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Content Area: Health and Physical Education
Index: 2.1A Grade 4 CPI 1
Standard: 2.1 - Wellness
Strand: A - Personal Health
Cumulative Progress Indicator: 1 - The student will describe the physical, social, and emotional dimensions of wellness.
Grade: 4
Sample Activities:
· SHINING STAR - Explain that you are closing the shades and turning off the lights in the room. Tell students to remain silent. Shine a flashlight and explain that the light represents a single shining star. Students discuss what they know about stars and then discuss how the word “star” may be used in other contexts (e.g., baseball star, movie star, all-star). Ask: “Why do we use the word that way?” Lead students to the response that a star is often used to describe someone that “shines”—one who is extraordinary or very special. Tell students that all of them are stars. Turn on the lights and distribute a cardboard star, large enough for each student to affix a photo of himself/herself in the center. Each student writes a brief paragraph explaining one or two reasons why he/she is a star. Display the shining stars and paragraphs as part of a classroom galaxy or create shining star mobiles to hang in the classroom.
Variation: Students design a star for a classmate and use it to introduce the student to the class, sharing the individual’s star qualities.
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WELLNESS PLAN - Place the following items on a table
or desk in the front of the room: towel, soap, comb, toothbrush, book, and
pillow. Volunteers select one of the objects and describe how the object
contributes to wellness, then places the object in a large, decorated box
labeled “Good Health” or “Wellness.” After all the items have been described and
placed in the box, brainstorm a definition of wellness. Write the students’
ideas on the board. Each student creates a written plan focusing on an important
health skill. Divide the class into small groups and allow students to share
their plans. Students report on their progress during the week. After a
designated time period, students write a short note to their parents announcing
their accomplishments related to the plan. Variation: Organize students into
groups with similar goals. Students track progress towards their
· FAVORITE THINGS THAT SUPPORT WELLNESS - Explain that many people have favorite things and that sometimes those things might not always be good for them. Play “My Favorite Things” (from the musical “The Sound of Music”) and ask students to listen carefully to the song. After the song has finished, ask students to list some of the items mentioned in the song. Ask: “Are the items mentioned in the song the same as your favorite things?” Give each student a chart with several categories of “favorites” (e.g., favorite food, TV show, song, sport, game, color, season). After students have had a chance to complete the chart, divide the class into small groups to compare charts. Members of each group discuss whether their favorites contribute to wellness. After limited discussion, each group selects from their collective lists three favorites that support wellness and report to the entire class. Create a master list. Reinforce that some things on the list may be better for us than others and help us to remain healthy. Each student draws a picture of their “healthy favorite” and completes a contract statement such as:
· WELLNESS POEM - Open this activity by asking students what wellness means to them. Write several responses on the chalkboard. Students develop an acrostic poem using the word “WELLNESS” or “HEALTHY” and create a collage or poster illustrating the wellness theme. Display the poems and artwork and discuss ways to remain healthy.
· EVERYTHING I NEED TO KNOW TO STAY HEALTHY - Divide the class into small groups. Each group brainstorms tips to stay healthy—as many ideas as they can during a set time period (3-5 minutes). Reconvene the class and create a master list of tips. Organize the tips into categories (e.g., safety, nutrition, exercise). Use these ideas to create a tip of the day which can be used on bulletin boards, or to trigger journal-writing activities.
Variation: Incorporate the health tips into the school’s daily announcements.
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