Free Printable Food Journals, Online Calorie Counters for Health, Science

To address growing children's health concerns--diabetes, nutrition, obesity, fitness and general wellness--several groups have developed health programs written at kid level. They offer free printable food journals, online fitness trackers and nutrition planning tools. Geared for elementary to high school age kids, these programs teach self-sufficiency and basic life skills related to health.

  Choose My Plate , a service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, offers kids meal planners, free online food journals, free printable nutrition trackers and other helpful resources. The site is designed for adults but has materials adapted to children, too.


  Chartwells (a school nutrition program) has an initiative called "Eat Learn Live" which provides free printable food journals and diet trackers and other health tools for kids, parents and teachers. Many schools across the U.S. partner with Chartwells and use the program in their food service program. This link explains how Eat Learn Live works in schools and how it can be adapted for home use.


  Chartwells offers nutrition data personalized to specific school breakfast and lunch menus. Kids can track food intake using menus they actually eat from. Using this tailored data, kids can plan their eating and measure their nutrient intake. You can also access this information from your school's food service link on the school website. Chartwells Eat Learn Live resources page has information on carbohydrates, calories, vitamins and minerals, fat, sodium, protein and other food data.


  Of particular interest is the Kidnetic webpage. This site gives kids free printable activities, online health games, online food journals and fitness trackers and healthy recipes. Kids often eat less healthy foods because it's easier and quicker. They come home hungry and want to eat immediately. The food tips and recipes on Chartwells give kids healthier eating options. Snacks can be made quick and easy with little parent supervision. This is especially good for kids who are home alone after school.


  Another useful student health website is BAM! Body and Mind (a service of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). This site cover all areas of child health: nutrition, fitness, dental care, illness, immunity, drugs and medications, substance abuse, weight problems, depression, emotional health, bullying, peer pressure, relationships, family health and social skills. Written in cartoon graphic novel style, kids can play games and interact online. BAM! offers kids free printable exercise calendars and food journals.


 

Free Printable Health, Hygiene Lesson Plans

It's happened again. Just when you thought you knew the roster of classes you would be teaching this year, they thrown a new one at you. What do you do for lesson plans at the eleventh hour? Or maybe you are a new teacher in need of lesson plans to get your classroom of to a good start? Or maybe you've taught the same material for so long that you want to gag and flog the publisher with a stick? If you find yourself in need of lesson plans for a new class or supplemental material, then you have found the right place. I have a two blogs on which I post all the free lesson plans that I can find on the internet.
www.freelessonplans4u.blogspot.com has an assortment of lesson plans from my teaching career, homeschool days and also from other teachers.
Here is a new free printable teaching lesson plans website that I just discovered while researching for an article. www.kidshealth.org has entire free printable lesson plans. These lesson plans are all based on subjects for health class. There are lesson plans for all grades, preschool through twelfth grade. Each age category has a separtate link. Each grade level has covers three basic areas of health, geared to the age of the student. There are segments on: The Human Body, Health Problems and Personal Health adjusted to the needs, abilities and maturity of the students. Each lesson includes free printable teacher's guide, games, activities, handouts and experiments. Some lessons also contain a study guide, student quiz and answer key. Here is a scope and sequence for each grade level. Perfect for special needs students and special education health classes. Great for homeschoolers, too!
Preschool:Healthy Habits (available in English and Spanish)
Pre-K-2nd Grade:
-Human Body
---Body Parts
Bones, muscles, joints
Mouth, Teeth
Skin
---Body Systems
Cardiovascular
Digestive
Respiratory

---Body Functions
Hearing
Sleep
Vision
-Health Problems
---Infections, Diseases and Conditions
Asthma
Diabetes
-Personal Health
---Puberty and Growing up
Conflict Resolution
Empathy
Self-Esteem
---Hygiene
Germs
---Fitness
---Nutrition
Breakfast
Energy Balance

Grades 3-5
-Human Body
---Body Parts
Bones, Muscles, Joints
---Body Systems
Cardiovascular
Digestive
Immune
Respiratory
---Functions
Sleep
-Health Problems
---Infections, Diseases, Conditions
Asthma
Eating Disorders
Bird Flu
Obesity
---Drugs
Alcohol
Tobacco
-Personal Health- same topics as the K-2nd grade syllabus, geared to 3-5th graders.

