Curriculum Guides

The grade-specific curriculum guides are the core of the Growing Healthy program. Each teacher implementing the program is required to have one. Each guide, regardless of grade level, is organized and presented in a consistent fashion, providing 42-53 lessons Each grade level includes six phases, which are color coded. Full implementation of all phases of Growing Healthy is fundamental to its success. The focuses of the six phases of the Growing Healthy curriculum are as follows:

Introduction Phase Stresses Motivation

Phase I Centers on Awareness of Specific Body Systems

Phase II Focuses on Appreciation of the Body

Phase III Explores Structure and Function of Specific Body System

Phase IV Presents Diseases and Disorders Associated with Specific Body Systems

Phase V Details Prevention and Overall Health Promotion and Wellness

Each curriculum guide also comes with a set of grade-specific blackline masters, which are reproducible student worksheets. Teachers may photocopy the blackline masters year after year as needed. A comprehensive glossary of Growing Healthy vocabulary words with developmentally appropriate definitions is also a part of the curriculum guide.

Each of the K-6 Growing Healthy curriculum guides comes in a functional three-ring binder that is color-coded by phase. Each guide contains:

Goals for the six phases
Class time allocation for each of the six phases
Major concepts of each phase
Outcome objectives for each of the six phases
Assessment at each phase
Things to do before each phase
List of materials to be used in each phase
Reference to the corresponding blackline masters for each lesson
Teacher reference pages
List of educational materials the teacher needs for the daily lesson
Daily lesson plans
Cross-curricular integration activities
Objectives for each lesson

Peripheral Kits

Children learn in different ways. Some read and learn. Some see and learn. Still, others touch and learn. Growing Healthy, therefore, uses videos, anatomical models, books, posters, cassettes, puppets, games, optional computer software, and hands-on activities to elicit student participation and to stimulate decision making and self-esteem. Health education becomes compelling and fun.

While Growing Healthy's planned, sequential curriculum provides a sound framework for a comprehensive health education program, it is Growing Healthy's peripheral materials that bring the curriculum to life.

The Growing Healthy comprehensive school health education curriculum utilizes over 300 different peripherals to enhance the learning process. Each grade level uses a set of developmentally appropriate materials selected to facilitate Growing Healthy's hands-on approach to teaching and learning. Virtually all materials are reusable year after year. One grade-specific set of peripheral materials is generally shared among four to six classrooms at a grade level. The peripheral materials are stored in Rubbermaid® plastic bins that correlate with each of the corresponding color coded phases in the grade specific Growing Healthy curriculum guides, thus allowing the teacher easy access to and management of the peripherals.

Ready-Made Teaching Materials

In each classroom, charts, posters, graphs, and station activity cards are used to provide, synthesize, and reinforce information; designate learning stations; and clarify concepts for each of the six phases. Each classroom teacher uses a set of these materials.

Teacher Training

Please contact Ray Marks at ray@nche.org or at 212-463-4053 for more information about Teacher Training.