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As part of our goal to improve student health and promote healthy school environments, we support educators to teach health-related curriculum topics. We can meet with educators and school board staff, share information and resources, and help you prepare for the delivery of presentations, activities, and projects on health-related topics.
If you have questions about health-related curriculum topics or health initiatives at your school, contact your school's public health nurse, by email aphschoolhealth@algomapublichealth.com or by calling 705-942-4646 ext. 3296.
Use the tabs below to explore grade level resources and learn how we can support you:
Infectious Disease
Algoma Public Health works to maintain a healthy community through the prevention and control of communicable diseases. This is done through the surveillance and investigation of infectious diseases, along with public education.
For more information on all infectious diseases, such as routine precautions or recommendations for ‘time off’ school/daycare, contact your public health nurse and/or visit Algoma Public Health’s website.
Prevention is the best intervention!
Addressing the spread of germs in schools is essential to the health of our youth, schools, and community. Proper handwashing is inexpensive and the most effective way to prevent the spread of germs. Students of all ages must know when and how to wash their hands properly.
We have designed a Handwashing Teaching Toolkit which teaches elementary school youth the importance of handwashing, including how to wash their hands. This toolkit is available to all JK - Grade 2 teachers, so contact your school-aligned Public Health Nurse for more information.
Mental Health
Positive Mental Health is defined by the Public Health Agency of Canada as “the capacity of each and all of us to feel, think, act in ways that enhance our ability to enjoy life and deal with the challenges we face. It is a positive sense of emotional and spiritual well-being that respects the importance of culture, equity, social justice, interconnections and personal dignity” (2022).
Schools are an ideal place for mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention
SMHO is a website platform and team that provides information and resources to help schools and school boards enhance student mental health. The strategies they use are evidence-informed and based on best practice. They provide support for implementing mental health programs, tailored resources, mental health literacy for teachers and school boards, mental health information for parents, support for student leaders, and more.
The SMHO Wayfinder is a grade-by-grade guide to teaching mental health across the curriculum and a good place to start! Did you know you have SMHO Coach and local Mental Health Leader aligned to your school board? Contact a Coach or Leader today.
Physical Activity
Promoting physical activity has a direct impact on academic achievement and positive classroom behaviour. Students who meet The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth are also better prepared for good mental health and the ability to cope with stress.
Pedometer-related activities align with the Ontario curriculum. Pedometers can be used during standard physical education sessions to support school daily physical activity.
Each kit contains (30) pedometers, you can download the pedometer lending guide, and reach out to your school-aligned Public Health Nurse to borrow the kit.
The busy box is an enthusiastic addition to your Health & Physical Education lessons. It contains a variety of items to promote physical literacy and encourage daily physical activity. Contact your school-aligned Public Health Nurse for more information about the Busy Box.
Free, online activity-based resource helps children and youth develop an understanding of skills and strategies associated with physical activity and provide experiences to help with physical and health literacy and skills for healthy active living. www.ophea.net
Offers professional development services, programs, and resources for quality physical health education and healthy learning environments. https://phecanada.ca
Substance Use Health
Schools have a unique opportunity to provide early substance use prevention. Classroom teachers can make a positive difference in the lifestyle choices of their students through their role modeling, knowledge, and teaching of the substance use curriculum. Here are a few ideas to build confidence when discussing substance use:
- review relevant information related to substance use and abuse from the perspective of the individual, family, culture, and society
- learn why words matter when talking about substances
- participate in training opportunities
- examine personal values and beliefs related to substance use
- bring enthusiasm and commitment to the material
Elementary: Students look at potentially dangerous situations and create solutions for making them safer. Curriculum connection: Grade 1 C3.1 - demonstrate an understanding of how to stay safe and avoid injuries to themselves and others in a variety of situations, using knowledge about potential risks at home, in the community, and outdoors.
Infectious Disease
Algoma Public Health works to maintain a healthy community through the prevention and control of communicable diseases. This is done through the surveillance and investigation of infectious diseases, along with public education.
For more information on all infectious diseases, such as routine precautions or recommendations for ‘time off’ school/daycare, contact your public health nurse and/or visit Algoma Public Health’s website.
Prevention is the best intervention!