Grades 6-8
-Human Body
---Body Parts
Mouth and Teeth
Skin
---Systems
Cardiovascular
Respiratory
---Body Functions
Sleep
Visions
-Health Problems
---Infections, Diseases, Conditions
Asthma
Bird Fu
Diabetes
Eating Disorders
HIV and AIDS
Obesity
Skin Cancer
---Emotional Health
Depression
Stress
Drugs
Alcohol
-Personal health
---Puberty and Growing Up
Conflict Resolution
Puberty
Self-Esteem
---Nutrition
Breakfast
Food Safety
School Lunch
---Fitness
Fitness
Sports Safety
---Hygiene
Germs

Grades 9-12
-Human Body
---Body Parts
Bones, Muscles, Joints
Mouth, Teeth
Skin
---Body Systems
Cardiovascular
Digestive
Respiratory
---Body Functions
Sleep
-Health Problems: Same topics covered as in 6-8th grade with different activities geared toward high school students.
-Personal Health: Same topics covered as in 6-8th grade with different activities geared toward high school students.
As you can see this is a very complete set of free printable lesson plans.

Free Printable Heart lesson plans for Valentine's Day

Hello fellow educators, with Valentine's Day right around the corner, you're probably up to your elbows in holiday crafts. But how about some non-traditional Valentine's Day activities? Here are free printable heart (as in the organ) lesson plans. Use these for science, anatomy and health lesson plans for fun holiday connections with an educational twist. 

Coloring Home has a large assortment of free printable heart coloring pages featuring diagrams to color and label, plus anatomy coloring pages to show how the heart works within other parts of the body. The health lesson plans help students explore the heart and the larger circulatory system and why it is such a vital organ (the word vital comes from Latin, "vita" or "life.") 

The American Heart Association has loads of free printable heart health lesson plans. There are other resources on heart health and healthy habits. Here a free printables on the circulatory system and heart themed activities to help students keep heart fit. I particularly like the free downloads with printables on 25 ways to keep moving, at home and at school. 

Kids Health has free printable fitness and health lesson plans to help students understand the importance of nutrition, exercise, fitness and healthy choices (not smoking or vaping). Click around to find fitness trackers, heart rate monitors and other tools for wellness. 

Along with the frilly Valentine's Day crafts and valentine exchanges, my students studied the parts of the body in science lesson plans around this holiday. Preschool students made vests cut from grocery bags with organs of the human body drawn on. Older kids made human body T-shirts with body organs drawn on in permanent marker. There are several coloring pages from the Coloring Home link that could be used as parts of the body templates. Older students might stencil on the T-shirt, label and color the human body model. 

Younger students can get scissors skills practice, using the body parts coloring pages as color, cut and paste activities. Here are more free printable human body coloring pages for such cut and paste activities, from Exploring Nature. 

Include lots of active learning in your heart lesson plans and heart healthy snacks! Stay tuned for heart party activities for Valentine's Day! 

Free Printable health, Food, Inc Documentary Film Lessons

With obesity at crisis level, attention turns to childhood obesity. Weight problems begin at home and so that's the best place to begin with healthy lifestyles, nutrition, exercise and eating habits. But school can help too. Here are free printable health lessons on nutrition and other children's health science topics. Kids Health has free printable health lessons, health science worksheets and healthy living activities. These lesson plans cover common subjects taught in health class. Health lessons cover all grades, preschool through twelfth grade. Each age category has a separate link listed on the left side of the page.

Each grade level addresses three basic areas of health lessons geared to the age, abilities and maturity of the student. There are free printable health lesson plans on the Human Body, Health Problems and Personal Health. Lesson plans include free printable teachers guides, games, activities, worksheets, handouts and health science experiments. Some lessons also contain a study guide, student quiz and answer key. Here is a scope and sequence for each grade level and will work well for homeschool, special needs students and special education health classes.

