Health education resource library
School health staff play an important role in promoting student health. Use this webpage to:
- Create and deliver health lessons;
- Share reliable information with students and families; and
- Link students and families to health services.
Resources that help health care professionals quickly create and tailor their own lesson plans.
- Characteristics of an Effective Health Education Curriculum, CDC
The CDC outlines characteristics to consider when developing effective health education curriculum.
- Lesson plan template (fillable PDF), Public Health - Seattle & King County
This lesson plan template is modified from the Understanding by Design framework and is intended to support school health staff streamline their lesson plan development process. This template encourages school health staff to brainstorm: a long term goal for their lesson (ten years from now, what will you want your students to remember?), three big takeaways from the lesson, how they will assess students have learned the material, and finally the activities, talking points, and materials necessary to carry out the lesson.
- Sample lesson plan to illustrate how the above template can be used.
Bulletin boards are a great way to engage students waiting to be seen or people just passing by your center. Bulletin board ideas from Pinterest to get you started
Most of these materials can be changed to meet the needs of your school. Use the pictures you like, add in things specific to your school and feel free to take out any text or only use some of the messages.
- Student Wellness Center and 8-7-5-2-1-0: Numbers that promote healthy living!
- "Welcome to the Clinic" board from Group Health
- "Don't Get Angry" bulletin board: Stress management techniques and tips
- Healthy Eating
- Sleep!
- Depression and suicide prevention
- Relationships:
- Let's Get Active!
- Alcohol, tobacco and drug use addiction science
Pre-developed lesson plans and health information that can be modified for a specific lesson.
Nutrition
- The Truth Behind Sugary Drinks, Public Health - Seattle & King County
- 15-minute lesson aimed at students K-3 to understand most drinks, other than water, have a lot of sugar and sugar is not good for our health.
- 20-minute lesson for students in 4th and 5th grades to understand sugary drinks are not good for our health, and how much sugar is in some of the drinks we consume every day.
- Sugary Drink Poster Board (image)
Social and emotional learning
- Tips for Teaching Mindfulness, Greater Good Science Center
Tips on how to incorporate mindfulness into everyday learning.
Wellness
- Hand washing, Public Health - Seattle & King County
- 20 minute lesson for students in grades K-2 to understand what germs are, how to stop them from spreading, and how to wash their hands appropriately.
- 20 minute lesson for students in grades 3-5 to understand why hand washing is important, and how to wash their hands appropriately.
Resources for school health staff to support families in navigating and understanding various health topics.
Active living
- Bike safety:
- Bike Safety, KidsHealth
Information on helmet basics. Information is also available in Spanish.
- Bike Safety, KidsHealth
- Sun safety:
Asthma management
- Asthma Center, KidsHealth
Information on what asthma is, how to prevent flare ups, how to monitor the child's health, and answers to frequently asked questions. Resources are also available in Spanish.
Immunizations
- Vaccines, CDC
Vaccine schedules, current recommendations, frequently asked questions, school requirements and laws, and more.
- Immunity Community, WithinReach
For families and school health staff working with school aged children to answer questions about vaccines with accurate and reliable information.
- Immunizations: English | Spanish Washington State Dept. of Health
Answers to frequently asked questions, immunization information for folks of all ages, and Washington State school immunization requirements. Information is also available in Spanish.
Oral health
- Children's Oral Health, CDC
Information on teeth and on what parents and caregivers can do to encourage children to maintain good oral hygiene.
- Keeping Your Child's Teeth Healthy: English | Spanish, KidsHealth
Information on when dental care should start, how to prevent cavities, the anatomy of teeth and more. Information is also available in Spanish.
- Oral Health, Healthychildren.org
Diet tips to prevent dental cavities and information on fluoride use and children.
Wellness
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Information for Schools & Childcare Providers
Suggestions for preventing the flu including materials for families and schools.
- Everyday Preventive Actions That Can Help Fight Germs, Like Flu
- Stop Germs, Stay Healthy!
How to stop the spread of germs, the flu, and other illnesses. Information is available in multiple languages.
- Information for Schools & Childcare Providers
- Well-Child Care: A Check-Up for Success: English | Spanish, Healthychildren.org
Importance of well child checks, provides tips on how to communicate effectively with physicians, and a schedule of when visits should occur. Information is available in Spanish.
- Seasonal influenza, Public Health – Seattle & King County
Information on the flu including: an influenza fact sheet in many languages and the differences between a cold and the flu.
- Child Health Profile Health Promotion System, Washington State Dept. of Health
Keeping families with young children updated on current nutrition, safety, well-child checks, and growth and development. Families can receive this information by mail or e-mail.
Information to help families access health resources and affordable activities during the summer months.
- Access and Outreach resources
Connecting you to medical providers, health insurance options, and many essential services from food and energy assistance, to breast cancer and dental care options
- Seattle Parks and Recreation
Activities providing safe and welcoming opportunities for children and families to play and learn.
- Summer Youth Sports Teams & Programs
Low cost and free sports camps during the summer months.
- Summer Guide
Activities year round, and during the summer months. Visit this webpage for more things to do during the summer.
- Summer Youth Sports Teams & Programs
- Summer Food Service Program, Seattle Human Services Dept.
Provides breakfast, lunches, and snacks during the summer for children under the age of 19.
- Food, Cash, Medical, Washington State Dept. of Health and Human Services
Resource for families in Washington state.
Includes resources for families and school health staff to use when working with people from diverse backgrounds.
- Clear Communication, National Institutes of Health
Clear communication and cultural competency.
- EthnoMed
Cultural, language, health, illness, and community resources available to care health care professionals helping families navigate the health care system.
Includes a quick reference of reliable health education resources for students, families, and school health staff.
- CDC
- Cooking Matters
- EthnoMed
- Healthychildren.org
From the American Academy of Pediatrics - KidsHealth.org
- MyPlate
- Seattle Public Library
Seattle Public Libraries has many resources to support school health staff and families working with young people. You can contact the library using their Ask Us form to get support finding resources in a number of topics. The more specific you can be with explaining your needs, the better the librarians can support you. The following are some things to consider when messaging a librarian: who you are, where you are located (what school), what you are looking for, how you intend to use the book/resource (read aloud, for parents to share with their children, for children to read out loud, etc.), what age group you will be using this resource with, and any languages other than English to consider. - Seattle Tilth