Dear Families,
This year, HUUSD has purchased the Quaver Health curriculum for grades K-5. (Since this is a new-to-us program, I am also using it some with 6th graders). You can read more about the program at https://www.quavered.com/parents/ I am of course supplementing this with other activities and discussions, for example reading one of my favorite books- Stella Luna - when we cover friendship.
We started the year by learning about the different domains or parts of health. While different models establish more or fewer categories, Quaver breaks it down into physical health, emotional health, social health, and intellectual health. I also add how environmental health effects us all.
Students are challenged to do one thing each day to boost their health in each domain. Some ideas we discussed are below.
Physical Health:
Drink water at every meal
Get 9-12 hours of sleep
Try a new food
Eat a meal with all five food groups
Play outside
Take a walk
Intellectual Health:
Do a puzzle
Read a book
Practice playing a musical instrument
Watch a nature documentary
Emotional Health:
Draw a picture
Write in a journal
Talk to a trusted adult about my feelings
Give a family member a hug
Social Health:
Play chess with a family member
Play outside with a neighbor after school
Call a friend on the phone
Ask a trusted adult to tell me a story about their childhood
Give a compliment to someone
Students have learned how these four domains intersect and overlap. For example, many students agreed that they feel cranky (emotional health) AND tired (physical health) if they don't get enough sleep. In the same vein, many of the topics covered in health class overlap with those covered in wellness class with Mr. Steve. More practice of skills for social and emotional well being as always a good thing!
The other themes we've covered thus far are social skills and decision making. Social skills lesson range from "making new friends" in kindergarten to the difference between passive, assertive, and aggressive communication for students in grades 1-4. Decision making looks like learning about the difference between a big problem, small problems and no problem in kindergarten and how to get help from a trusted adult. Fifth and sixth graders considered what their own values are and how they impact decision making.
This coming week, we will not have a traditional classroom class. Students in 5-6 are missing their usual health class period due to the Monday holiday, and students in K-4 will be biking on Tuesday during their usual health class period. We discussed all the reasons that biking is a healthy habbit!
So, before I sign off, a reminder of bike days for ALL K-6 students:
Tuesday, October 14th
Friday, October 17th
Please send bike helmets!
Have a great long weekend,
Ms. Zaino
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