Personal and Community Health
Kindergarten - Grade 3
Overview
Most kindergartners are curious about their bodies and what makes them grow and be healthy. Setting a foundation for proper health practices can lead to a lifetime of good health outcomes. Teachers and administrators play an important role and have responsibility for the promotion of personal, community, and environmental health of their students. Adults can help students practice how to ask for assistance with health-related problems and help them learn about their local environment and how their actions can affect it.
Information and Resources
American Red Cross (Emergency Community Resources)
The Red Cross offers emergency aid, advice, and assistance about disaster recovery and preparation.
School-Wide Handwashing Campaigns Cut Germs, Absenteeism
This Education World article provides information and a list of Handwashing Resources and Lesson Plans.
Don’t Fry Day - EPA
The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention has designated the Friday before Memorial Day as “Don’t Fry Day” to encourage sun safety awareness.
Sun Safe Summer Activity Packet - Karen Clifford Skin Cancer Charity (skcin)
Sun Safe Summer Activity Packet helps raise awareness and promotes skin cancer prevention and early detection.
Staying Healthy - Sesame Street in Communities
Information and activities about brushing teeth, washing hands, eating well, and exercising regular doctor and dentist check ups to ensure that families have the support, information, and care they need to help kids stay well.
Epilepsy Education and Awareness
California Department of Education provides Information for parents and educators on the needs of children with epilepsy in the California school system.
Curriculum and Lessons
PBS Parents Lesson Plan - Reduce, Recycle, Reuse
In this lesson, students consider how the concept of "needs" vs. "wants" can help them think about ways to protect Earth's natural resources by reducing, reusing, and recycling materials.
Ray and the Sunbeatables® & Be Sunbeatable™ - CATCH
A Sun Safety Curriculum for Pre-K through 1 and Be Sunbeatable™ for grades 2-5, are sun safety programs that are flexible and easy to implement, age-appropriate, and free for schools to use.
BAM Resources (Mental Health and Hygiene for ages 3-8) - CDC
This unit has information on the mental health, development, and hygiene of school age children. Topics include bullying, anxiety and depression, stress and coping, and sleep, hand and oral hygiene.
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.
CATCH Healthy Smiles
CATCH Healthy Smiles is a program for grades Pre-K – 2 that is designed to improve the oral health of students by teaching about and encouraging proper toothbrushing and flossing techniques, a nutritious diet, and regular visits to a dentist.
Book List
Kindergarten - Grade 3
Dr. De Soto
by William Steig (2010)
Germs Are Not for Sharing
by Elizabeth Verdick (2006) (English/Spanish)
Germs! Germs! Germs!
by Boobie Katz (1996)
Germ Stories
by Arthur Kornberg (2007)
Fire! Fire!
by Gail Gibbons (1987)
My Tooth is About to Fall Out
by Grace Maccarone (1995)
Loose Tooth
by Lola Shaefer (2005)
George the Sun Safe Superstar!
by Kathryn Clifford (2012) - Free book
Classroom Activities
Hand Washing
- Do a glitter/paint hand-washing activity with students.
Reuse/Reduce/Recycle
- “I Spy” magnifying glasses to identify reusable items in the classroom.
- Celebrate Earth Day.
- Organize a School Clean Up Day.
- Organize a School Improvement Day.
Skin Health
- Participate in Don’t Fry Day (the Friday before Memorial Day).
- Participate in Skin Cancer Awareness Month during May.
- Participate in Melanoma Day (the first Monday in May).
- Make DIY sunglasses.
- Invite a dermatologist to speak to students about sun safety.
Family and Community Health
- Have students create a “I Can Make a Difference!” poster campaign.
- Make a class Yucky Picnic Collage.
- Environmental Health Challenge.
Partnerships
Partnering with the Family
- Invite parents to help at a School Improvement Day. Paint murals, plant gardens, etc.
- Provide information for health services to families.
- Encourage students to talk with their parents, guardians, and caretakers about having an emergency plan at home, as well as smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers.
Partnering with your School
- Celebrate Earth Day by making a creative poster showing how they will help make Earth a better place.
- Students can host or participate in a Clean Up Day to make their school or playground clean.
- Invite guest speakers such as dermatologists or a representative from a cancer prevention organization to talk about sun safety and protection against skin damage.
- Students recognize other students as ‘Health Heroes’ with stickers or ribbons.
Partnering with your Community
- Invite a doctor, dentist, optometrist, or school nurse to visit the class and share good health practices and what students should expect when they visit a healthcare provider.
- Field trip or virtual field trip to doctor, dentist, or other health care provider’s office.
- Who can I call? Students research who they can call for help if they feel threatened.