This Week in Health (10/6-10/10)

It is hard to believe we are already winding down with term 1. We move on to term 2 in just a few short weeks. The school year is already flying!

6th Grade: We recently finished up our unit on physical fitness and nutrition. I am hoping the students learned plenty about the importance of exercise and what eating a "healthy" diet really means for them. With the upcoming cold and flu season we have spent some time this week talking about infectious diseases and how germs spread. Hopefully we will be seeing plenty of hand washing this fall and winter as a result! :)

7th Grade: We have been discussing nutrition in 7th grade. When the students are in 6th grade we focus on the 5 food groups and what a balanced plate looks like. In 7th grade we get more into detail about the food groups, discussing benefits of each, the nutrients they provide, and serving sizes. We also start to look at calories and how many calories different foods provide us with. We also talk about how many calories are too much, too little, or just right. We took on one of my favorite lessons to teach this week in which we examine food advertising and how it impacts our food choices. Hopefully the students are now more aware of some of the "tricks" advertisers use, and  will use this to make healthier, more informed decisions.

8th Grade: We have been talking about a variety of mental illnesses, warning signs related to these illnesses, as well as treatment. The general purpose of this unit is to provide awareness of mental illnesses and talk about ways to help if they are ever impacted, directly or indirectly. The students generally take a lot of interest in this unit and we have many valuable discussions in class. Currently we are discussing addiction, and watching Chris Herren's story to look at the dangers of drug addiction and the impact drug abuse has on one's brain. Visit this web page for more information about Chris Herren and his project: http://www.theherrenproject.org/,

Health Back in Full Swing!

Health classes are in full swing here at West Springfield Middle School. We are now in our third week of lessons and most of Mrs. Hardy's classes have moved on to their second topic of the term! I can't believe how quickly time is flying already!

6th Grade:

The 6th graders are currently finishing up their unit on empathy and bullying prevention. The highlighted activity of this week is one centered around how words hurt others. The students wrote down insults they have heard onto a cutout of a person. We then went around the room sharing the insults. Each time a person shared an insult, the students had to rip off a piece of their person. Once the person was in several pieces the students were provided with the challenge of putting the person back together. We are still in the process of reconstruction, but our post activity discussion will focus around the negative, long-lasting impacts our words can have on others.

7th Grade:

We have just begun our unit on teaching tolerance. During the past few classes, the topic of conversation has been stereotyping. Students have been engaged in meaningful discussion regarding how stereotypes are learned and the impact stereotyping has on society. We have watched several commercials and analyzed ads to investigate how the media influences stereotyping.

8th Grade:

The 8th graders have just begun their unit on nutrition. Students have learned the 6 different nutrient groups, the benefits of these nutrients, and the foods we can find them  in. Currently students are practicing identifying sources of the various nutrients. At the end of the week we will be investigating ingredients in our foods, and learning how to read food labels.

This Week in Health (April 7, 2014)

6th Grade:

This week, the students learned important interpersonal skills including empathy, considering another person's perspective, and disagreeing respectfully. The students discussed situations when they would need to apply these skills, reflected on examples from their own lives, and practiced using the skills in role playing scenarios with their classmates.

7th Grade: 

This week the students explored "relationships". They began by discussing the qualities that can make the various relationships in their lives be successful or fall apart. They distinguished between the positive qualities and negative qualities specifically in relationships with parents, teachers, siblings, and friends. The students also discussed how they could demonstrate 5 essential positive relationship qualities in a variety of scenarios. Towards the end of the week, the students focused on identifying the friendships in their lives and reflected on how they may respond in some difficult situations involving friends.

8th Grade:

Students identified and discussed the most important values in their lives. The students also applied these values by standing up in front of their class under one of 3 signs: "agree", "disagree", or "unsure" based on their beliefs in a variety of different topics. The students ended the week by learning the "DECIDE" decision making model and analyzing a video to process through it.

This Week in Health

Ms. Riccio's Classes:

6th Grade:

This week the 6th graders finished up their unit on physical fitness and nutrition. The students spent a good deal of last week learning about what it means to be physically fit and how one can achieve this. This week, the focus has been more on the nutritional aspect, and students have been learning about the 5 food groups, what a balanced meal entails, and why it is so important to eat breakfast. In one activity, students were asked to create (in writing) 4 healthy breakfast options which each contained at least 3 of the 5 food groups. 

7th Grade:

The 7th graders have begun their nutrition unit this week. They started off by learning about the 5 food groups and the benefits that the various foods in each of these groups have on their health. Now they are learning all about the 6 different nutrient groups and the different foods that contain these nutrients. In one activity, students created a healthy 5 day meal plan, making sure that they had one food from each of the five food groups at each meal. Next up students will be learning and practicing how to read nutrition facts labels.