Addressing the spread of germs in schools is essential to the health of our youth, schools, and community. Proper handwashing is inexpensive and the most effective way to prevent the spread of germs. Students of all ages must know when and how to wash their hands properly.
We have designed a Handwashing Teaching Toolkit which teaches elementary school youth the importance of handwashing, including how to wash their hands. This toolkit is available to all Grade 3 to Grade 6 teachers, so contact your school-aligned Public Health Nurse for more information.
Human Development & Sexual Health
“Sexuality education equips children and young people with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that help them to protect their health, develop respectful social and sexual relationships, make responsible choices and understand and protect the rights of others.” (WHO, 2023)
Good quality education on these topics:
- Informs students about their sexuality, sexual health, and rights.
- Encourages safer sex and gauging readiness to start engaging in sexual activity.
- Prepares them for physical, emotional, and social changes they will experience.
- Teaches them about consent and respect.
- Reduces risk from violence, abuse, and exploitation.
- Shows them where to go to get help.
In Grade 4 students learn about puberty, including: how to identify and manage emotions (A1.1.); how to recognize stress, cope with challenges, and seek help (A1.2); describe the physical, emotional, and social changes that occur at puberty (D1.5); and demonstrate an understanding of personal hygiene (D2.4):
We designed a presentation and guide to support you in teaching this curriculum. Contact your school-aligned Public Health Nurse for more information.
In Grade 5 students learn more about puberty and are introduced to reproduction, including the parts of the reproductive system and body changes during puberty (D1.3); the process and role of menstruation and spermatogenesis (D1.4); factors that affect the development of self-concept and sexual orientation, and how these support personal health and well-being (D2.4); the emotional and interpersonal stresses related to puberty; how to recognize signs of mental health concerns; and strategies to manage stress, build resilience, and communicate through this time (D2.5).
Please contact your school-aligned Public Health Nurse for more information and to obtain these resources.
In Grade 6 students learn about healthy relationships, including skills to help build relationships, develop empathy, and communicate (A1.4); the impacts of viewing sexually explicit media, including pornography (D1.3); how to make informed decisions that show respect for themselves and others; the concept of consent; socio-emotional learning skills (D2.6); how to assess the effects of stereotypes and assumptions based on a variety of factors on relationships with others; and appropriate ways of responding to those harmful assumptions and stereotypes (D3.3).
We designed a presentation and guide to support you in teaching this curriculum. Contact your school-aligned Public Health Nurse for more information.
Please contact your school-aligned Public Health Nurse for more information and to obtain these resources.
Are you teaching puberty for the first time this school year? Nervous about teaching birth control? Worried about the questions students may ask? Or maybe you’ve been teaching for several years and are looking for some fun activities to change your lessons? You’ve come to the right place! We have several games, quizzes, activities, videos, and resources that will support your lesson plan.
We have resources for all grade levels that can help you teach your students about their bodies, their health, relationships, consent, respecting diversity for all students, and many more! https://www.shorecentre.ca/teachers/
The teacher portal provides teachers and educators with evidence-based sexual health information, lesson plans, tools, and resources. https://teachingsexualhealth.ca/teachers/
Always Changing & Growing Up: Grades 5 & 6 is a resource for teaching pre-teens in Grades 5 and 6 about the transition between childhood and adolescence stages of puberty. Directly linked to the Healthy Living strand of the H&PE Curriculum, Always Changing & Growing Up addresses issues surrounding adolescent growth and development, and personal hygiene.
This school-based resource comes complete with a Leader's Guide, Parent/Guardian Guide, Student Guide, student worksheets, quizzes, crosswords, and other fun resources and teaching strategies to help students understand their changing bodies, and the stages of puberty.
Mental Health
Positive Mental Health is defined by the Public Health Agency of Canada as “the capacity of each and all of us to feel, think, act in ways that enhance our ability to enjoy life and deal with the challenges we face. It is a positive sense of emotional and spiritual well-being that respects the importance of culture, equity, social justice, interconnections and personal dignity” (2022).
Schools are an idea place for mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention
SMHO is a website platform and team that provides information and resources to help schools and school boards enhance student mental health. The strategies they use are evidence-informed and based on best practice. They provide support for implementing mental health programs, tailored resources, mental health literacy for teachers and school boards, mental health information for parents, support for student leaders, and more.
