Once your students have arrived, invite them to participate in a discussion.
Summertime is here! Is anyone trying to take a vacation this summer? Allow students to talk about plans or hopes for vacations. Some may talk about job losses in the family that will affect what they do.
Did you know that most Americans who have paid vacation days at work don’t use them all? Some are worried about finances, others don’t plan well, and many are worried that bosses and coworkers will think less of them if they take vacation.
- Have you ever found yourself wishing there were more hours in a day? What made you feel that way? (Answers may include that school takes a large chunk of time; friendships, extracurricular activities, and homework take priority and then there are chores, etc.)
- How would you say average middle school students spend their day? (Ask students to help you fill in the list. At this point in the social distancing, weekdays and weekends may look very much alike.)
The University of Texas published a study in April 2023 highlighting the top ways American youth are choosing to spend their time in 2023. These are items above and beyond school, homework, and sleep. Can you guess what items are on the list? Invite students to guess, keeping track of their correct guesses on a whiteboard or screenshared document. When students are out of guesses, list any items that weren’t mentioned.
The Changing Landscape of Leisure: How America’s Youth Are Spending Their Time in 2023
Digital entertainment (videos, gaming, social media, etc.)
Staying active (exercise, sports, outdoor activities, etc.)
Arts and culture (music, dance, painting, writing, etc.)
Intentionally unplugging from screen time
Community engagement (volunteering, activism, community programs, etc.)
Side hustles and passions
Voluntary learning self-improvement
Sustainable travel
Social interaction and personal connections
- Did anything surprise you about this list? If so, what? (Accept all reasonable responses.)
Our days tend to become full of activities that we choose and that people expect of us. Let’s look more at what we are doing in our daily lives and what God has to say about rest.
