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Grade 12

The Health Effects of Screen Time

Can screen time be bad for us?

The research is still out when it comes to exactly how screen time affects our health. But one area where we know it does is our sleep. Just having a device near us seems to change the way our brains work. Help students learn that being responsible with digital media means adjusting how we use it so it isn't unhealthy for our bodies or our brains.

See the U.K. version of this lesson plan

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify research trends related to the health impact of screen time.

  • Reflect on the nature of their own screen time and how it compares to that of parents and teens generally.

  • Use the Digital Habits Checkup routine to create a personal challenge to change a media habit.

Key Vocabulary: media balance   ·   active use   ·   passive use  
media balance:
using media in a way that feels healthy and in balance with other life activities (family, friends, school, hobbies, etc.)
active use:
contributing online via posts, comments, or other forms of communication and expression
passive use:
scrolling through online content without reacting to the content
This lesson meets standards for  Common Core ELA,  ISTE,  CASEL, and  AASL .  See standards
Don't have time for a full lesson?
15 mins.
This SEL activity helps students build self-management strategies in their digital lives.  Get the quick activity

Lesson Plan

45 mins.

What You'll Need

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Classroom resources

Take-home resources

© Common Sense Media. Lessons are shareable with attribution for noncommercial use only. No remixing permitted. View detailed license information at creativecommons.org
Lesson last updated: January 2022
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