Iris’ Lesson Plans

Iris has been busy developing lesson plans to help educators address mental health issues in the classroom. The lesson plans use Ontario Curriculum expectations but can be assimilated to any curriculum standards.

Lessons

“Learn how Iris’ Puppet Show Can Help Shape
Children’s View of Mental Health Issues”

The ‘Summer Magic’ puppet kit provides educators with the opportunity to have the children become more involved in a dialogue about mental health. Through creating the puppets and performing the skit, students identify with the characters in ‘Summer Magic’ and understand the challenges people face when involved with a mental health issue.

The puppet kit includes:

  • Puppet Manual (including instructions for set design and puppet creation)
  • ‘Summer Magic’ script
  • ‘Summer Magic’ CD (including voices of characters so children can play along and the ‘Catch a Falling Star’ theme song.)

Click here to order “Summer Magic”

Iris' School Programs

From experience, Iris the Dragon understands that awareness and having the right facts about mental health issues helps to reduce the fear and stigma associated with it. That is why Iris has developed school programs that help students become familiar with the topic of mental illness

Listed below are suggestions for school programs. Mental Health Week is the first week in May, which is a good time to raise school awareness. However, any time of year is a great time to educate peers about the importance of mental health.

Design a School Mascot For Mental Health Awareness

Iris the Dragon represents many things to many people. Most of all, she represents hope to children struggling with mental health issues. As a school challenge, individuals can design an animal mascot that they feel represents and can speak to the topic of mental health. The mascot should include a catch phrase that promotes awareness or educates others about mental health. In addition, an explanation of how the animal mascot helps to promote mental health awareness should be included.

This activity is a good chance for students to do independent research on mental health. For related sites to assist in student’s research, visit Iris’ Links.

If you are interested in having an Iris the Dragon representative evaluate the mascots, please contact us

Educate Your School About Mental Health Through the Use of A Play

In 2003, “Catch a Falling Star: A Tale from the Iris the Dragon Series” was converted to a play for CAMH’s (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) Madness and Arts Festival in Toronto. Performed for the length of the festival and at Toronto’s elementary schools by the Workman Theatre Project of Ontario, the play received positive reviews in continuing to educate children and caregivers about mental illness.

If your school is interested in performing the play for Mental Health week or to initiate a school wide discussion about mental health, please contact Iris the Dragon for a copy of script.

Click here to see pictures of “Catch a Falling Star,” the play, at the Madness and Arts festival.

Develop an Iris Poster Campaign around Your School

Iris the Dragon has many tips and ideas about how to keep your brain healthy and reduce stress. Using The Iris the Dragon Book Series, develop posters of Iris the Dragon with sayings that offer advice about how to keep one’s brain healthy and strategies to cope with stress.