Personal and Community Health
Grade 7 - 8
Overview
Personal and community health practices coupled with consistent health-enhancing behaviors are essential in preventing many infectious/communicable and chronic diseases and illnesses. Health education teachers play a pivotal role in supporting students in grades seven and eight in developing effective health-enhancing behaviors. Many students this age are becoming more aware of their community beyond home and school, this an important time to analyze health issues that are challenging their greater community, including environmental factors such as those identified in California’s Environmental Principles and Concepts (EP&Cs), especially since the health of one’s community is an important influence on one’s overall health.
Information and Resources
The Nature Conservancy of California
The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive.This resource provides health education awareness events and advocacy activities.
American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association provides information and resources on diabetes, health education awareness events, and advocacy activities.
Latino Coalition for a Healthy California
The LCHC supports federal and state legislation that expands access to oral health and health care to millions of Californians who face challenges in accessing basic care in order to live healthy lives.
Child Health and Disability Programs (CHDP) (physical, dental, and vision resources)
The Child Health and Disability Prevention Program (CHDP) is a preventive program that delivers periodic health assessments and services to low income children and youth in California. This site provides physical, dental and vision health resources.
Curriculum and Lessons
Kids Health: Human Body Series - Sleep Lessons
Sleep gives the body a rest, but your students may not be getting enough to reap the benefits! The following discussion questions and activities will help your students learn the value of a good night’s sleep and explore ways to remedy some common sleep problems. Grades 6-8.
Healthy Teeth, Bright Futures: K-12 Oral Health Curriculum
This K-12 Oral Health curriculum was designed for Oregon school districts and developed by The Healthy Teeth Bright Futures Coalition. Curriculum in English and Spanish.
Partnerships
Partnering with the Family
- Students design and create a monthly or quarterly health newsletter or informational email for parents, guardians, caretakers, and families on various personal and community health topics studied in class.
Partnering with your School
- Working with campus administrators and parent volunteers, students plan, implement, and evaluate a health education fair.
- Students can host various booths on a variety of personal and community health topics.
- Fellow students, teachers, parents, administrators, parent-teacher volunteer groups, and school board members are invited to attend the informational event.
Partnering with your Community
- Students research the advocacy activities of various local nonprofit chapters such as the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, The Nature Conservancy of California (see EarthShare California for a list of other environmental organizations) to organize smaller, scalable school-based events to bring health education awareness to the community.
- Parents, guardians, caretakers, and students can be informed to contact your local Public Health Child Health and Disability Programs (CHDP) to provide available resources for physicals, dental, and vision services..