Each month, a new topic will be highlighted and the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit's School Health Team will share four weeks of easy-to-use activities for elementary teachers to practise well-being skills in their classrooms.

October 2023 - Understanding Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging 

September 2023 - Physical Activity

May 2023 - Positive Body Image

April 2023 - Bullying and Cyberbullying 

March 2023 - Positive Relationships with Food 

 Does your school have a healthy food culture? Watch this short video developed by York Region to find out what this means and how schools can influence our eating habits.

Curriculum & Teaching Resources

BrightBites

• Produced and maintained by Ontario Dietitians in Public Health, this interactive website provides tips for all educators to help teach nutrition in a positive way.
• Explore the grade specific curriculum supports, activity ideas, and discussion prompts to help boost student well-being inside and outside of the classroom.

Food is Science

• Tools and lesson plans to help teach grades 3 - 9 about food systems and incorporate food literacy into Ontario’s Science and Technology Curriculum.  
• Developed by Sustain Ontario and supported by Ontario’s Ministry of Education

Let’s Talk About Food

• Developed by Dairy Farmer’s of Canada’s Registered dietitians, this teaching resource explores how to talk about food and eating in the classroom using inclusive and respectful language.
• Included is an easy to follow printable with helpful tips that are appropriate for all ages and grades.

Media Smarts

• Lesson plans and activities on food marketing, body image, cyberbullying and other digital and media literacy topics for K-12.

Growing Chefs! Ontario

• Growing Chefs! Ontario lesson plans are designed to help meet Learning Expectations cited in the Ontario Elementary Curriculum and to promote positive, respectful learning and exploration of culture and diversity through food in a fun and interactive manner.

FoodShare - Educator Resources

• Educational tools and lesson plans for elementary schools and secondary schools. Helping to build knowledge in food justice and food systems.  

School & Student Engagement Resources

You’re the Chef

• You’re the Chef is a food literacy program designed to help children and youth develop food and nutrition knowledge, food skills, and the confidence necessary to plan and prepare nutritious meals and snacks.
• Registered dietitians from HNHU provide training and resources to school community volunteers to run the program at their respective schools.

The Healthy Respectful Lunchroom

• Video and handouts to support grade 1-3 students learn what’s in their lunchbox, what others bring and being open to different and unfamiliar foods.

Professional Development & Community Partner Resources

Haldimand-Norfolk Nutrition Directory

• A list of available nutrition services, programs and additional resources in Haldimand and Norfolk counties.

Healthy Schools: Linking Nutrition and Mental Well-Being

PPM-150: School Food and Beverage Policy

• Includes information about the School Food and Beverage policy, elementary and secondary teacher resource guides, FAQs about the policy, etc.

Canada’s Food Guide or contact Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit

• Canada’s food guide is an online suite of tools created by Health Canada.
• The food guide provides the general Canadian population (2 years of age and older) with recommendations to promote healthy eating and nutritional well-being.
• Eating patterns encouraged within Canada’s food guide are flexible, diverse and include foods that hold culture, personal or religious significance.
• Contact the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit for copies of Canada’s food guide-Snap shot or order them online directly from Health Canada

Nurturing Healthy Eaters in Elementary Schools

• Developed by Ontario Dietitans in Public Health, this resource describes how school community members can support students in elementary schools (grades JK – 8) to nurture healthy eating.
• Also available in French.

Nurturing Healthy Eaters in Secondary Schools

• Developed by Ontario Dietitans in Public Health, this resource describes how school community members can support students in secondary schools to nurture healthy eating.
• Also available in French.

Mental Health and Weight Bias in Schools

• Developed by Ontario Dietitians in Public Health for use with schools to provide information on mental health and weight bias.
• This resource provides tips on what educators can do to support inclusive and safe environments for all.
• Also available in French.

National Eating Disorder Information Centre Workshops for Educators

• The National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) has developped workshops for educators with a focus on
  • Spotting the signs of disordered eating and eating disorders and supporting students who are affected
  • School climate and curriculum
• Their goal is to provide educators with the tools to offer support to students, the information to make informed decisions, and assist in fostering a school culture that celebrates natural physical diversity, and recognizes all of the values food brings to our lives.
• NEDIC also offers educational programming to elementary, middle school, and high school students.

Curriculum & Teaching Resources

HNHU's Healthy Growth and Development Toolkit for Schools

• Activities and resources for Gr.4 - 8
• Linked to Ontario curriculum 
• Designed to support Ontario's Foundations for a Healthy School framework
• Powerpoint presentations

Decisions about sexual activity —Grade 8

Puberty Introduction — Grade 4

Hygiene - Grade 4

Puberty and Reproduction — Grade 5

Healthy Relationships — Grade 6

Healthy Relationships—Pt 1. Grade 7 & 8

Healthy Relationships—Pt. 2 Social Media Grade 7 & 8

 

OPHEA (Gr. 1-8)

• Lesson plans, teaching supplements and activities to help implement the 2015 H&PE Curriculum

Teaching Sexual Health: Teacher Portal (Alberta-based resource)

• Lesson plans, demonstration videos, PPT presentations, classroom tips and strategies, parent packages, print resources, etc.

