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Screen Time and Health

Eighth graders learn how screen time affects sleep, activity, posture, and mood, and the habits that keep technology a healthy part of life rather than a drain on it.

Grade 8Screen Time and Health45 minutes1 class periodSHAPEExplicit teaching4 StandardsSHAPE
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Spot screen-time effects.
  • ✓Protect your sleep.
  • ✓Balance screens with activity.
  • ✓Build better habits.
Essential Question

Screens are part of life, but how much and how you use them shapes your health. What does screen time do to your body and mind, and how do you keep it in balance?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Check It · Interactive

Screen-Time Check

Project this and answer each question about keeping technology a healthy part of your life — read the explanation after each one.

📱 Check what you know about screen time and healthTry it
Answer each question about keeping technology a healthy part of your life.
The Lesson · Health & PE Flow (Warm-Up · Learn · Practice · Apply · Cool-Down)

45 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — Just Five More Minutes

5 min

Screens are useful and fun, but hours add up fast. How does all that screen time affect your body and mind?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Ask about daily screen time.
  • List effects.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Screen-Time Check

12 min

Students answer questions about screen time.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to the Screen-Time Check.
  • Answer each question.
  • Read the why.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Answer.
  • Check.
  • Read it.
3

Modify — Swap a Habit

13 min

Students improve a screen habit.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pick a screen habit.
  • Name a healthier swap.
  • Say how it helps.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Pick.
  • Name.
  • Say.
4

Create — Tech Balance Plan

15 min

Students plan healthier tech use.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Set a screen-time limit.
  • Plan screen-free times.
  • Add an active alternative.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Set.
  • Plan.
  • Add.
5

Reflect — Use It, Don't Let It Use You

5 min

Students reflect on balance.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • How does screen time affect sleep?
  • What is one healthy tech habit?
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the SHAPE America National Standards for Health Education and Physical Education.

SHAPE
HE.1

Explain how screen time affects health.

SHAPE
HE.7

Practice healthy technology habits.

SHAPE
HE.5

Make balanced decisions about screen use.

SHAPE
HE.6

Set goals for healthier tech use.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Habit picture cards.
  • Sentence frame: “A healthy screen habit is ___ .”
  • Answer one question at a time.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with screens and sleep.
  • Track one day of screen time.
  • Review one habit at a time.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Research screen-time guidelines by age.
  • Design a family tech-balance plan.
  • Debate pros and cons of screen use.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🖼️Habit cards
  • 💻Screen-Time Check
  • ⏱️Timer / tracker
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

screen timetime spent looking at phones, tablets, TVs, or computerssedentarysitting or lying with very little movementsleep hygienehabits that support good, regular sleepposturehow you hold your body while sitting or standingeye straintired, sore eyes from long close focusmovement breaka short burst of activity during screen timedigital balanceusing technology without it crowding out lifescreen-free timeplanned time with no screens
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
How can screen time affect sleep?
Screens before bed can make it harder to fall asleep, so turning them off before bedtime helps.
QUESTION 2
Name one healthy technology habit.
For example, setting screen-time limits, taking movement breaks, or keeping screen-free times.
QUESTION 3
Why take breaks during long screen sessions?
Breaks reduce eye strain and sedentary time and give you a chance to move and reset.

Create: a tech-balance plan.

Have students set a screen-time limit, plan screen-free times, and add an active alternative for one, so technology stays a healthy part of their day. A printable screen-time worksheet is in the PE & Health library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Screen Time and HealthFlip
Card 1
Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Screen Time and HealthQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Screen Time and HealthPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: digital balance, eye strain, movement break, posture, screen time, screen-free time, sedentary, sleep hygiene
  1. how you hold your body while sitting or standing
  2. tired, sore eyes from long close focus
  3. using technology without it crowding out life
  4. planned time with no screens
  5. habits that support good, regular sleep
  6. a short burst of activity during screen time
  7. time spent looking at phones, tablets, TVs, or computers
  8. sitting or lying with very little movement

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. How can screen time affect sleep?
  2. Name one healthy technology habit.
  3. Why take breaks during long screen sessions?
Answer key — Part A: 1) posture · 2) eye strain · 3) digital balance · 4) screen-free time · 5) sleep hygiene · 6) movement break · 7) screen time · 8) sedentary
Part B: 1) Screens before bed can make it harder to fall asleep, so turning them off before bedtime helps. 2) For example, setting screen-time limits, taking movement breaks, or keeping screen-free times. 3) Breaks reduce eye strain and sedentary time and give you a chance to move and reset.