The SMHO Wayfinder is a grade-by-grade guide to teaching mental health across the curriculum and a good place to start! Did you know you have SMHO Coach and local Mental Health Leader aligned to your school board? Contact a Coach or Leader today.
Substance Use
Schools have a unique opportunity to provide early substance use prevention. Classroom teachers can make a positive difference in the lifestyle choices of their students through their own role modelling, knowledge, and teaching of the substance use curriculum. Here are a few ideas to build confidence when discussing substance use:
- review relevant information related to substance use and abuse from the perspective of the individual, family, culture and society
- learn why words matter when talking about substances
- participate in training opportunities
- examine personal values and beliefs related to substance use
- bring enthusiasm and commitment to the material.
In grade 5 students learn about substance use, including decision-making and refusal skills (D2.3); and how to identify personal and social factors that influence the decision to use substances including vaping (D3.3.).
In grade 6 students learn about substance use, including the effects of substance use (D1.2); decision-making strategies and an understanding of factors that influence substance use; and how to make safe personal choices about substances including vaping (D2.4).
We designed a presentation and guide to support you in teaching this curriculum. Contact your school-aligned Public Health Nurse for more information.
A demonstration kit for grades 5-12 that contains preserved pig’s lungs (one healthy lung and one affected by years of smoking) to show students the anatomy and physiology of a non-smoker’s lung and a smoker’s lung damaged by cancer and emphysema. Educators can access the resource by contacting the public health nurse aligned to your school.
Developed to provide educators with capacity building tools and conversation starter prompts to support students (Grades 4 -8) in developing the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions to support their health and well-being. This resource includes Instructional Moments videos and an Educator Guide as well as Conversation Starter videos designed to initiate conversations about vaping with elementary students at different stages of their development. Available in English and French.
English: OPHEA Vaping Education Resources
This resource is meant to help youth learn about vaping to become informed decision-makers. This toolkit contains an educator guide and curriculum linked activities for students in grades 5-9.
English: What's the Hype
Français: Troussed'outils sur le vapotage
This cannabis education resource was developed to provide educators and administrators access to evidence-informed information on substance use (specifically cannabis) to help students develop the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions to support their health and well-being. This resource includes a discussion guide, activity plans (broken down by grade level, Grades 5 – 12), and resources/handouts.
English: OPHEA Cannabis Education Resources
Designed for education professionals (teachers, guidance counsellors, coaches, social workers and so on) working with youth from grades 6–12 to gain knowledge, tools and resources on substance use, stigma, cannabis vaping, alcohol and impaired driving. Using this guide with the supporting video modules can help educators start and navigate difficult conversations with youth on these subjects.
Food & Nutrition
Our Public Health Dietitian has provided a list of resources that will support you in teaching topics related to food and nutrition to your students. Contact us for more information or support on the following resources.
BrightBites is a website created by Ontario Registered Dietitians working in Public Health to provide educators with credible nutrition information, curriculum support and steps to improve school food environments.
A binder full of inspirational activities and ideas for incorporating vegetables and fruit into all areas of the curriculum; providing exposure, sparking enthusiasm, and cultivating positive relationships with food. This resource comes from Rainbow Plate, an online community designed to help educators and caregivers engage and inspire kids through food.
A collection of hands-on resources to keep students engaged. Contents include stuffed vegetable and fruit characters, vegetable and fruit bean bags, food models, matching cards, food beach ball and more.
Food is Science is a website created by Sustain Ontario to help educators understand and teach the new food literacy expectations in Ontario’s Science and Technology Curriculum. The website provides evidence-based resources, lesson plans and videos to help educators teach science through food and food systems.
How educators talk about food and bodies in the classroom matters for the physical and mental health of students. The Dietitians 4 Teachers website (created by a Registered Dietitian in Ontario) provides access to classroom posters, teaching activities, individual consultations, and professional development to help educators foster positive food relationships and teach about food and nutrition safely.
Evidence shows that using a food exploration approach when teaching about food and nutrition is associated with long-term positive eating attitudes and behaviours. Healthy Schools BC created this website to help educators understand how to talk about food and nutrition in a way that meets students where they are at, encourages food exploration and cultivates positive relationships with food.
Physical Activity
Promoting physical activity has a direct impact on academic achievement and positive classroom behaviour. Students who meet The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth are also better prepared for good mental health and the ability to cope with stress.
