Mental Wellness Advocates: Building a Healthier Tomorrow

Introduction

Welcome, Future Mental Wellness Advocates!

Have you ever wished there were more places in your community where you could go to feel calm, safe, and supported? What if you had the power to create a space that helps young people take care of their mental health?

In this WebQuest, you will step into the role of a Mental Wellness Advocate. Your mission? To design a public park or space that promotes emotional well-being, safety, and inclusion for youth in your community.

As you explore real-world challenges around youth mental health, you’ll work with your team to:

  • Research what makes a space mentally and emotionally supportive

  • Learn how community spaces impact mental health

  • Use digital tools to plan, design, and present your vision for a Mental Wellness Park

This is your chance to make a difference by using creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking—and to design something that could inspire change in the real world.

Task

Your Mission:

You are now a Mental Wellness Advocate, and your job is to design a public space that promotes mental and emotional health for young people in your community. This space could be a park, a courtyard, a school area, or any other place where teens and children can relax, recharge, and feel safe.

 

What You Will Do:

As a team, you will:

  1. Research youth mental health challenges and community wellness needs.

  2. Explore examples of how public spaces can be designed to support emotional well-being.

  3. Access valid resources and use digital tools to plan your own Mental Wellness Park.

  4. Create a digital design proposal for your park using tools like Google Drawings, Canva, or Google Slides.

  5. Present your park design and explain how each feature supports mental wellness.

 

Final Product:

Your team will create a visual layout and a brief presentation that includes:

  • A digital design or map of your Mental Wellness Park

  • Labels or descriptions for each feature

  • A short explanation of how your park promotes mental health

  • A reflection on how this could positively impact real communities

You’ll be assessed based on your creativity, collaboration, research, and communication using the project rubric.

Process

Step 1: Define the Challenge

Think about the driving question:

“How can we, as mental wellness advocates, design a fun and safe public space that promotes mental health for young people in our community?”

In your group, brainstorm:

  • What do you already know about mental health?

  • What makes a space feel safe, calm, or welcoming?

Discuss your thoughts and jot down your first ideas together.

 

Step 2: Do the Research

Explore the resources provided by your teacher and do some searching of your own.

Research topics may include:

  • What mental health means for youth and teens

  • What makes a space supportive of emotional wellness

  • How design and color affect mood

  • What features help people relax, reflect, or connect

Use digital tools like:

  • Google search

  • Mental health websites (e.g., NAMI, CDC Kids’ Mental Health)

  • Videos, infographics, or articles

Be sure to write down the websites you use—only include reliable sources!

 

Step 3: Plan Your Park

Now that you’ve gathered ideas, it’s time to make a plan!

Each group member should take on a role:

  • Researcher – gathers mental wellness facts

  • Designer – sketches or builds the layout

  • Writer/Presenter – explains the design choices

  • Organizer – keeps everything on track

Together, decide:

  • What features will your park include?

  • How will each part support mental wellness?

Think about things like:

  • Quiet spaces, gardens, art walls, open fields, seating areas, water features

 

Step 4: Create Your Design

Use a digital tool to bring your plan to life!

Suggested tools:

  • Google Drawings

  • Canva

  • Google Slides

  • Jamboard

  • Tinkercad (optional for 3D)

Your design must include:

  • A labeled layout or visual of your park

  • At least 3 features that support mental wellness

  • Short notes explaining how each feature helps

 

Step 5: Present Your Park

You’ll present your wellness park to the class (or in small groups). Be ready to:

  • Show your digital layout

  • Explain your design decisions

  • Talk about what you learned about mental health

You may present using:

  • A slideshow

  • A recorded video

  • A live presentation

 

Step 6: Reflect & Evaluate

When you're done, complete a short reflection:

  • What did you learn about mental wellness?

  • What was it like working with your team?

  • How could your design help real people?

Use the rubric to self-assess your work before turning it in.

 

Evaluation

Click here to view the Mental Wellness Park Rubric 

Use this rubric to guide your work and check your progress before submitting your final project. Each category outlines what you’ll be evaluated on, from teamwork and research to creativity, design, and presentation.

Make sure your final product reflects your best effort across all areas!

