy Use when students are new to the idea that advertisements are designed to influence choices.
Building healthy eating and lifestyle discussions Use when reinforcing classroom learning about food, drinks and everyday health habits.
Practising critical thinking Use when students are learning to ask questions about what they see and hear in ads.
Reinforcing wellbeing or Health topics Use when connecting advertising awareness to broader wellbeing or Health learning.
Supporting digital literacy foundations Use when introducing early ideas about how messages online and in the media can shape choices.
Creating a structured wellbeing discussion Use when you want a calm, teacher-led discussion about advertising, health and everyday choices.
The lesson can be used proactively with the whole class. It does not need to follow a specific incident.
Why this lesson matters
Students see advertisements for food, drinks and lifestyle products every day, often without realising these messages are designed to influence what they choose. Helping students notice and question advertising early supports them to build confident, everyday thinking skills rather than simply accepting every message they see. This is not about labelling foods or choices as good or bad, but about understanding that ads have a purpose and are not always a reliable guide to a healthy choice. This lesson supports a classroom culture where students feel comfortable asking questions about what they see and hear, building a foundation for critical thinking that can extend to other media and digital contexts as students get older.
How this lesson supports wellbeing
This lesson supports student wellbeing by building practical social and emotional skills students can use in everyday school life. It helps students develop:
Capability How the lesson supports it
Media awareness Students begin to notice when an advertisement is trying to influence a choice.
Critical thinking Students practise asking simple questions about what an ad is trying to sell.
Health literacy Students connect advertising messages to healthy eating and lifestyle choices.
Decision making Students consider whether an advertised choice reflects a healthy or balanced option.
Communication Students use respectful language when talking about advertising and health.
Confidence Students build confidence to question messages rather than accept them automatically.
For teachers and school leaders, the lesson contributes to broader wellbeing, respectful relationships, child safety and pastoral care goals in Australian primary schools.
Teaching notes & Delivery Considerations
This lesson includes content about unkind behaviour, exclusion and asking adults for help. It should be taught with calm, clear discussion norms.
Before teaching
Remind students not to name specific brands, products or family shopping habits
Frame the discussion around advertisements in general, not personal accusations about anyone's choices
Prepare a small number of simple, familiar advertising examples students may recognise, without naming specific companies
Be prepared to follow your school's child safety, wellbeing or child protection procedures if a student discloses harm or says they feel unsafe
During delivery
Use simple language such as trying to sell or trying to get us to choose when describing advertising intent
Keep the tone curious rather than critical of any particular food, product or family choice
Give students time to share what ads they have seen without needing to say where or with whom
Avoid describing any food or lifestyle choice as good or bad, and focus on the idea of advertising influence instead
Supporting safe discussion
Remind students that everyone's family makes different choices, and this lesson is not about judging those choices
Keep examples general rather than asking students to describe their own household habits in detail
Redirect discussion if it moves toward comparing or judging classmates' choices
Adaptation options
Use simple picture based examples for students who need more visual support
Extend discussion for students ready to talk about why companies create advertisements
Offer partner or small group discussion for students who are less confident sharing with the whole class
