Grade 7 - 8
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.
Handwashing Teaching Toolkit (Grade 7 & 8)
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
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)
Introduction to Sexual Health Presentation (Grade 7)
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. C
Sexuality and You Presentation (Grade 8)
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 ! Did you know you have SMHO Coach and local Mental Health Leader aligned to your school board?
Birth Control Kits
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
OPHEA - Always Changing & Growing Up (Grade 7 & 8)
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).
Teaching Sexual Health (Grade 7 & 8)
The teacher portal provides teachers and educators with evidence-based sexual health information, lesson plans, tools and resources. https://teachingsexualhealth.ca/teachers/
Sex & U (Grade 7 & 8)
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.
School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO) (all grades)
The ! Did you know you have SMHO Coach and local Mental Health Leader aligned to your school board? Find their
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.
Substances Thinking it Through Presentation & Guide (Grade 7 & 8) and Vaping Thinking it Through Presentation & Guide (Grade 7 & 8)
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. C
Mr. Gross Mouth (Grade 7 & 8)
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.
Pigs Lungs (Grade 7 & 8)
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.
Vaping: What’s the Hype? (Grade 7 & 8)
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.
Talking About… Series (Grade 7 & 8)
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.
Vaping Education Resource (Grade 7 & 8)
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
Cannabis Education Resources (OPHEA) (Grade 7 & 8)
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.
Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction: Understanding Substance Use Educators Guide (Grade 7 & 8)
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.
Snactivity Kit
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
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.
Dietitians 4 Teachers
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.
Teach Food First; An Educator's Toolkit for Exploring Canada's Food Guide with K-8 Students
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
Physical Activity
Promoting physical activity has a direct impact on academic achievement and positive classroom behaviour. Students who meet .
Pedometer Lending Kit
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
Ontario Physical Activity Standards in Education (OPHEA)
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
Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada)
Offers professional development services, programs, and resources for quality physical health education and healthy learning environments.https://phecanada.ca
