Seventh Grade Curriculum Resources
Standard of Learning
7.3 The student will investigate and analyze the various factors that guide an individual's decisions about health and wellness. Key concepts/skills include:
- the types of advertising techniques used to influence adolescents' decisions;
- the validity of information from different resources;
- family practices and customs.
Understanding the Standard
The student will understand how family practices and customs influence health decisions and identify different health practices around the world.
Essential Knowledge and Skills
The student will:
- identify food customs that are influenced by family traditions.
- explain the effect these dietary practices have on the individual, family, and groups.
- identify physical activity practices that are influenced by family traditions.
- explain the effect these physical activity practices have on the individual, family, and groups.
- identify health care decisions that are influenced by family customs.
- explain the effect these health care practices have on the individual, family, and groups.
Instructional Strategies
Cooking with Kids Albuquerque
Multicultural food education program to improve students' nutrition by learning about culturally diverse foods that are healthy and appealing. Hands-on approach to cooking, modeling healthy food choices in the classroom and cafeteria, and teaches basic cooking skills. Encourages parent involvement. Provides cooking classes to low income students in summer literacy programs.
Sponsor: Locally and state-funded
E-mail: hopem@doh.state.nm.us
Free
Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger
Grades 6-8
International classroom for exploring the problems of hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity.
--What Are Hunger and Malnutrition?
--Who Are the Hungry?
--Why Are People Hungry and Malnourished?
--What Can We Do to Help End Hunger?
Three or more class periods
Contact: http://www.feedingminds.org
Free
LOAFS - Learning on a Full Stomach
Grades 5-12
Students look at hunger problems within their own communities and are encouraged to implement a LOAFS program.
Sponsor: Ask ERIC Lesson Plan
Three classes
http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans – health – nutrition)
Free
Middle Level Interdisciplinary Curriculum (Mid-LINC)
Curriculum teaches nutrition concerns to pre-adolescents.
--Prehistoric vs. Modern Diet
--Growing to the Max
--Food-Environment Connection
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Education
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/food_nutrition/cwp
Planet Health
Grades 6-8
*Evaluated program with mixed results
Interdisciplinary curriculum encouraging students to choose healthy foods, increase physical activity, and decrease inactivity. Includes 63 lessons, "Power Down" campaign to decrease television viewing, FitCheck tool to check fitness level, and worksheets. Gives students skills to make healthy changes, strengthen competence, and foster support.
Sponsor: Harvard University
http://www.humankinetics.com
+Cost
You Are What You Eat
Grades 6-8
Explores how social class might affect personal health, understanding of nutritional needs, and methods for community change.
Source: PBS
Two-four class periods
http://www.pbs.org/teachersource (select Health & Fitness – Middle School – Diet & Nutrition)
Free
Additional Instructional Resources
- A Multicultural Approach to Physical Education: Proven Strategies for Middle and High School - Includes 70 games and activities from 24 cultures - Publisher: Human Kinetics - http://www.humankinetics.com/products/showproduct.cfm?isbn=0736038825
- Spicy, Sweet, Sour, Bitter - We Have It All! - http://library.thinkquest.org/20371/indianpg.htm
- VegaNet: The Centurion's Choice - http://library.thinkquest.org/c004833/default_en.shtml
- The Virtual Japanese Restaurant - http://library.thinkquest.org/20013/main.htm
Assessment Ideas
The student will:
- research and create a family tree that includes four generations of family health practices, customs, and traditions.
- identify dietary and activity-related family practices that may influence decisions about their health.
