‘Being in the zone’ is a term used to describe when a person is happy or excited because they are doing something that they enjoy, using their skills and talents. Understanding activities that put them ‘in the zone’ is helpful for students' ongoing development and wellbeing.

Year level

7-10

Duration

5 minutes

Type

In class activity

Online learning

SEL Competencies

Self-awareness

Self-management

Social awareness

Learning intention

Students understand the concept of ‘being in the zone’.

Key outcomes

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

  • define ‘being in the zone’

  • understand situations where they may be ‘in the zone’.

Materials needed

  • Notepaper and pen

Mapped to

Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education

  • Plan and implement strategies, using health resources, to enhance their own and others’ health, safety, relationships and wellbeing (AC9HP8P10)

  • Plan, rehearse and evaluate strategies for managing situations where their own or others’ health, safety or wellbeing may be at risk (AC9HP10P08)

Australian Curriculum: General Capabilities

  • Personal and Social Capability:

    • Self-awareness

    • Self-management

  • Critical and Creative Thinking:

  • Inquiring: identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas

  • Generating ideas, possibilities and actions

NSW PDHPE Syllabus

  • Examines and evaluates strategies to manage current and future challenges (PD4-1)

  • Assesses and applies self-management skills to effectively manage complex situations (PD5-9)

Show details

Activity 1

Instructions

5 minutes

1. Explain to students that athletes and artists often use the term ‘being in the zone’ when they are engaging in their sport or creative activity.

2. In groups, students:

  • Discuss what the term ‘being in the zone’ means.

  • Brainstorm examples of where being in the zone may occur (e.g. hobbies, learning, sport, painting, drawing, writing an assignment).

  • Discuss why being in the zone might occur.

3. As a class, discuss how we can use the concept of ‘being in the zone’ to achieve a goal or complete a task.

Reasons for ‘being in the zone’:

  • You have a strength that can be successfully used in the task.

  • The task requires skills that you have practised well.

  • The task is challenging for you.

  • There are clear goals involved in the task and you know what to do.

  • You can tell how well you are going.

  • You feel in control of the task.

  • Time passes very quickly. Hours go by like minutes because you are so deeply involved.

  • You are concentrating so much, you forget about yourself.

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