aidemia--modules-lessonstartideas_type	Give a creative idea how to begin a lesson
Which subject	English
What age group	College
What topic	Mental health awareness
Quantity	1
Any other preferences

Lesson Introduction: Mental Health Awareness

Welcome to Our Journey

Introduction Activity: The Emotion Wheel

To kick off our lesson on mental health awareness, let’s engage in an interactive activity. We will be using an Emotion Wheel, a visual tool to help us articulate our feelings. This exercise will not only set the tone for our discussions but also emphasize the importance of identifying and communicating our emotions—key components in understanding mental health.

Step 1: Distribute the Emotion Wheel

• Hand out printed copies of the Emotion Wheel to each student.
• Ensure that each student has a comfortable space to reflect.

Step 2: Personal Reflection

Ask students to take five minutes to think about their current emotional state. Encourage them to choose three words from the Emotion Wheel that resonate with them the most.

Step 3: Small Group Sharing

Break the class into small groups of three to four students. In these groups, encourage them to:

1. Share the three emotions they selected.
2. Discuss any recent experiences that triggered these feelings.
3. Reflect on how these emotions might impact their overall mental health and academic performance.

Step 4: Group Discussion

After small group discussions, reconvene as a full class. Invite a few groups to share what they discussed. Facilitate a broader discussion using the following prompts:

• How can recognising our emotions help us manage our mental health?
• What societal factors influence our understanding of mental health?

Conclusion

This introductory activity not only serves to create a supportive classroom environment but also illustrates the complexity of mental health. As we progress through our lesson, keep in mind how our emotional awareness can influence our understanding of mental health on both a personal and societal level.

Let’s embark on this important conversation together!