Health Education Course Descriptions

Health Education provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to maintain health and wellness throughout their lifetime. The intent of a comprehensive health education program is to motivate students to improve their health, prevent disease, and avoid or reduce health related risk behaviors. All teaching and learning is focused on student achievement of learning standards (National and New York State). Health literate youth have the ability to maintain and enhance personal health and fitness, create safe environments, and manage personal and community resources. Health education provides real life learning experiences with personal applications of scientifically research-based health knowledge and skills in relevant situations. Health Education creates opportunities and experiences that engage and challenge young people to assess, explore, and question their health, while personalizing, adapting and evaluating their learning.

Middle School Curriculum

Middle School Health Education is a course that introduces students to the basic concepts of health and wellness. Students will explore many topics and the factors that will influence their health and wellness, so that we can make health literate decisions regarding living a healthier life.

Course of study:

• Personal Health and Wellness
• Life Expectancy
• Influences of Advertising and Media
• Diseases and Disorders
• Physical Fitness
• Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco
• Self Esteem
• Decision Making
• Safety
• Nutrition
• Family Life
• Human Growth and Development - Parenting
• HIV/AIDS
• Community Health
• Environmental Health
• Mental Health
• CPR/AED -Results in Red Cross Certification

High School Courses

Nutrition 101 (11/12)  1/2 Cr.  
Prerequisite: Health Education (completed in 9/10)
Course Description: This course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to explore and expand on basic nutrition concepts.  Students will learn the principles behind developing and maintaining a diet that supports good health and decreases the risk of various chronic diseases, the role of macronutrients and micronutrients and the role these play in our biological functions.  In addition to foundational knowledge, students will have opportunities to analyze food labels, compare various diets and diet trends and styles of eating based on nutritional needs, including allergies, intolerances and preferences; students will discuss current nutrition controversies and the influence of various factors on personal food choices.  
Homework: Students are expected to complete homework as assigned.
Summer Assignment: None
Assessments: Students will demonstrate a mastery of content knowledge and skills through written assessments, group and independent activities and projects.

Health Education (1/2 credit **Graduation Mandate**)

This course enables students to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to promote the lifelong goals of health and wellness. The focus of the course is to empower each student with the capacity to obtain, interpret and understand basic health information and services, and apply that knowledge to make informed health enhancing decisions in their daily life. Content areas included within the study of Health Education would include the following: community health, consumer health, environmental health, family life (human sexuality, parenting, relationships, human growth and development), mental and emotional health, injury prevention, nutrition, personal health and fitness, prevention and control of disease, and substance use and abuse. Through the study of these conceptual areas, students will not only comprehend the principles related to health promotion and disease prevention, but will also be able to demonstrate their ability to use this knowledge in a healthful manner.

Course Objectives:

• All health education students will meet or exceed the New York State and National Learning Standards for Health Education.
• Students will achieve health literacy.
• Students will acquire valid reliable scientific health knowledge and use that knowledge in a health promoting manner.

Assessments Utilized in Course: Students will demonstrate a mastery of content knowledge and skills through written assessments, journal writing, and projects.

Homework Expectations: Students are expected to complete daily homework assignments.

Exercise Physiology (1/2 credit elective)

This elective is designed for the college-bound student. Exercise physiology is the study of the function of the human body during various acute and chronic exercise conditions. Beginning with the basic physiological concepts of energy metabolism, pulmonary, cardiovascular and muscular function, the student explores the effects that exercise has on the human body. Content includes: ergogenic aids and performance, athletic nutrition, anabolic steroids, athletic injuries, sports psychology as well as careers in sports medicine and other allied health sciences. In this course students will develop competencies in fitness testing and evaluation, and exercise and activity training in a lab setting. This course does not fulfill the mandated Health Education requirement.

Assessments Utilized in Course: Students will demonstrate a mastery of content knowledge and skills through written assessments, labs, and projects.

Homework Expectations: Students are expected to complete daily homework assignments.

Credit : ½ credit (elective)

Prerequisite(s): Health Education

Course Description:

This course is designed to address the health issues facing graduating seniors and to help students develop both the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a healthy adult lifestyle. Topics based on community/student interest may include: marriage, relationships, parenting, human sexuality, fitness, nutrition (“The Freshman 15”), adult obesity, safe driving skills, drugs, alcohol, health-related decisions, medical insurance, healthcare services and organizations, careers, consumer health, stress, and health-related issues facing college students and others on their own

Course Objectives:

• Students will access health information and services in order to make health promoting choices.
• Students will engage in self management/behavior management to prepare for college.
• Students will analyze influences on our health and well and identify health risk behaviors and interventions
• Students will be involved with interpersonal communications with health advocates as well as medical professionals.

• Students will develop the skills necessary to weigh options to make responsible decisions and to develop behaviors that promote healthy lifestyles.
• Students are encouraged to assess their attitudes and behavior patterns and understand the impact their health choices have on their communities and their own well-being.

Grades: 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): Health Education and Teacher Recommendation required.

Course Description:
This course is designed to address health issues in the community and empower students to make health promoting decisions. High school juniors and seniors will evaluate and gather information about community health issues. Students will facilitate a Health Education substance abuse prevention program to address community needs. Participants will coordinate with federal, state and or local health agencies to advocate for healthy communities. . Ultimately, under direct teacher supervision, students will implement the "Too Good for Drugs" program in the middle schools using the Peer Education Model.

• Consulting with community agencies (e.g. Suffolk County Department of Health, NY State Health Department, Centers for Disease Control, Suffolk County Police Department, Substance Abuse Counselors) for the purpose of information gathering, training and wellness promotion

Course Objectives:

• Students will develop the skills to make health-enhancing decisions and analyze behaviors that promote life-long wellness
• Students are encouraged to assess their attitudes and behavior patterns and understand the impact their health choices have on their communities
• Students will analyze community health concerns and set wellness objectives
• Students will evaluate current health programs, services and develop lesson plans
• Participants will implement activities for community service learning
• Students will cultivate public speaking skills
• Students will advocate for healthy schools and communities
• Students will develop transferrable and marketable skills to enhance their academic and professional experience

Summer Assignment required ("None" or specific description): "None"
Assessments Utilized in Course: Students will demonstrate a mastery of content knowledge and skills through written assessments, reflections, Peer Teaching Observations and community advocacy projects.

Homework Expectations: Students are expected to complete daily homework assignments.

Teens As Teachers, Part 2: Advocacy  (11,12) 1/2 Cr.
Prerequisite:  Teens As Teachers Part 1, introductory course
Course Description:  This course is designed to complement our introductory Teens as Teachers course by empowering students to continue their advocacy in our schools and community.  In this course, students will continue to address the health concerns they covered in their previous experience and expand on them by developing and implementing programs and outreach for both the elementary and the secondary level.
Homework:  Students are expected to complete work as assigned.
Summer Assignment:  None
Assessments: Students will demonstrate a mastery of content knowledge and skills through written assessments, reflections, peer teaching, observations and community advocacy projects.