Teaching Health

Health and Career Fair

varnitsky — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:53:31 +0000

There will be a Community Health Fitness and Career Fair on Saturday, Nov. 14th at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. This would be a great thing for students to do for extra credit.

Caster Semenya

varnitsky — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 07:33:10 +0000

Here’s an interesting blog article about Caster Semenya. It’s such an interesting time for gender discussions. From the uninformed use of the word hermaphrodite to the more politically and historically conscious articles, there’s a lot being said about the issue. I wonder how this can be incorporated into the health class.

HIV+ Speakers in Class Today!

varnitsky — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:55:53 +0000

I just had speakers from Positively Speaking in my class. Positively Speaking is a component of LAUSD’s HIV Prevention Unit. They prepare HIV+ people to come and speak about their personal experiences to students.

It went great!

Thanks guys!

Having Kids Makes You Unhappy, Research Shows

varnitsky — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:24:51 +0000

Well…. This is an interesting article! Research apparently shows that having kids decreases happiness. That will be fun to read tomorrow when we discuss the costs of pregnancy!

Working on Birth Control Lesson

varnitsky — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:47:05 +0000

In the past, I’ve shown students all the various types of birth control and how they work. Fine. But I want to do something more interactive. So I’m making a chart for them to fill in and then giving each group a different kind of birth control, having them learn about it (with a handout and the actual thing to look at) and then having them do a “Walk and Talk” where they go around the class and learn about the other groups’ topics.

We’ll see how it goes. It’s more time-intensive, but more engaging and perhaps long-lasting.

Brain Fitness

varnitsky — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 05:25:33 +0000

This is an interesting idea- incorporate brain fitness into health class! Hmmm…. It has health implications- preventing Alzeheimer’s in later age. And it’s a double whammy/two in the bush sort of thing- you get students using their brains more in the name of health!

Here’s the article on Brain Fitness.

Masturbation Myths

varnitsky — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:48:34 +0000

This is a great article for teens on Masturbation Myths. I’m going to have students read it and then write a journal about it. (Not to be read by me!!!)

Here’s an excerpt from it:

Masturbation Myths
by Susan Diem

“Masturbation. Most people do it — yet so many people worry about doing it! That’s because there are a lot of myths out there that masturbation is dirty, dangerous, or something to be embarrassed about doing. But the truth is, masturbation is safe and healthy, and it’s here to stay. People of all ages do it. Guys do it, and girls do it too. Single people and people in relationships do it. Some people do it a few times a day, and some do it a few times a year. Let’s get to the bottom of some of the masturbation myths that make people so anxious about being caught red-handed.”

Drug PSA

varnitsky — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:00:20 +0000

The Dangers of Drug Abuse

25 points

Possible topics:

Steroids
Prescription drug abuse (vicadin, ritalin, oxycontin)
Marijuana
Cough syrup/DXM
Meth
Alcohol
Cocaine or Crack
Heroin
Inhalants
Mushrooms
Ecstasy

TOPIC: ________________________________________

Anti- Drug PSA (Public Service Announcement)

Create a poster or short video that serves as a Public Service Announcement, encouraging teens NOT to use the drug.

Part 1: Choose a scenario/scene/set-up for your PSA – experimenting with drugs (party, at school, etc), struggling to be quit using, seeing parents or adults do it, or being pressured by peers.

Design your PSA around one of these possible scenarios. (4 pts)

Part 2: Make sure you have a message to teens to not use the drug in the context of your scenario.

How can teens refuse this drug?

What are the consequences to your life plans? (5 pts)

Part 3: Include at least 4 of the following categories in your poster. (12 pts)

Street names for this drug?
What type of drug is it? (stimulant, sedative, hallucinogen, opiate or no classification)
Where does it come from? (a plant, human made)
How is it taken? Which way is the most dangerous?
What are the short-term effects, including not only why people take it, but also, what are the dangerous short-term effects?
What are the health consequences, ie, what are the dangerous effects of long-term use on the body?
How addictive is it?
What is the possibility of overdose? Is death possible?

Your poster must be neat and include some type of visual. (4 pts)

I-Statements Handout

varnitsky — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:57:17 +0000

Name _________________ Date_________ Period ______

“I” Statements

10 points

An “I” statement is a statement of your feelings that does not blame or judge the other person. In an I-statement, you are taking responsibility for your own feelings and communicating positively with someone.

Directions: Change the “You” Statements below into “I” statements.

Figure out how the person is feeling.
An “I” statement starts with “I feel…,” “I want….,” “I’m upset because….”
Then say what you would like to happen next. “I would like for you to….” or “I want…”

“You” Statement	“I” Statement
1. You never call me when I ask you to!
2. I hate you! You told her my secret!
3. Why don’t you ever clean your room?? I’ve asked you to do it five times!
4. You are so annoying when you tease me!
5. Shut up! Will you stop interrupting me?!
6.Turn down that stereo! I can’t hear myself think!
7. You always ignore me when your other friends are around!
8. Mom/Dad- You never let me do anything! You treat me like a baby!
9. Why don’t you do your own homework and stop copying mine?!
10. You never told us the assignment was due today!

DRUG JEOPARDY!

varnitsky — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 05:47:27 +0000

Just finished making “DRUG JEOPARDY” on PowerPoint. WOW- that took a long time. Thanks to someone out there on the Intersweb who made a jeopardy template for me to use! That definitely helped. But still, it took about 3-4 hours to make it.

If you’d like a copy of the PowerPoint, drop me your email and I’ll send it to you!