Pedometer-related activities align with the Ontario curriculum. Pedometers can be used during standard physical education sessions to support school daily physical activity.
Each kit contains (30) pedometers, you can download the pedometer lending guide, and reach out to your school-aligned Public Health Nurse to borrow the kit.
The busy box is an enthusiastic addition to your Health & Physical Education lessons. It contains a variety of items to promote physical literacy and encourage daily physical activity. Contact your school-aligned Public Health Nurse for more information about the Busy Box.
Free, online activity-based resource helps children and youth develop an understanding of skills and strategies associated with physical activity and provide experiences to help with physical and health literacy and skills for healthy active living. www.ophea.net
Offers professional development services, programs, and resources for quality physical health education and healthy learning environments. https://phecanada.ca
More resources will be added as they become available!
Infectious Disease
Algoma Public Health works to maintain a healthy community through the prevention and control of communicable diseases. This is done through the surveillance and investigation of infectious diseases, along with public education.
For more information on all infectious diseases, such as routine precautions or recommendations for ‘time off’ school/daycare, contact your public health nurse and/or visit Algoma Public Health’s website.
Prevention is the best intervention!
Addressing the spread of germs in schools is essential to the health of our youth, our schools, and our community. Proper handwashing is inexpensive and the most effective way to prevent the spread of germs. It is important for students of all ages to know when and how to properly wash their hands.
We have designed a Handwashing Teaching Toolkit which teaches elementary school youth the importance of handwashing, including how to wash their hands. This toolkit is available to all Grade 7and 8 teachers, so contact your school aligned Public Health Nurse for more information.
Human Development & Sexual Health
“Sexuality education equips children and young people with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that help them to protect their health, develop respectful social and sexual relationships, make responsible choices and understand and protect the rights of others.” (WHO, 2023)
In Grade 7 students learn about sexual health, including: the importance of clear communication, understanding, and shared decision-making about sexual activity in a healthy relationship (D1.3); the concept of consent, the legal age of consent. and how to communicate it (D1.3); sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) and their symptoms (D1.4); ways to prevent STBBIs (D1.5); understanding the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive factors to consider when making decisions about sexual activity (D2.4); and how relationships and sexual health change with puberty (D3.3.).
We designed a presentation and guide to support you to teach this curriculum. Contact your school aligned Public Health Nurse for more information.
In Grade 8 students learn about sexuality, including: the factors that effectdecisions about sexual activity; sources of support for sexual health (D1.4); abstinence, contraception, and using protection to prevent pregnancy and STBBIs (D 2.3); and consent and the skills needed to make healthy decisions about sexual activity (D2.3).
The SMHO Wayfinder is a grade-by-grade guide to teaching mental health across the curriculum and a good place to start! Did you know you have SMHO Coach and local Mental Health Leader aligned to your school board? Find their contact info here.
To support students to learn about contraception in grade 7 (D1.5) and grade 8 (D2.3) we have Birth Control Kits available for loan! The Birth Control Kits are a collection of resources compiled to help teachers implement the H&PE Curriculum. Please speak to your school nurse to request a kit or for more information.
Always Changing & Growing Up: Grades 7 & 8 is a resource designed to promote a healthy, active lifestyle to Grades 7 and 8 students. Its goal is to help students develop the necessary skills to overcome barriers to physical education, sport and physical activity participation in order to lead active, healthy lifestyles.
Always Changing & Growing Up: Grades 7 & 8 is directly linked to the Active Participation strand of the H&PE curriculum and contains a Leader’s Guide, Parent/Guardian Guide, Student Guide, student worksheets, quizzes, crosswords and other fun resources and teaching strategies to help students understand their changing bodies, and the stages of puberty. Always Changing & Growing Up was developed by Procter and Gamble Inc. and is endorsed and promoted by Ophea and PHE Canada (Physical and Health Education Canada).
The teacher portal provides teachers and educators with evidence-based sexual health information, lesson plans, tools and resources. https://teachingsexualhealth.ca/teachers/
SexandU.ca takes a real-life approach to the questions and issues around sex and sexuality that matter most to Canadians. From talking about sex, to lifestyle choices, to contraception awareness and sexually transmitted infections, SexandU.ca provides accurate, credible, and up-to-date information and education on topics related to sexual and reproductive health.
