Designing this unit on Emotional and Mental Wellness was both rewarding and also had its challenges. I was excited to take something I believe is really important and build a full unit. As I built each lesson, I was reminded how important it is to create space in education for students to explore their thoughts and emotions, not just their academic or physical abilities. So often, we focus on performance and outcomes, but this unit allowed me to prioritize personal connection, reflection, and building resilience strategies.

My goal was to design something that felt relevant, practical, and safe, especially given the online format. I wanted students to feel that their experiences and emotions were valid, and that there were tools and strategies available to help them cope. From activities like the Inside/Outside Mask to the Personal Support Plan, I aimed to provide opportunities for students to be introspective, creative, and honest with themselves. My choices for interaction and communication were rooted in building engagement and a sense of belonging while prioritizing emotional safety. I prioritized asynchronous reflection to allow for students to take necessary reflection time for difficult topics, while offering a chance for visibility through padlet, class word bubbles, as well as a group project. I hope that this fostered community and the idea that other students are dealing with the same concerns.

One of the biggest challenges was balancing structure with flexibility. In an online environment, clarity is crucial, but so is student choice. I tried to offer multiple modes of expression and diverse activity formats to reflect different learning styles and emotional comfort levels.I also found it challenging to not overwhelm the unit with so much information because there was so much I thought was valuable. I think I will be adding to it however I did not have the time.

My digital story, which introduces the concept of the stress response and explains that stress is not inherently harmful, was created using Canva’s video and voice-over tools. This tool was chosen because it allows for simple, clean visual design, narration, and layered multimedia elements (music, animation, graphics) to enhance understanding. I do admit that if I could redo this I would have. I think I would be much more effective with it given another go around.

Overall, I’m proud of this unit because it teaches real-life skills students can carry forward. It encourages self-awareness and compassion, both for themselves and others. I hope students walk away not only knowing how to identify stress, but feeling empowered to manage it and seek support when needed.