The Talking about Mental Health podcast is split into three parts, each with a different purpose. Feel free to listen to all parts or just skip to the part most useful to you. Parts I and II are informative, knowledge building episodes, while part III is an activity designed to get learners and teachers talking about mental health. Feel free to redesign the questions to suit your class needs.
Once you've made your own, we'd love to get some collaborations going, so there's a space at the bottom of the page to submit your work which will allow us to share this with other participating schools to create a network of open access resources for teachers across the country who want to bring a positive culture into school.
Part III is
an activity
This podcast was produced by Thomas Sayers and presented by Matilda Blake and Amelia Cripps. With thanks to Simon Barber and the Sodajerker podcast on songwriting. Music by Thomas Sayers, Amine Maxwell and Jay Someday.
Questions
Start with a warm up question...
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How are you feeling today? If they are not sure, try suggesting some feelings like happy or sad, angry or excited.
Then ask about primary school...
When you are talking about feelings, it is important to try and think about why you might feel that way.
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What do you like most about primary school?
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Why do you like that?
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What do you like least about primary school?
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Why do you not like that?
Now ask about secondary school...
There will be lots of scary things about moving schools, so take some time to think about what you are looking forward to. Being positive helps.
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Do you know anyone else who has moved up to secondary school? Maybe a sibling?
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What are you looking forward to about year 7 and why?
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What are you not looking forward to about year 7 and why?
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How does that make you feel?
Problem solving
It’s important to know how you can help yourself when you are feeling a certain way. Sometimes, just talking about it can help. Other times, we need a bit more guidance.
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What would you like to make it easier going to year 7? If you can tell me then you can tell someone else!
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How would that help you?
Answers
Psst...there is no wrong answer! You can write down any ideas in the box below.
If you leave the page these won't be saved.
Warm up question...
Have a think about what’s happened today. Did you like those things?
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I am feeling...happy / sad / tired / hungry / .....................because.....................
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I did.....................and it made me feel / think.....................
Talking about primary school...
When you are talking about feelings, it is important to try and think why you might feel that way. Try and think about why you like things about your school.
Maybe you like your teacher because they are funny, or you like the playground because it has lots of toys.
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The thing I like most about primary school is.....................because.....................
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The thing I like least about primary school is.....................because.....................
Talking about secondary school...
There will be lots of scary things about moving schools, so take some time to think about what you are looking forward to. Then you can think about what is making you nervous, and why that might be.
It might be that the new school is bigger than this one, or that you will not know the teachers.
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Yes, I know.....................and they went to.....................school. This is useful because.....................
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No I don’t know anyone and this makes me feel.....................
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I am looking forward to.....................because.....................
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I am not looking forward to.....................because.....................
Problem solving
It’s important to know how you can help yourself when you are feeling a certain way. Sometimes, just talking about it can help. Other times, we need a bit more guidance.
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I have / have not thought about that. It would be helpful if.....................
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This would be helpful because.....................
WAIT!
Have you asked a grown up before uploading your work?
If anyone in your class has made a podcast they're proud of, we'd love to hear it. If everyone's happy to share, then you can upload it over to the left.
This will be available to authorised members (teachers) of this website and can be used as a resource for them in the future. Please ensure you relevant permission to share before uploading files.
Use the contact button below to get in touch if you have any questions.