8th Grade:

The 8th graders started up their unit on mental health this week. So far the students have learned what a mental illness is and why they may occur. The students have also focused in on ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), eating disorders, and addiction. When learning about these various mental illnesses the students identify common signs and symptoms, treatment options, and resources that could be of help to someone suffering from the particular mental illness. 

Ms. Tash's Classes:

6th Grade:

In 6th grade, the 2nd period students are learning how to read nutrition labels and how to create meals using "my plate". In the 6th period class, students are learning about manners. Currently they are focusing on manners when using a cell phone and computer.

7th Grade:

In 7th grade, the students are completing their drug unit by learning about marijuana.

8th Grade:

In 8th grade, the students are learning about disease prevention. They are focusing on the prevention of colds, the flu, and strep throat.

This Week in Health (2/4/14)

Ms. Riccio's Classes:

6th Grade:

In 6th grade we are finishing up the 2nd Step program, which is designed to teach effective interpersonal skills and educate students on the topic of bullying. This week in particular we are discussing how to identify bullying and how to respond to bullying. We are also learning about what it means to be a bystander and how one can be a positive/active bystander. 

7th Grade:

In 7th grade we are finishing up our relationships unit. Students are watching the movie "The Sandlot". We are using this movie to identify and discuss the various forms of communication (aggressive, passive, and assertive). We are also analyzing the friendships in this movie to distinguish positive and negative qualities. In addition, we are pinpointing parts of the movie to explain what is meant by "compromise" and "cooperation".

8th Grade:

In 8th grade we are finishing up our unit on Values & Beliefs. Throughout this unit students have identified their top values and have learned an effective decision making model. The students are watching the movie "Cyberbully". While watching the movie students are reflecting on their personal attitudes and behaviors towards the internet and social networking sites. They are also reflecting on their own values and whether or not they match their behaviors on and off line. In addition they are analyzing the decisions made by characters in the movie and the effects those decisions have had on themselves and others. 

Ms. Tash's Classes:

6th Grade:

The 2nd period class is working on manners and kindness. They have created a card to give to a teacher that would make that teacher smile. The 6th period class is working on nutrition. They are creating "my plate" for healthy eating. They also created a healthy "snack attack" menu. 

7th Grade:

The students are completing their friendship unit. The 3rd period class will be visiting the Applied Academics class on Friday to decide whether or not they would like to become a "Friday Buddy".

8th Grade:

The students recently applied the "Think First" model to solve 3 issues teens may have to deal with. The students will also be discussing peer pressure as it relates to drugs later in the week. 

Teens & Chatting Safely Online (STUDENT BARK BUCK BONUS!!!)

For this generation of teens, technology and social media are not just tools, they are a way of life. Social networking sites now make it possible for teens to communicate with anyone, anywhere in a matter of seconds. While there are several benefits to social networking, there are also several dangers that one should consider when chatting online. Click on the link below and watch this short video of a few teens' experiences and perspectives. Then answer the questions on your sheet! Remember, 10 bark bucks are on the line!!! :)

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/videos/perspectives-on-chatting-safely-online

Ms. Riccio's Classes

6th Grade:

This week in 6th grade students started off the week by reading an article on the importance of sleep. They then used the information from the article to summarize, analyze, and think critically about the topic. They then learned about water and why it is so critical to stay hydrated. The students learned about some signs of dehydration and how they can avoid it. We will finish out the week by learning some basic first aid skills and steps one can take to handle some minor first aid injuries.

7th Grade:

In 7th grade we are learning about nutrition. The students have practiced outlining healthy meals that include all 5 food groups. Next, students will be learning about the 6 nutrient groups and what foods contain each of the these nutrients. Later in the week students will be learning how to read a nutrition facts label and how they can use this information to identify whether or not a food is a healthy choice. Finally, students will finish the week with a little nutrition consumer health. Students will be examining different strategies that food companies and advertisers use to "trick" customers into buying their foods. Students will then practice identifying these tricks in a variety of advertisements.

8th Grade:

In 8th grade, students will be finishing up their unit on mental health with a post quiz on this topic. Then, we will be moving on to discuss "dating" and what the differences are between healthy and unhealthy relationships. We will look at a variety of characteristics and discuss whether they are part of healthy or unhealthy relationships and why such characteristics can be helpful or harmful. 

Ms. Tash's Classes

6th Grade:

Students will be learning appropriate and effective ways to stand up for themselves and others. Students will also be examining cyber bullying.

7th Grade:

Students will be learning about sexuality and reproduction.

8th Grade:

Students will be learning about skin conditions and skin cancer. Students will also be learning about piercings and tattoos.