SexandU.ca is an initiative of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, Canada’s leading authority on sexual and reproductive health.
Mental Health
Positive Mental Health is defined by the Public Health Agency of Canada as “the capacity of each and all of us to feel, think, act in ways that enhance our ability to enjoy life and deal with the challenges we face. It is a positive sense of emotional and spiritual well-being that respects the importance of culture, equity, social justice, interconnections and personal dignity” (2022).
Schools are an idea place for mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention.
SMHO is a website platform and team that provides information and resources to help schools and school boards enhance student mental health. The strategies they use are evidence-informed and based on best practice. They provide support for implementing mental health programs, tailored resources, mental health literacy for teachers and school boards, mental health information for parents, support for student leaders, and more.
The SMHO Wayfinder is a grade-by-grade guide to teaching mental health across the curriculum and a good place to start! Did you know you have SMHO Coach and local Mental Health Leader aligned to your school board? Find their contact info here.
Substance Use
We aim to support our school boards and schools in creating healthy school environments. This includes supporting educators to teach related curriculum, provide the necessary information to make healthy choices, build student resiliency skills, and to create school environments that promote overall health and well-being.
Schools have a unique opportunity to provide early substance use prevention. Classroom teachers can make a positive difference in the lifestyle choices of their students through their own role modelling, knowledge, and teaching of the substance use curriculum. Here are a few ideas to build confidence when discussing substance use:
- review relevant information related to substance use and abuse from the perspective of the individual, family, culture and society
- learn why words matter when talking about substances
- participate in training opportunities
- examine personal values and beliefs related to substance use
- bring enthusiasm and commitment to the material.
In grade 7 students learn about substance use, including: the link between mental health and substance use; brain development and cannabis use; supportive resources for mental health and substance use concerns (D1.2); the relationship between their bodies and substance use (D2.3); and the personal and societal implications of issues related substance use, addictions, and related behaviours (D3.2).
In grade 8 students continue to learn about substance use, including the warning signs of problematic substance use and the consequences that can occur because of problematic substance use (D1.3).
We designed two presentations, one on substance use and one specifically on vaping to support you to teach this curriculum. Contact your school aligned Public Health Nurse for more information.
A demonstration kit for grades 7-12 that contains a very realistic model of a mouth, and shows students the damage that can be caused by using smokeless tobacco. Educators can access the resource by contacting the public health nurse aligned to your school.
A demonstration kit for grades 5-12 that contains preserved pig’s lungs (one healthy lung and one affected by years of smoking) to show students the anatomy and physiology of a non-smoker’s lung and a smoker’s lung damaged by cancer and emphysema. Educators can access the resource by contacting the public health nurse aligned to your school.
This resource is meant to help youth learn about vaping to become informed decision-makers. This toolkit contains an educator guide and curriculum linked activities for students in grades 5-9.
English: www.myhealthunit.ca/vapehype
Français: www.myhealthunit.ca/troussevapotage
The Talking About Series is an educational resource addressing cannabis, tobacco, vaping, and water pipes. The series includes a set of activity guides, one for each topic, to help facilitate critical discussion with young people (Grades 7 – 12) in a fun and informative manner.
Developed to provide educators with capacity-building tools and conversation starter prompts to support students (Grades 4 -8) in developing the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions to support their health and well-being. This resource includes Instructional Moments videos and an Educator Guide as well as Conversation Starter videos designed to initiate conversations about vaping with elementary students at different stages of their development.
English: OPHEA Vaping Education Resources
This cannabis education resource was developed to provide educators and administrators access to evidence-informed information on substance use (specifically cannabis) to help students develop the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions to support their health and well-being. This resource includes a discussion guide, activity plans (broken down by grade level, Grades 5 – 12), and resources/handouts.
English: OPHEA Cannabis Education Resources
Designed for education professionals (teachers, guidance counsellors, coaches, social workers and so on) working with youth from grades 6–12 to gain knowledge, tools and resources on substance use, stigma, cannabis vaping, alcohol and impaired driving. Using this guide with the supporting video modules can help educators start and navigate difficult conversations with youth on these subjects.
Food & Nutrition
Our Public Health Dietitian has provided a list of resources that will support you in teaching topics related to food and nutrition to your students. Contact us for more information or support on the following resources.
