Discussion cards are available for:

The discussion cards cover the following topics:

  • Nutrition
  • Exercise and sport
  • Well-being
  • Relationships and sexuality
  • Smoking, alcohol and drug prevention
  • Sleep
  • Media literacy
  • Hearing
  • Hygiene
  • Environment and nature

The discussion cards with statements help teachers engage in conversation with students in class about their wishes for a Gezonde School. They also explore what they specifically understand by topics such as ‘working on well-being’ or ‘A green environment in and around the school’. The Gezonde School coordinator takes the input to the Gezonde School working group, to discuss further how the school can incorporate this input when working with the Gezonde School approach. The discussion cards provide further depth to the sample needs-assessment questions.

Steps

Students talk to each other and the teacher or hold a discussion using the Discussion Cards. This works well according to the steps below:

1. The Gezonde School coordinator chooses one or more topics. These may be cards about Gezonde School topics that the school is already working on. They may also be topics to which the school would like to devote more attention. The Gezonde School coordinator downloads and prints (additional) Discussion Cards ‘What do you think?’ for the topic (one printout per 4 students). The teacher can of course also open the statements on the interactive whiteboard.

2. The teacher presents the Discussion Card about a topic to the class. First, they explain what the topic involves and what the school is already doing about it. They also explain whether and how the school already involves students in this topic.

3. The teacher forms groups of approximately 4 students and gives each group a form or displays it on the interactive whiteboard. The students therefore see 1 Discussion Card containing several statements. The students discuss the statements within their groups. What do they think? Which statement do they consider the most important? A top 3 can be compiled if desired. The teacher goes around the groups and helps get the discussion going, or helps it progress, where necessary.

4. The teacher brings the discussion back to the whole class. They ask each group for its opinion on the statements. They ask why the students think this and which statement they consider the most important. They also draw connections: do the students agree with each other or not? What do students envisage rules or activities looking like? In the meantime, the teacher makes notes on the students’ contributions.

5. After the lesson, the teacher shares the students’ contributions with the Gezonde School coordinator. The coordinator then considers with the Gezonde School working group how this input can be translated into concrete activities and incorporated into work with the Gezonde School approach. Did a student have a good idea, or was someone critical of a statement or activity? In that case, the Gezonde School coordinator may ask that student to explain their thinking in more detail. Or they may ask a few students to think further about implementing an activity or school rules.

6. The teacher can return to this in later lessons and discuss what is being done at school in response to their suggestions. Thanks to the students!

Cards with tips

The cards with tips accompanying the statements are intended for the Gezonde School coordinator. Gezonde School uses these to provide further support. The Gezonde School adviser from the GGD in your region can also help you think things through. Visit www.gezondeschool.nl/advies-enondersteuning/overzicht-gezonde-school-adviseurs for the contact details of the Gezonde School adviser from the GGD in your region.