Standard of Learning

8.2   The student will apply health concepts and skills to the management of personal and family health. Key concepts/skills include:

1. the risks associated with gang-related activities;
2. the benefits of using resistance, problem-solving, and decision-making skills for addressing health issues;
3. the importance of developing relationships that are positive and promote wellness;
4. the benefits of developing and implementing short- and long-term health and fitness goals that are achievable and purposeful.

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Understanding the Standard

The student will understand that developing positive relationships with others will help promote mental and physical wellness, and the importance of developing and implementing short- and long-term health and fitness goals.

Essential Knowledge and Skills

The students will:

• identify how developing positive relationships promotes wellness.
• describe the goal-setting process:
  • identify the goal;
  • list the steps to reach the goal;
  • get help and support from others;
  • evaluate progress along the way; and
  • reward yourself once the goal is achieved.
• analyze why goal setting is a critical component of a personal fitness program.
• describe and give examples of the difference between short- and long-term goals.

Sample Lessons

All Stars
Grades 6-8
Designed to delay and prevent high-risk behaviors including substance use, violence, & premature sexual activity by fostering positive personal characteristics (positive ideals and future aspirations; positive norms; strong personal commitments; school connectedness; positive parental attentiveness). Includes 9-13 lessons in first year plus booster lessons.
Sponsor: Tanglewood Research Inc.
Contact: http://tanglewood.net
Cost

Eating Forever
Grades 6-12
Importance of a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Sponsor: PBS
One-two class periods
http://www.pbs.org/teachersource(select Health & Fitness – Middle School – Diet & Nutrition)
Free

HeartPower
Grades 6-8
Teaches students about the heart and how to keep it healthy. Includes physical activity, nutrition, and living tobacco-free. Science-based.
--Healthy Snacks - quick activity (Discusses what makes snacks healthy. Students develop recipes for healthy snacks and plan how they would market the snack.)
--Build Your Own Pyramid - activity sheet (Students record what they eat throughout the day on the food pyramid and discuss the results.)
--Become a Fat Detective - quick activity (Students analyze fast food menus to find fats and discuss more healthy ways to cook.)
--Aerobic or Anaerobic? - quick activity (Discusses differences between aerobic and anaerobic exercise, and the relationship between regular physical activity and a healthy heart. Students keep records of their activities.)
--How Does the Heart Work? - lesson idea
--What Increases the Risks of CVD? - lesson idea
--More or Less? - lesson idea
--Why Is a Low-Fat Diet a More Healthful Diet? - lesson idea (Encourages children to eat a variety of healthy foods to maintain a healthy heart. Activity sheets.)
--How Do You Choose a Physical Activity? - lesson idea (Relationship between exercise, body concept and a healthy heart. Activity sheets. Create an exercise video.)
--How Can You Help Others Stay Tobacco Free? - lesson idea
--Why Is Secondhand Smoke Dangerous? - lesson idea
--Build Your Own Pyramid - activity sheet
--Today's Specials - activity sheet
--What or Who Influences Your Food Choices? - lesson idea (Relationship between healthful food choices and self-concept.)
Sponsor: American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org
Free

Let’s Get Moving!
Students consider different forms of physical activity; track exercise; and compare with other children throughout the U.S. Keep daily log for one-two weeks.
Three class periods
--Keeping a Physical Activity Log
--Classroom Comparison of Activities
--Family Fitness
Sponsor: Michigan State University
http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/letsnet/noframes/subjects/health/b8u4.html
Free

Lions-Quest Skills for Adolescence
Grades 6-8
Positive youth development program focusing on social and emotional competencies; good citizenship skills; strong, positive character; drug-free lifestyle; and service to others.
Sponsor: Lions Quest
Contact: http://www.lions-quest.org
Cost

A Meal of Endurance
Grades 5-8
Explores nutritional value of antarctic explorers' high fat diet.
Sponsor: PBS
One class period
http://www.pbs.org/teachersource
Free

Middle Level Interdisciplinary Curriculum (Mid-LINC)
Curriculum teaches nutrition concerns to pre-adolescents.
--Prehistoric vs. Modern Diet
--Growing to the Max
--Food-Environment Connection
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Education
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/food_nutrition/cwp

Mission Nutrition
Grades 6-8
Web-based units and lesson plans covering:
--Self-esteem and body image
--Gender
--Media Awareness
--Healthy Eating (multiple lessons)
--Physical Activity
Sponsor: Dietitians of Canada and Team from Kellogg Canada, Inc.
http://www.missionnutrition.ca/missionnutrition/eng/educators
Free

Planet Health
Grades 6-8
*Evaluated program with mixed results
Interdisciplinary curriculum encouraging students to choose healthy foods, increase physical activity, and decrease inactivity. Includes 63 lessons, “Power Down” campaign to decrease television viewing, FitCheck tool to check fitness level, and worksheets. Gives students skills to make healthy changes, strengthen competence, and foster support.
Sponsor: Harvard University
http://www.humankinetics.com
+Cost

Physical Activity
Grades 7-8
Focuses on fitness as fun; the benefits of physical activity; and barriers to physical activity.
Three class periods
Sponsor: Mission Nutrition
http://www.missionnutrition.ca/missionnutrition/eng/educators/6to8.html
Free

Responding in Peaceful and Positive Ways (RIPP)
Grades 6-8
Model 3-year violence prevention program. Includes importance of significant friends or adult mentors; relationship between self-image and gang-related behaviors; conflict resolution; and effects of environmental influences on personal health.
Sponsor: Virginia Commonwealth University
Contact: ameyer@saturn.vcu.edu
Cost

The SPARK Programs (Sports, Play and Active Recreation in Kids)
Grades preK-8
*Evaluated program with mixed results
Program to increase physical activity within and outside of school. Includes materials for PE and non-PE teachers. Special teacher training required.
Sponsor: San Diego University
http://www.sparkpe.org
+Cost

Sports Nutrition for Adolescents
Grades 6-8
Promotes healthful nutrition to students participating in school or community-based athletics.
--Sports Drinks
--Sports Bars and Energy Foods
--Sports Diet
--Protein Power
--Recovery Carbs
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Education
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/food_nutrition

You Are What You Eat
Grades 6-8
Explores how social class might affect personal health, understanding of nutritional needs, and methods for community change.
Source: PBS
Two-four class periods
http://www.pbs.org/teachersource(select Health & Fitness – Middle School – Diet & Nutrition)
Free

Additional Instructional Resources

• American Cancer Society – “Generation Fit” – e-mail: rita.w.miller@cancer.org
• American Heart Association – Hoops For Heart (basketball fund-raising activity for AHA - middle schools) – http://www.americanheart.org
• Health and Fitness – http://www.health2fit.com
• Health Fitness Goals – http://www.lifeclinic.com/focus/nutrition/physical-fitness.asp
• Health Textbook
• Local Fitness Centers and Instructors

Assessment Ideas

The student will:

• develop and implement a program for achieving a short- and long-term fitness goal.
• write a poem about developing positive relationships that promote wellness.

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