BrightBites is a website created by Ontario Registered Dietitians working in Public Health to provide educators with credible nutrition information, curriculum support and steps to improve school food environments.
A collection of hands-on resources to keep students engaged. Contents include stuffed vegetable and fruit characters, vegetable and fruit bean bags, food models, matching cards, food beach ball and more.
Food is Science is a website created by Sustain Ontario to help educators understand and teach the new food literacy expectations in Ontario’s Science and Technology Curriculum. The website provides evidence-based resources, lesson plans and videos to help educators teach science through food and food systems.
How educators talk about food and bodies in the classroom matters for the physical and mental health of students. The Dietitians 4 Teachers website (created by a Registered Dietitian in Ontario) provides access to classroom posters, teaching activities, individual consultations, and professional development to help educators foster positive food relationships and teach about food and nutrition safely.
Evidence shows that using a food exploration approach when teaching about food and nutrition is associated with long-term positive eating attitudes and behaviours. Healthy Schools BC created this website to help educators understand how to talk about food and nutrition in a way that meets students where they are at, encourages food exploration and cultivates positive relationships with food.
Physical Activity
Promoting physical activity has a direct impact on academic achievement and positive classroom behaviour. Students who meet The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth are also better prepared for good mental health and the ability to cope with stress.
Pedometer-related activities align with the Ontario curriculum. Pedometers can be used during standard physical education sessions to support school daily physical activity.
Each kit contains 30 pedometers, you can download the pedometer lending guide, and reach out to your school aligned Public Health Nurse to borrow the kit.
Free, online activity-based resource helps children and youth develop an understanding of skills and strategies associated with physical activity and provide experiences to help with physical and health literacy and skills for healthy active living.www.ophea.net
Offers professional development services, programs, and resources for quality physical health education and healthy learning environments.https://phecanada.ca
Mental Health
Positive Mental Health is defined by the Public Health Agency of Canada as “the capacity of each and all of us to feel, think, act in ways that enhance our ability to enjoy life and deal with the challenges we face. It is a positive sense of emotional and spiritual well-being that respects the importance of culture, equity, social justice, interconnections and personal dignity” (2022).
Schools are an idea place for mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention.
SMHO is a website platform and team that provides information and resources to help schools and school boards enhance student mental health. The strategies they use are evidence-informed and based on best practice. They provide support for implementing mental health programs, tailored resources, mental health literacy for teachers and school boards, mental health information for parents, support for student leaders, and more.
The SMHO Wayfinder is a grade-by-grade guide to teaching mental health across the curriculum and a good place to start!
Jack.org offers a number of completely free mental health resources designed to strengthen student mental health literacy, and make educators' lives easier with classroom-ready learning materials and activities curriculum details can be found under Curriculum Connections in each resource*
Français: https://edhub.jack.org/fr
Substance Use
Schools have a unique opportunity to provide early substance use prevention. Classroom teachers can make a positive difference in the lifestyle choices of their students through their own role modeling, knowledge, and teaching of the substance use curriculum. Here are a few ideas to build confidence when discussing substance use:
- review relevant information related to substance use and abuse from the perspective of the individual, family, culture and society
- learn why words matter when talking about substances
- participate in training opportunities
- examine personal values and beliefs related to substance use
- bring enthusiasm and commitment to the material.
We aim to support our school boards and schools in creating healthy school environments. This includes supporting educators to teach related curriculum, provide the necessary information to make healthy choices, build student resiliency skills, and to create school environments that promote overall health and well-being.
In grade 9 students learn about substance use, including: how resilience and related risk and protective factors impact choices about substance use (C1.3); social factors that influence substance use; behaviours that can lead to addiction; and how to use decision-making and communication skills to respond to influences (C3.4).
We designed a presentation and guide to support you in teaching this curriculum. Contact your school-aligned Public Health Nurse for more information.
These goggles can be used to demonstrate how alcohol impairs a person’s balance, vision, reaction time, and judgment. This kit includes seven goggles all having different levels of impairment (blood alcohol concentration) with the highest impairment level demonstrating binge or high-risk drinking. Grades 9 – 12. Educators can access the resource by contacting the public health nurse aligned with your school.
