Free filmed drama workshops and lesson plans addressing the challenges of mental health and wellbeing in primary school children.
Young people’s mental health and wellbeing has never been so important. At Polka, we’ve created a series of FREE filmed drama workshops and lesson plans for Primary Schools, offering a fun, practical, and interactive approach to addressing children’s mental health and wellbeing.
These statistics show just how big the problem is for young people in the UK:
- There has been a 33% rise in referrals to specialist services for UK pupils needing mental health treatment – NSPCC
- One in six children aged 5 to 16 were identified as having a probable mental health problem in July 2021, a huge increase from one in nine in 2017. That’s five children in every classroom – Young Minds
- 83% of young people with mental health needs agreed that the Coronavirus pandemic had made their mental health worse – Young Minds
Our 10-15 minute videos use stories, characters, and creative activities to explore situations and emotions that children may be experiencing.
Using fictional stories, children will be able to explore the problems and stresses highlighted in the films, make connections with their own experiences and feelings, and share their responses.
During the films we show different coping mechanisms, including emotional regulation techniques.
There are 3 films for each age group and each film is accompanied with a lesson plan with additional activities for further learning.
These films and lesson plans can be easily interwoven into your PSHE sessions.
Drama and the creative arts can help children to better understand their feelings and the emotional challenges they may be facing. We hope by taking part in these films children will find a way to express and understand their feelings and anxieties and start to look towards a hopeful and brighter time ahead.
To receive your free film links and lesson plans, please email us stating which year group you work in.
“Was nice to have time to reflect on my feeling and emotions.”
“It helped me to look forward to things and think about the future.”
“It was good to know that others are feeling the same as me.”