Pre-K- 2nd grade--Healthy Habits (available in English and Spanish) Human Body covers body parts, bones, muscles, joints, mouth, teeth and skin, Body Systems covers Cardiovascular, Digestive, Respiratory, Body Functions, Hearing, Sleep and Vision. Health Problems covers Infections, Diseases and Conditions, Asthma, Diabetes. Personal Health lessons covers Puberty and Growing Up, Conflict Resolution, Empathy, Self-Esteem, Hygiene, Germs, Fitness, Nutrition, Breakfast, Energy Balance.

Grades 3-5--Human Body covers body parts, bones, muscles and joints. Body Systems cover Cardiovascular, Digestive, Immune, Respiration, Body Functions and Sleep, Health Problems, Infections, Diseases, Conditions, Asthma, Eating Disorders, Bird Flu, Obesity, Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco. Personal Health science covers the same topics as the K-2nd grade syllabus, geared to 3-5th graders.

Grades 6-8 Human Body covers Body Parts, Mouth and Teeth, Skin. Systems include Cardiovascular, Respiratory. Body Functions include Sleep, Vision. Health Problems include Infections, Diseases, Conditions, Asthma, Bird Flu, Diabetes, eating disorders, HIV and AIDS, Obesity, Skin Cancer. Emotional Health science issues cover Depression, Stress, Drugs, Alcohol, personal health, puberty and growing up, conflict resolution, self-esteem, nutrition, food safety, school lunch, breakfast, fitness and sports safety. Grades 9-12 cover much of the same topics only in high school lesson plans.

To deal with obesity, visit Chartwells for free printable calorie counters, carb counters vitamin and mineral information other health protocol. Visit Choose My Plate for free printable health information, nutrition, calorie counters, carb counters and more health nutrition activities. Visit MyPyramid for free printable weight loss tools, obesity management, nutrition and health activities

Free printable Rio 2016 Summer Olympics lesson plans, activities, coloring pages

The Rio 2016 Olympic Games kicks off on August 5 and runs through August 21 in Rio de Janeiro. This is the 33rd or XXXI Summer Olympics Parents, are you looking for ways to engage children in festivities of Rio 2016Olympic Games, or just keep them occupied so that you can enjoy the Summer Olympics? Then here are an "Olympian" assortment of free printable Summer Olympics and sports activities. Preschoolers and early elementary age kids will love these free printable Olympic Games coloring pages, worksheets, games, puzzles and crafts. Time for Kids has free printable Winter Olympics and Summer Olympics lesson plans and worksheets. Use these Rio 2016 Olympic Games and sports activities to teach math, probability, statistics, geography, social studies, sports activities, sports science and more.

As always, Activity Village offers an array of mind-bendingly adorable free printable Winter and Summer Olympics and sports activitiesfor kids. Most downloads are free and feature hands-on, cut and paste crafts, Olympic rings crafts and recipes, board games, personal fitness scorecards, country flashcards, flags, bingo games and goodies. Games include models of Olympic medals (which can be personalized with child's name) and suggestions for customizing sports activities according to event. Check out Edupics for free printable coloring pages of sports represented at the winter and summer Olympic games.

Then, explore the magical city of Rio de Janeiro in the beautiful country of Brazil with these free printable Brazil worksheets, lesson plans, coloring pages and crafts. Brazil hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and now the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Teach children all bout this South American country. Print flags of Brazil and all the countries represented at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Health lesson plans to prevent juvenile obesity without mentioning weight loss

Increasing juvenile obesity is the elephant in the living room that everyone sees and no one want to address. More and more children are overweight and headed toward obesity. But discussing it or even being concerned about overweight kids is often regarded as fat-shaming or bullying. Here are lesson plans to prevent and treat childhood obesity without ever mentioning weight loss. 

Childhood obesity is tricky to deal with for two reasons. First, in puberty, many tweens get heavier and may even be called overweight by a doctor. But after puberty they slim down. This was my experience. Weight loss diets and calorie restricting may actually be dangerous. Calorie restricting such as the 1000 calorie diet I was put on at age 8, deprived me of nutrients needed for a growing body. It also caused eating disorder issues. Also, the extra weight is necessary for health after we lose weight in puberty. 

What is chronic obesity and what is overweight that will right itself after puberty? There are several factors. Is the entire family overweight? Is the child active or sedentary? How old is the child? A three-year old with obesity is more at risk than, say, a normal weight child who becomes overweight as a tween, as I did. This overweight period is usually temporary. And some kids are just bigger than others. 