These goggles help simulate the effects of cannabis use, including loss of motor coordination, slowed decision-making and reaction time, and distorted vision. Grades 9 – 12.
A demonstration kit for grades 7-12 that contains a very realistic model of a mouth, and shows students the damage that can be caused by using smokeless tobacco. Educators can access the resource by contacting the public health nurse aligned with your school.
A demonstration kit for grades 5-12 that contains preserved pig’s lungs (one healthy lung and one affected by years of smoking) to show students the anatomy and physiology of a non-smoker’s lung and a smoker’s lung damaged by cancer and emphysema. Educators can access the resource by contacting the public health nurse aligned to your school.
This resource is meant to help youth learn about vaping to become informed decision-makers. This toolkit contains an educator guide and curriculum linked activities for students in grades 5-9.
English: www.myhealthunit.ca/vapehype
Français: www.myhealthunit.ca/troussevapotage
The Talking About Series is an educational resource addressing cannabis, tobacco, vaping, and water pipes. The series includes a set of activity guides, one for each topic, to help facilitate critical discussion with young people (Grades 7 – 12) in a fun and informative manner.
This cannabis education resource was developed to provide educators and administrators access to evidence-informed information on substance use (specifically cannabis) to help students develop the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions to support their health and well-being. This resource includes a discussion guide, activity plans (broken down by grade level, Grades 5 – 12), and resources/handouts.
English: OPHEA Cannabis Education Resources
Designed for education professionals (teachers, guidance counsellors, coaches, social workers and so on) working with youth from grades 6–12 to gain knowledge, tools and resources on substance use, stigma, cannabis vaping, alcohol and impaired driving. Using this guide with the supporting video modules can help educators start and navigate difficult conversations with youth on these subjects.
Human Development & Sexual Health
“Sexuality education equips children and young people with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that help them to protect their health, develop respectful social and sexual relationships, make responsible choices and understand and protect the rights of others.” (WHO, 2023)
Good quality education on these topics:
- Informs students about their sexuality, sexual health, and rights
- Encourages safer sex and gauging readiness to start engaging in sexual activity
- Prepares them for the physical, emotional, and social changes they will experience.
- Teaches them about consent and respect.
- Reduces risk from violence, abuse, and exploitation.
- Shows them where to go to get help.
To support students to learn about contraception we have Birth Control Kits available for loan! The Birth Control Kits are a collection of resources compiled to help teachers implement the H&PE Curriculum. Please speak to your school nurse to request a kit or for more information.
SexandU.ca takes a real-life approach to the questions and issues around sex and sexuality that matter most to Canadians. From talking about sex, to lifestyle choices, to contraception awareness and sexually transmitted infections, SexandU.ca provides accurate, credible, and up-to-date information and education on topics related to sexual and reproductive health. They have a great resource on contraception.
SexandU.ca is an initiative of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, Canada’s leading authority on sexual and reproductive health.
The teacher portal provides teachers and educators with evidence-based sexual health information, lesson plans, tools and resources. They also have a great resource to go along with the birth control kit!
Food & Nutrition
Our Public Health Dietitian has provided a list of resources that will support you in teaching topics related to food and nutrition to your students. Contact us for more information or support on the following resources.
BrightBites is a website created by Ontario Registered Dietitians working in Public Health to provide educators with credible nutrition information, curriculum support and steps to improve school food environments.
Food is Science is a website created by Sustain Ontario to help educators understand and teach the new food literacy expectations in Ontario’s Science and Technology Curriculum. The website provides evidence-based resources, lesson plans and videos to help educators teach science through food and food systems.
How educators talk about food and bodies in the classroom matters for the physical and mental health of students. The Dietitians 4 Teachers website (created by a Registered Dietitian in Ontario) provides access to classroom posters, teaching activities, individual consultations, and professional development to help educators foster positive food relationships and teach about food and nutrition safely.
Physical Activity
Promoting physical activity has a direct impact on academic achievement and positive classroom behaviour. Students who meet The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth are also better prepared for good mental health and the ability to cope with stress.
Free, online activity-based resource helps children and youth develop an understanding of skills and strategies associated with physical activity and provide experiences to help with physical and health literacy and skills for healthy active living.www.ophea.net
Offers professional development services, programs, and resources for quality physical health education and healthy learning environments.https://phecanada.ca