Meet Changing Charlie - Creating Healthy Habits

Changing Charlie helps students develop healthy habits. Through a relatable story, movement, reflection, positive self-talk, and practice, students learn tools they can use at school, at home, and in everyday life.

Healthy Habits

Supports the CASEL competencies and ASCA Student Standards.

Changing Charlie’s Self-Talk

“I create change.”

Invite students to stand tall and say the phrase once aloud. Then repeat it twice quietly. Discuss how this self-talk can help when they want to create healthy habits.

Breathe & Stretch

Begin with a short Breathe & Stretch activity to help students release tension, become aware of their bodies, and prepare their minds for learning.

Use the video below, choose another Powerful You Breathe & Stretch activity, or create your own breathing and movement ideas based on your students’ needs.

20-Minute Lesson Plan

  1. Launch
    Show the Powerful You character picture. Introduce Changing Charlie and the theme of creating healthy habits.

  2. Breathe & Stretch
    Use the video or lead your own breathing and movement activity to help students move, breathe, and prepare to learn.

  3. Connect
    Read Changing Charlies’s true story from the Powerful You book or laminated Powerful You card. Invite students to connect the character’s experience to situations they may encounter.

  4. Practice Positive Self-Talk
    Stand tall and say “I create change.” once aloud and twice quietly. Discuss when students could use this phrase in their own lives.

  5. Reflect
    Use the reflection or journaling prompts included with the Powerful You lesson. Give students time to think, write, turn and talk, or share if they choose.

  6. Role-Play
    Invite students to hold the laminated Powerful You card and practice the skill by acting out a scenario of their choice.

  7. Leave an SEL Footprint
    Display the matching Powerful You classroom skill sign as a visual reminder of the lesson and self-talk.

  8. Practice and Reinforce
    Look for opportunities to notice, name, and celebrate students using adjusting skills in their daily lives.

Remember

Breathe. Stretch. Practice your self-talk. You are more powerful than you know!

Continue with Powerful You

This lesson is part of the Powerful You A–Z life-skills program for Grades 2–6. Explore the complete program to teach all 26 characters, skills, stories, and self-talk phrases.

 
GRADES 3-6rebecca wells