Time online and body image
I can explain how people online may alter their appearance and why this is not representative of how I should look.
Time online and body image
I can explain how people online may alter their appearance and why this is not representative of how I should look.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Many celebrities and influencers use filters to edit their appearance.
- Comparing ourselves to people online is comparing ourselves to an impossible ideal.
- We should not expect ourselves or others to look like people we see online.
- Everybody is different.
- Body shaming online or in person is never acceptable.
Keywords
Filter - an effect used on a photo or video to alter the way you look
Body image - how we see, think or feel about our body, including our shape, size and appearance
Body shame - to make hurtful comments about a person's appearance, body shape or size
Common misconception
Influencers always show us reality.
Many influencers alter their appearance or body shape and might engage in harmful behaviours to achieve a particular body type.
To help you plan your year 8 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: Time online and body image, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: Time online and body image, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 RSHE (PSHE) lessons from the Media influence: What's a healthy way to spend my time online? unit, dive into the full secondary RSHE (PSHE) curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Content guidance
- Language may offend
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
- Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
any time spent on a digital device with a screen
a light from screens that can keep you awake
to talk, play or spend time with friends, family or new people
notice taken of someone or something
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
an effect used on a photo or video to alter the way you look
how we see, think or feel about our body, including our shape and size
to make hurtful comments about a person's appearance or body shape