Grades 9 to 12 • Personal Health Series

Screen Time
When teens spend so many hours looking at a TV, computer, tablet, phone, or video
KidsHealth.org/classroom
game screen, they have less time for other important things, like exercise,
learning, real-world socializing, and even sleep. These activities will encourage
Teacher’s Guide students to discover healthier, more active ways to spend their time.

This guide includes:

• Standards
Related KidsHealth Links
• Related Links
• Discussion Questions Articles for Teens:
• Activities for Students
Why Exercise Is Wise
• Reproducible Materials
TeensHealth.org/en/teens/exercise-wise.html

Easy Exercises for Teens

TeensHealth.org/en/teens/easy-exercises.html
Standards
How to Pick a Great Book
This guide correlates with TeensHealth.org/en/teens/books.html
the following National Health
Education Standards: Technology: 5 Ways to Reboot Yourself
TeensHealth.org/en/teens/reboot.html
Students will:
Are Video Games Good for the Mind?
• Comprehend concepts related
to health promotion and TeensHealth.org/en/teens/gaming.html
disease prevention to enhance
health.
5 Ideas for Better Sleep
• Analyze the influence of TeensHealth.org/en/teens/tips-sleep.html
family, peers, culture, media,
technology, and other factors
on health behaviors.
• Demonstrate the ability to
access valid information and
products and services to
enhance health. Discussion Questions
• Demonstrate the ability to use
interpersonal communication
Note: The following questions are written in language appropriate for sharing with
skills to enhance health and
avoid or reduce health risks. your students.
• Demonstrate the ability to
use decision-making skills to 1. In your opinion, can teens become “addicted” to their screens (phones, tablets,
enhance health. computer, TV, video games)? Is it possible to break the habit?
• Demonstrate the ability to use
goal-setting skills to enhance
2. How can too much screen time interfere with a healthy lifestyle?
health.
• Demonstrate the ability to
practice health-enhancing
3. Is it difficult to disconnect from your gadgets and screens at night? Would you
behaviors and avoid or reduce agree or disagree with experts who say that an inability to unplug at bedtime
health risks. can affect teens’ sleep habits?
• Demonstrate the ability to
advocate for personal, family, 4. How do family members’ screen-time habits rub off on each other? Would you be
and community health. more likely to turn off your TV, computer, and phone if the rest of your family
did the same?
National Health Education
Standards: www.cdc.gov/
healthyschools/sher/
standards/index.htm
© 2017 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.
 Grades 9 to 12 • Personal Health Series
Screen Time
Activities for Students
Note: The following activities are written in language appropriate for sharing with your students.

Screen-Time Tracker

Objectives:
Students will:
• Assess their daily screen-time habits
• Try to replace screen time with healthier activities

Materials:
• “Screen-Time Tracker” handout
• Pencil or pen

Class Time:
• 25 minutes (5 minutes explaining the assignment, 20 minutes after completing the handout over 2 weeks)

Activity:
Not including homework, how much time do you spend in front of a screen each day? If you’re like most teens, it’s
probably a lot. During Week 1, use the Screen-Time Tracker to record how much time you spend watching TV;
playing video games; or using a smartphone, tablet, or computer (other than for homework). During Week 2,
continue to record your screen time, but make it a goal to cut back. When you’re about to watch TV, play a video
game, or go online, try a screen-free activity. After the second week, we’ll talk about the changes you made. Did
you feel any differently? Did you get more done?

Extension:
Make copies of the “Screen-Time Tracker” handout for each of your family members. See who can score the
lowest amount of screen-time hours. What were the most fun activities that didn’t involve a TV, computer, tablet,
smartphone, or video game screen?

© 2017 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.
 Grades 9 to 12 • Personal Health Series
Screen Time
Sleepless in Screenville

Objectives:
Students will:
• Research the effects of screen time on sleep

Materials:
• Paper and pencil or pen

Class Time:
• 45 minutes

Activity:
After reading the TeensHealth articles about screen time and sleep, write a response to this letter to the school
newspaper advice columnist. Be sure to give plenty of facts that will help “Sleepless in Screenville” convince her
sister that powering down, especially at night, is important for good health.

