Teacher sheet · Ages 6–7 · about 45–50 minutes
Why do we sleep?
Lesson page: echoesof.science/school/sleep/ages-6-7/ · Pupil worksheet: echoesof.science/school/sleep/ages-6-7/print/
Learning aims
- Everyone needs sleep; children need about 9 to 12 hours.
- The brain and body are busy during sleep (memory, growth and repair).
- Dreams happen in REM sleep.
- Simple habits help us sleep well.
Lesson plan
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 5 min | Starter: what do you think happens to your body when you sleep? |
| 10 min | Read the text together. |
| 10 min | Explain the sleep diary and do night 1 as a pretend example. |
| 10 min | Play Sleepy or wide awake? or do the quiz. |
| 5 min | Talk: what is your favourite calm thing to do before bed? |
Materials for the experiment
- A sleep diary sheet (the worksheet)
- Crayons or pencils
- A grown-up at home to help read the clock
Safety: Your diary is private: you never have to show it or tell anyone your times. There are no right or wrong answers.
Common misconceptions
| Pupils may think… | Actually… |
|---|---|
| Your brain switches off when you sleep. | The brain is busy: it tidies up and helps memory. |
| Grown-ups need more sleep than children. | Children need more: about 9 to 12 hours, most adults 7 to 9. |
| Screens in bed help you relax and sleep. | Devices and bright light in the bedroom are linked to less sleep. |
Worksheet answers
- Any calm routine (bath, brushing teeth, story, lights off).
- Yes.
- Any of: same bedtime, dark and quiet room, no screens in the bedroom, a calm story, playing outside in the day.
Quiz answers
- About how much sleep do children aged 6 to 12 need each night? 9 to 12 hours. CDC gives 9 to 12 hours for ages 6 to 12.[3]
- What does your brain do while you sleep? Helps you remember what you learned. Sleep helps the brain with learning and memory.[1]
- In which sleep do your eyes dart back and forth while you dream? REM sleep. Dreaming happens in REM sleep.[2]
- What makes you feel sleepy when it gets dark? Melatonin. Your body makes melatonin as it gets dark.[1]
- Which of these helps you sleep well? Going to bed at the same time every night. A regular bedtime helps your body clock.[3]
Going further
Make a class poster: 'Our best bedtime routine'. Be kind: families have different routines, and diaries stay private.
Sources used in this lesson
- [1] Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS, NIH)): reliability High
- [2] What happens during sleep? (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD, NIH)): reliability High
- [3] Sleep (Healthy Schools) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)): reliability High
Full list with links and a note on each source's reliability: echoesof.science/school/sleep/sources/
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