8.+Unit+Timeline

= Unit Calendar =

Day #1: Nutrition
Students will read a small worksheet to learn about the food pyramid. Then students will be asked to give examples of different foods for each food group on the pyramid which the teacher will write on the board. Then students will be given a template to build their own food pyramid and have to place the food groups in their proper place on their personal pyramid. This lesson will fulfill State Standard #6: Understands essential concepts about nutrition and diet.

Day #2: Exercise and Wellness
The students will start off the day by stretching and getting their bodies ready to exercise. After the students are warmed up then they will watch a exercise video that they can follow along and participate in. After the video the students will then write in their health journal on as to how they feel before and after exercising and how different ideas of what they can do to help and improve their health and well being.

Day #3: Day of Respect
The focus of this lesson is on self-esteem and respect. During the lesson, students will discuss the definitions of self-esteem and respect. They will also learn about stress and simple stress relieving mechanisms, like deep breathing. To encourage self-esteem, students will create a "Self-Esteem Star Art Project" which will be displayed in the classroom. Finally, students will be given tips for healthy communication, along with an activity to complete with their families to promote healthy communication.

Day #4: First Aid/Emergency Situations
A firefighter is going to come into class, and will discuss fire safety with the students. The students will follow along and fill out guided notes. After the firefighter is finished presenting, the students will be given a dry erase sheet to fill out emergency contact information. The class will also have to arrange the classroom fire safety steps in the correct order, as well as contribute to the classroom fire escape plan. As an alternative in case the fireman is not available, the students will be instructed on what is in a first aid kit and how to use it as well as go through stranger danger activities and instruction.

Day #5: Field Day!
This lesson provides 25 ideas for activities to liven up your field day with fun. The emphasis in a few of the activities is on skill; but the emphasis in all the activities is on achieving success and having fun! The activities listed below all can be completed by individual students. Each activity makes a special note of how "winners" might be recognized at an award ceremony. Winners should be recognized by grade level. To avoid placing the emphasis too strongly on "winning" -- and to avoid confusion - you might simply ask winners to stand in place among the other students in their class instead of coming to the front of the award gathering. Winners might be awarded special ribbons, or all participants might receive an award as they complete each activity.

= Teaching Tips =
 * The use of videos in this unit are good at getting the students' attention and keeping their attention throughout the entire lesson
 * Using activities that require students to get out of their seat, helps to keep them from getting bored and tuning you out while also developing gross motor skills
 * Having a special guest can get kids excited to learn about that topic (i.e. Firefighter)
 * Having students use their hands to create something (i.e. their personal food pyramid) keeps kids attention more than simply talking at them will as well as help them develop fine motor skills