 

Conclusion

You Did It!

You’ve completed your journey as a Mental Wellness Advocate and created a powerful design for a public space that supports emotional health in your community.

Through research, collaboration, and creative thinking, you’ve:

  • Investigated real challenges facing young people today

  • Explored how public spaces can impact mental wellness

  • Used digital tools to design an inclusive, supportive environment

  • Shared your vision with others in a meaningful way

 

Reflect On Your Learning

Before you go, take a moment to reflect:

  • What did you learn about youth mental health that surprised you?

  • How can design make a space feel safe, calm, or inclusive?

  • What challenges did your team face, and how did you overcome them?

  • How would you feel seeing a space like this actually built in your neighborhood?

You may be asked to complete a brief reflection or exit ticket to wrap up your experience.

 

Final Thought:

Your voice matters. Your ideas matter. And the work you’ve done here could be the start of something that truly helps others.

Thank you for being part of this important mission.

Credits

This WebQuest was created as part of a teacher preparation assignment on digital storytelling and inquiry-based learning.

Resources Referenced in Student Research:

Rubric created using QuickRubric:

Curriculum Standards:

  • Ohio Department of Education – Health Education Model Curriculum (Grades 6–8)

  • ISTE Standards for Students and Educators – https://www.iste.org/standards

WebQuest Platform:

Special thanks to the University of Cincinnati program for encouraging digital inquiry projects.

Teacher Page

Teacher Page – Lesson Plan Overview

Lesson Title

Design a Mental Wellness Park WebQuest

 

Grade Level

6th–8th Grade

 

Subject Area

Health Education – Mental and Emotional Wellness

 

Purpose

This WebQuest engages students in a real-world challenge where they take on the role of mental wellness advocates and work collaboratively to design a safe, inclusive public space that promotes mental health for young people in their community. Students will research emotional wellness, evaluate credible resources, and use digital tools to propose a solution rooted in empathy, creativity, and critical thinking.

Learning Objectives

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

  • Identify characteristics of emotionally healthy individuals.

  • Evaluate the reliability of mental health information and resources.

  • Demonstrate collaboration and communication skills.

  • Apply digital tools to create and present a purposeful public design.

  • Advocate for youth mental health through an evidence-based proposal.

 

Aligned Standards

Ohio Content Standards – Health Education (Grades 6–8)

  • Standard 1: Functional Knowledge (emotional health, stress, communication)

  • Standard 2: Analyzing Influences (peers, community, culture)

  • Standard 3: Accessing Valid Resources

  • Standard 4: Interpersonal Communication

  • Standard 7: Practicing Health-Enhancing Behaviors

  • Standard 8: Advocacy Skills

     

ISTE Standards

  • Students – 1.4 Innovative Designer

  • Educators – 2.5 Designer

     

Estimated Duration

  • 5–7 class periods (45–60 minutes each)

    • Can be extended for deeper research, revision, or presentation time

       

Materials / Tools Needed

  • Internet-connected devices (Chromebooks, tablets, or computers)

  • Google Docs/Slides or other collaborative tools

  • Canva, Google Drawings, Jamboard, or other design software

  • Access to curated mental health resources (provided by teacher)

  • Rubric (printed or linked)

     

 

Procedures

  1. Introduction: Present the driving question and hook students with a relatable scenario or video.

  2. Task Briefing: Explain the end goal and expectations; form student groups.

  3. Inquiry Process: Guide students through the WebQuest steps (research, plan, design, present).

  4. Collaboration: Support team communication and role assignments.

  5. Design Phase: Students use digital tools to build their mental wellness park proposal.

  6. Presentation: Each team shares their design, highlighting how it addresses youth mental health.

  7. Evaluation: Students are assessed using the rubric and reflect on their learning.

     

Modifications / Differentiation

  • Provide leveled reading materials or text-to-speech tools for struggling readers.

  • Allow multiple product options (e.g., infographic, slideshow, or verbal pitch).

  • Offer guided note-taking tools and visual brainstorming templates.

  • Use flexible grouping (pairs or teams) based on strengths and comfort levels.

  • Assign roles (e.g., researcher, designer, presenter) to balance participation.