Another issue is that overemphasis on weight loss can be a form of fat-shaming and bullying. It can also lead to eating disorders, low self esteem, anxiety and depression.  But yet, children with chronic obesity that will not disappear in puberty, are at risk of many other health problems including diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension and other issues. Movement and exercise are more difficult. 

So how to prevent or treat juvenile obesity without discussing weight loss? 

1) Food lesson plans aimed at healthy eating. Teach the food pyramid and food groups, using these free printable lesson plans.  Nutriton.gov has many free nutrition printables including recipes, My Plate activities, coloring pages, food diaries and lesson planners. Here are free printable food journals and nutrition trackers. 

2) Engage students in physical activities and active learning as much as possible. Use these free printable DEAM (Drop Everything and Move) activities. DEAM is like DEAR (Drop Everything and Read), which intersperses the school day with unplanned exercise or reading activities. I especially like DEAM because they are random surprise fun activities that get kids out of desks and moving. These might include dancing, calisthenics or active games.

3) Go off screen and hands-on. Most children spend more time watching than doing: TV, online on phones, computers and video game systems. I'm a Shipt shopper and its a sad commentary that when I drive thru neighborhoods in the summer, I see very few children out playing but TVs on or kids playing on phones. Utilize these free printable lesson plans on screen time dangers. Kids Health offers printables and resources to help kids understand why too much inactivity is harmful and how to monitor their screen time. 

4) Provide active activities in lieu of sedentary seat work and workbooks. Montessori type learning centers get kids off the seat and actively learning. Check out this blog for a gajillion learning center activities for science, math, reading, writing, social studies and more. Here are fitness activities to keep kids actively engaged. 

Will these activities end childhood obesity? Not alone. But with support, guidance, education and care, kids can learn to be their  healthiest selves. 

Valentine Heart Party with science and health lesson plans, activities and printables

 

Are you looking for some fresh Valentine's Day party activities, beyond the usual valentine exchange, candy blast and heart crafts? How about swinging your holiday party health themed with these fun, active, not-boring heart health lesson plans and activities?

Parts of the body lesson plans: see my earlier blog post for tons of free printable health lesson plans including human body coloring pages circulatory system printables. Use these to create a parts of the body paper bag vest or T-shirt. Younger students color cut and paste parts of the body and assemble them on a paper bag vest. Older students draw, color and label body parts on a long-sleeved T-shirt. 

Heart healthy snacks: Instead of the standard Valentine's Day fare of candy, cookies and cupcakes, why not make heart smart goodies in class? Make a shared fruit and veggie rainbow. Set up stations for students to prep food and design in a big beautiful rainbow! The rainbow diet is one of the heart healthiest there is.  Mix and match with any of these rainbow fruits and vegetables. Extend health lesson plans to include physics science activities on light, spectrum and rainbow.

RED:  strawberries, raspberries, pomegranate, dragonfruit, red leaf or romaine lettuce, watermelon, radishes, grapes, pepper, tomatoes

ORANGE: peppers, carrots, oranges, mango, peaches, nectarines, cantaloupe, squash, sweet potato, pumpkin

YELLOW: peppers, lemon, pineapple, summer squash, wax beans

GREEN: grapes, kiwi, broccoli, beans, spinach, lettuce, spring mix, kale, peas, honeydew melon, avocado, cucumber, scallions, peppers, endive

BLUE: blueberries, blue grapes, potatoes (look in tri-color blend), peppers

INDIGO: prune plums, prunes, figs, eggplant, blackberries, currants

PURPLE: cabbage, broccoli, grapes, purple carrots, purple asparagus

Heart healthy games: Engage kids in relay races, aerobics, jump rope, jumping jacks, yoga, obstacle courses, fitness stations, trampoline, stretching, windmills, "bicycles" throwing and catching and climbing. Try to avoid competition and encourage personal achievement. You can do a range of movement activities that require no equipment.

Dance party: what better way to round our your Valentine's Day heart party than with dancing? Play fun, upbeat music and let kids work off desk-time pent up energy! Songs kids love include "Hamster Dance" "Baby Shark" "Gummy Bears" "Hand Jive" and "I can make your hands clap." 

Happy heart day!