Health Teacher Resources

Healthy bodies and minds make healthy learners! Find a wealth of health-related lesson plans and activities on nutrition, wellness, growth and development, injury prevention, and first aid In Lesson Planet’s collection of reviewed and rated resources.

A good place to start is with a presentation about the primary components of each of the three major areas (physical, social, and mental health) of the health triangle. Introduce early learners to the health triangle and the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle with the collaborative activities found in this unit. The activities in another unit plan help middle schoolers develop a broader understanding of the areas of the health triangle.

Good nutrition is a key part of physical health. Get kids thinking about their food choices with a video that compares the nutrients found in fast foods to those in fruits and vegetables. Another video, sure to snare the interest of viewers, suggests world hunger problems could be solved by reviving or expanding the practice of eating bugs, an amazing source of vital nutrients!

Healthy relationships are a key part of social and mental health. A lesson for middle and high schoolers helps them develop the personal and interpersonal skills they need to develop and maintain healthy relationships. Another resource includes a series of lessons that discuss biological, emotional, and social facts about human sexuality.

Regular physical activity is one of the most important ways to maintain and improve physical health, mental health, and well-being. Get your students up and moving with a packet of activities designed to promote active habits and a healthy way of life.

Whether looking for resources for a health unit or materials to enrich a complete course, you’ll find what you need at Lesson Planet.

Showing 168 resources
Lesson Plan
National Institutes of Health

Nih Curriculum Supplement Series: The Science of Energy Balance

For Teachers 6th - 8th
A great resource for teachers to help explain the balance between calorie intake and physical activity. There are many student activities that reinforce the need for physical activity in a healthy life style. Included are a teacher's...
Interactive
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Eating and Exercise

For Students 9th - 10th
Interactive animated simulation allows students to make connections between the real world and the physical world. Uses interactive tools to explore issues such as calories, exercise, diet, fitness, and weight control.
Website
Other

Presidential Youth Fitness Challenge

For Students 3rd - 8th
Find out how you can take part in the President's Challenge to increase your physical activity and earn awards.
Article
Curated OER

Kids Health: Abdominal Pain

For Students 3rd - 5th
This site provides information on stomach pain.
Article
Curated OER

Kids Health: Blisters, Calluses, and Corns

For Students 3rd - 5th
"Have you ever had a favorite pair of funky shoes that you wore every single day, until they started to hurt the bottoms of your feet? Ever helped your mom or dad plant flowers in the yard and later noticed a weird bump on your palm?...
Website
Other

Frozen Ropes: Baseball and Softball Training

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains information on a baseball/softball training camp. Read up on the style of the training and how it has been successful in the past.
Primary
Victorian Web

Brown University: Victorian Web: Life of the Industrial Worker in 19th Century

For Students 9th - 10th
The Victorian Web provides a report to British Parliament submitted in 1833 by a medical observer on how work in textile factories affected the physical health of the laborers. Also includes essays from a factory owner's point of view...
Instructional Video
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Social & Emotional Learning: Aces & Community

For Students 9th - 10th
New research has expanded the concept of adverse childhood experiences to include the impact of the community on family and child well-being. It's also broadened the scope of the original ACE study to include people of color and people...
Lesson Plan
The College of Physicians

The History of Vaccines: Using the History of Vaccines in the Classroom [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The purpose of this lesson is to offer suggestions on how to use the History of Vaccines website in a high school biology or health class. This lesson plan provides students with a broad overview of the website, while other lesson plans...
PPT
WebMD

Web Md: Slideshow: What Your Nails Say About Your Health

For Students 9th - 10th
Like reading the tea leaves, you can look at your fingernails to determine some common, or even serious health problems.
Handout
National Institute on Drug Abuse

Nida: Research Report Series: Hallucinogens and Dissociative Drugs

For Students 9th - 10th
An advanced level report which defines hallucinogens and dissociative and explains their effects.
Unit Plan
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Centers for Disease Control: Bam! Your Body: Girls' Locker Room

For Students 3rd - 8th
A virtual tour of the dangers and risks of infection lurking in a gym locker room. Girls learn about good workout practices that will keep them healthy.
Website
PBS

Pbs Kids: Nova: Denali for Kids: Surviving Denali: Body Breakdowns

For Students 3rd - 8th
Hikers challenging themselves with climbing Denali experience many physical things in their body from their heads to their toes. Click on parts of the hiker to see what the hiker might be feeling during the climb.
Unknown Type
McGraw Hill

Glencoe: Online Study Tools: Self Check Quiz on Nutrition and Personal Fitness

For Students 9th - 10th
The online assessment demonstrates knowledge of diet and nutrition. The questions evaluate students on nutrition and their personal fitness.
Unknown Type
McGraw Hill

Glencoe: Online Study Tools: Self Check Quiz on a Personal Fitness Program

For Students 9th - 10th
The online assessment demonstrates knowledge of exercise and fitness. The questions evaluate students on designing a personal fitness program.
Instructional Video
Other

Heart Rescue Now: Save a Life Simulator

For Students 9th - 10th
Videos simulating someone suffering cardiac arrest in a public place. Sequence of videos changes based on user's decisions in this simulation.
Graphic
Curated OER

Health Class

For Students 9th - 10th
More than 11,000 Somali Bantus had arrived in the U.S. as of March 20th, 2005. This article discusses some of the adjustments the refugees faced.
Audio
Science Friday Initiative

Science Friday: Mental Health Gets Insurance Parity

For Students 9th - 10th
Included in the economic rescue package signed into law last week were provisions that will, for the first time, require employers and insurance companies to give mental health issues parity with physical health issues. We'll talk about...
Website
Curated OER

Kids Health: Por Que Es Inteligente Hacer Ejercicio?

For Students 9th - 10th
This article gives information on the physical health benefits of exercise and fitness. Follow their suggestions to increase your exercise activities. In Spanish.
Activity
English Club

English Club: Health, Food and Fitness Crossword 7

For Students 3rd - 8th Standards
This English Club activity provides a crossword that assesses vocabulary words associated content from health class. Students will be able to receive hints, check individual responses, and check their entire completed puzzle.
Lesson Plan
McGraw Hill

Glencoe: Recognizing Propaganda: Loaded Language

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Lesson plan designed for consumer health class, that is also useful for media literacy. Contains a link to an ad for an abdominal strengthening machine that provides the basis of the lesson. SL.9-10.2 eval & integrate sources
Website
US Department of Agriculture

Choose My Plate: Tips for Increasing Physical Activity

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn how to "make physical activity a part of the day." This brief article suggests incorporating simple and fun activities into your daily routine while at home, at work, and at play. Includes great tips for people of all ages.
Audio
Science Friday Initiative

Science Friday: Exercise in a Pill?

For Students 9th - 10th
Could popping a pill turn a couch potato into a long-distance runner? [12 mins. 28]
Article
ESPN Internet Ventures

Espn Drugs and Sports: Barbiturates

For Students 9th - 10th
This article provides responses to five questions concerning barbiturates including, "What are the effects of barbiturates?" and "Are barbiturates addictive?"