Help! Ever since I started sharing a room with my sister, I haven’t been able to sleep. The TV is always on. Her
friends text all night. She even wakes up to check Instagram and her Facebook page. She’s just as tired as I am
the next day. How can I convince her that the world won’t end if she focuses on getting a good night’s sleep?
— Sleepless in Screenville

Extension:
On Day 1, have students track the way they spend their time on a typical weekday. On Day 2, ask them to make sure
to include at least 1 hour of exercise or physical activity (walking or biking to school and other active daily routines
count), 8 to 10 hours of sleep, and as little screen time as possible (homework using a computer does not count).
Have them write an essay about how Day 2 went, and ways they might be able to make meeting the Day 2 goals
easier.

Reproducible Materials
Handout: Screen-Time Tracker
KidsHealth.org/classroom/9to12/personal/fitness/screen_time_handout1.pdf

Quiz: Screen Time

KidsHealth.org/classroom/9to12/personal/fitness/screen_time_quiz.pdf

Answer Key: Screen Time

KidsHealth.org/classroom/9to12/personal/fitness/screen_time_quiz_answers.pdf

KidsHealth.org is devoted to providing the latest children’s health information. The site, which is widely
recommended by educators, libraries, and school associations, has received the “Teachers’ Choice Award
for the Family” and the prestigious Pirelli Award for “Best Educational Media for Students.” KidsHealth comes
from the nonprofit Nemours Foundation. Check out www.KidsHealth.org to see the latest additions!

© 2017 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.
 Personal Health Series
Screen Time
Name: Date:

Screen-Time Tracker
Directions: Fill in the number of hours, to the nearest quarter-hour, you spend with each type of screen during Week 1. Add up the daily hours in the last column, then add up
the total hours for the week here: ________ hours.

Week 1 Computer* Mobile Devices* TV Video Games Total Hours

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

*not including use for homework

© 2017 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.
 Personal Health Series
Screen Time
Name: Date:

Screen-Time Tracker
Directions: Fill in the number of hours, to the nearest quarter-hour, you spend with each type of screen during Week 2. Add up the daily hours in the last column, then add
up the total hours for the week here: ________ hours. List your screen-free alternatives at the bottom.

Week 2 Computer* Mobile Devices* TV Video Games Total Hours

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

*not including use for homework

Screen-free alternatives:

© 2017 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.
 Personal Health Series
Screen Time
Name: Date:

Quiz
1. True or false: Overdoing screen time is linked to lower grades and a higher chance of becoming overweight.

2. True or false: Turning off the TV at night is a good way to help you fall asleep.

3. Teens should exercise at least minutes a day.

4. Teens sleep this much each night:

a) 7 hours

b) 7½ hours

c) 8 hours

d) 8 to 10 hours

e) 9½ to 10 hours

5. True or false: Participation in team or individual sports is the only way to get healthy exercise.

6. True or false: Walking or biking to school counts as exercise.

7. Exercising causes the body to produce , which are chemicals that can help a person feel more peaceful and happy.

8. True or false: Teens who spend lots of time sitting in front of TV, video, and computer screens and using their smartphones are
more likely to be overweight.

9. True or false: Texting doesn’t count as screen time.

10. You can get better sleep if you:

a) and your friends agree not to message after a set time

b) charge your phone away from your bedroom

c) power down your computer at night

d) turn off the TV

e) all of the above

© 2017 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.
 Personal Health Series
Screen Time

Quiz Answer Key

1. True or false: Overdoing screen time is linked to lower grades and a higher chance of becoming overweight.

2. True or false: Turning off the TV at night is a good way to help you fall asleep.

3. Teens should exercise at least 60 minutes a day.

4. Teens sleep this much each night:

a) 7 hours

b) 7½ hours

c) 8 hours

d) 8 to 10 hours

e) 9½ to 10 hours

5. True or false: Participation in team or individual sports is the only way to get healthy exercise.

6. True or false: Walking or biking to school counts as exercise.

7. Exercising causes the body to produce endorphins, which are chemicals that can help a person feel more peaceful and happy.

8. True or false: Teens who spend lots of time sitting in front of TV, video, and computer screens and using their smartphones
are more likely to be overweight.

9. True or false: Texting doesn’t count as screen time.

10. You can get better sleep if you:

a) and your friends agree not to message after a set time

b) charge your phone away from your bedroom

c) power down your computer at night

d) turn off the TV

e) all of the above

© 2017 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.