Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) · 5th Year

Active learning ideas

Personal Care and Body Image

This topic helps your pupils tackle the physical and emotional changes of growing up. We will explore practical self-care and build resilience against media pressures on body image.

• NCCA Curriculum Specifications
• SPHE Curriculum: Myself - Growing and changing

• 25–40 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Gallery Walk
• 40 min · Pairs

Media Detectives

In pairs, pupils examine a curated selection of age-appropriate advertisements from magazines or websites. They identify and discuss how the images might be trying to sell a product by promoting a certain 'ideal' look, and look for signs of photo editing.

Explain why personal hygiene becomes more important during puberty.

Facilitation Tip

Focus the discussion on the advertising techniques used, rather than making personal comments about the people in the photos.

What to look for

Teacher observation during group discussions and role-plays, noting pupils' ability to contribute respectfully and apply key concepts.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

Activity 02

• Gallery Walk
• 30 min · Small Groups

The Hygiene Problem-Solving Bag

Write common hygiene-related scenarios on slips of paper and place them in a bag (e.g., 'You forgot your deodorant before PE'). In small groups, pupils pick a scenario and brainstorm practical, positive solutions to present to the class.

Analyse how media can influence body image.

Facilitation Tip

Establish clear ground rules for respectful and non-judgmental discussion before starting the activity.

What to look for

Pupils complete an 'exit ticket' at the end of a lesson, writing down one new thing they learned and one question they still have.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

Activity 03

• Gallery Walk
• 25 min · Individual

Unique Qualities Portrait Gallery

Each pupil creates a self-portrait, then writes three unique qualities or things they are proud of about themselves on the border. These can be displayed to create a gallery celebrating the diversity of the class.

Justify the importance of celebrating diversity in appearance.

Facilitation Tip

Encourage pupils to include non-physical attributes, such as being a kind friend or being good at maths.

What to look for

Pupils create a simple poster or a one-page comic strip aimed at younger pupils, explaining one key message, such as 'Why It's Great to Be Unique' or 'Top Tips for Staying Fresh'.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

A few notes on teaching this unit

Create a safe space for questions by using an anonymous 'Question Box'. Use circle time for sensitive discussions to promote listening and empathy. When analysing media, provide the images and guide pupils with questions so they can discover the key messages for themselves. Always reinforce the idea that there is no single 'right' way to look.

Pupils will gain the confidence to manage their personal hygiene and the skills to think critically about the media they see, fostering a positive view of themselves and others.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• Having body odour or acne means you are a dirty person.

  These are normal, common effects of hormonal changes during puberty. Regular washing, using deodorant, and a healthy diet are good hygiene habits to manage these changes, which everyone goes through.

• The people I see on TikTok and Instagram look perfect, so I should try to look like them.

  Images and videos on social media are often carefully chosen, filtered, and edited. They don't represent everyday reality, and striving to match an unrealistic online image can be harmful to your self-esteem.

• Only girls care about their appearance and body image.

  Boys and girls both experience the pressures of puberty and media influence. It is important for everyone to learn about self-care and develop a positive body image, regardless of their gender.

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Methods used in this brief

• Gallery Walk