Today's Active Minutes vs. the WHO Guideline
At the end of the lesson, each student works out how many minutes of moderate and vigorous activity they logged based on heart rate or the Borg scale, and compares that with the 60 minutes a day the WHO recommends for teens. Then they plan how to make up the rest of the day.
How to play
- Easy walk while the teacher reviews the WHO guideline: an average of 60 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous activity, with vigorous and muscle-strengthening activity at least three days a week (2 min).
- In pairs, students go over the lesson's phases and label each task as light, moderate (Borg 3-4 or talking is harder) or vigorous (Borg 5 or more), using a heart rate monitor or app if they have one (2 min).
- Each student adds up moderate and vigorous minutes and calculates what percentage of the 60 minutes the class covered (2 min).
- Each student writes two realistic options on the card to make up the rest today (walking home, practice, walking the dog), and one pair shares their plan (2 min).
Rules
- Phones are used only to check activity data and are put away afterward.
- Data is personal: nobody has to share their numbers.
- Each student compares themselves with the guideline, not with classmates.
- Plans must be specific (what, when, how long).
Variations
Easier
The teacher provides the task labels and students just add up minutes.
Standard
Students label the tasks with Borg or heart rate and make a two-option plan.
Harder
Log a full week and check next class how many days they reached 60 minutes.
Adaptations
- Students with disabilities: use the WHO guidelines for people with disabilities, which are equivalent and adapted to their abilities.
- No phone or heart rate monitor: label tasks with the Borg scale and the talk test.
- Dyscalculia: use an addition table in 5-minute blocks.
Learning goals
- Learn the physical activity guidelines for teens.
- Estimate task intensity from their own data.
- Plan concrete actions to stay active outside school.
Equipment for a class of 25
- cards: 30
- tablets or phones: 15
Teacher tip
Students are often surprised that a PE class doesn't reach 60 minutes; use it to talk about the role of free time. Keep the cards to compare at the end of the term.
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