Always Changing (Gr. 5-9)

• Free Teacher’s Guides with lesson plans, Student Manuals and downloadable worksheets for Gr. 5-6 and Gr. 7+
• ‘Always Changing and Growing Up’ 16-26 minute puberty education videos available online

Human Development and Sexual Health: Teaching tips and Strategies (Gr. 1-8)

Teaching Puberty: You Can Do It

• Training videos for grade 4-6 teachers, created by Toronto Public Health
• PPT presentations on contraception, STIs, hygiene, puberty, etc.

School & Student Engagement Resources

It Starts With You. It Stays With Him: Working with boys to promote gender equality in our schools (Grades 6-9)

• E-learning modules for both students and teachers, developed in partnership with ETFO and OSSTF

 

Professional Development & Community Partner Resources

Sexuality and U

• Teaching Sexual Health Education Manual: A Primer for New Teachers, A Refresher for Experienced Teachers
• Teaching Sex Ed for Youth with Disabilities
• Managing Controversy
• Classroom Presentations
• Information on birth control and STIs

Supplemental Resources for Fully Alive to support Catholic teachers with the Ontario Health & Physical Education curriculum, Grades 1-8

• Developed by the Institute for Catholic Education (ICE)

Sexual health education in the schools: Questions & Answers

• Developed by the Sex Information & Education Council of Canada (SIECCAN)

Curriculum & Teaching Resources

School Mental Health Ontario Educator Resource Guide

• Lesson plans and learning activities to support student mental health

Virtual Fields Trips - Stress Management and Coping

• Created by OPHEA and School Mental Health Ontario
• Available for Early Years, Primary, Junior, Intermediate and Senior students
• Each lesson includes a minds-on activity, a pre-recorded virtual field trip session and a consolidation activity 

 

School & Student Engagement Resources

Mind Your Mind

• interactive youth website with information on mental health, wellness strategies, interactive resources and tools

Thrivelandia

• Thrivelandia is an online world for ages 10-17 that is made up of 5 different lands. Each land concentrates on a pillar of Resilience – Mindfulness, Gratitude, Optimism, Self-compassion and Perseverance. Each land offers fun learning activities, games, and videos that will help you build resilience.

Professional Development & Community Partner Resources

Haldimand-Norfolk REACH

• Information and contact details about local services such as 24/7 crisis support line, Mental Health Workers in Schools (ROKS), Walk-in Counselling clinics, etc.

Kids Help Phone

Teacher’s Guide – Everyday practices for Mental Health and Well Being in the Classroom (from Thames Valley DSB)

Teach Resiliency – PHE Canada

• an online portal and community of practice offering teachers simple-to-use strategies and tools to assess resilience needs and provide resources to promote and enhance teacher and student mental health

Mental Health Literacy - free online course for educators

• created by School Mental Health Ontario
• designed to provide educators with basic knowledge and information related to mental health, strategies to enhance student mental health, and everyday practices for use in the classroom.

 

Curriculum & Teaching Resources

OPHEA (Gr. 1-8)

• Lesson plans, teaching supplements and activities to help implement the 2015 H&PE Curriculum

Active for Life

• Resources and lesson plans for teaching physical literacy to children ages 3-12

At My Best

• Teachers can sign up for free to access a teacher portal with lesson plans, videos and games
• Materials designed to promote and develop children’s overall wellbeing, including physical activity, healthy eating, and emotional wellbeing
• Two programs available, K–Gr. 3 & Gr. 4–Gr. 6
• Created by Physical and Health Education Canada

 

School & Student Engagement Resources

Passport for Life (Gr. 3-12)

• Passport for Life is a tool that enables teachers to understand the physical literacy of their students. It assesses students in four categories: fitness skills, movement skills, active participation, and living skills. Students complete the assessments and the information is entered into the online system. Once completed, students receive a printable Passport that identifies their strengths and areas for improvement so they may set goals for improving their physical literacy. Teachers receive the results about their individual students, as well as aggregate information about the class, so they may structure their physical and health education programming appropriately. 

GoNoodle

• Hundreds of silly, energetic and fun videos that get kids active at school
• Many are short, desk-side activities that teachers can use for brain breaks or morning warm-ups
• Schools or classrooms can sign up for free

 

Professional Development & Community Partner Resources

Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth

• Guidelines encouraging children and youth to live an active lifestyle with a daily balance of sleep, sedentary behaviours, and physical activities that supports their healthy development.

Active After School

• A searchable database of more than 800 fun, safe and engaging activities for after-school programs, indoor recesses, DPA, phys. ed. class, etc.
• Can sort with filters such as group size, play area, fundamental skills, adaptations and more

10 Simple Activities to Encourage Physical Activity in the Classroom

 

Curriculum & Teaching Resources

Discovering You (Gr. 5) - Student Workbook and Teacher Companion Guide

• Created to assist Grade 5 teachers in meeting the Substance Use, Addictions, and Related Behaviours requirements that are in the Grade 5 Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum and the Science and Technology Curriculum
• Activities and lessons, delivered through an engaging student workbook and classroom discussion, allow students to explore the social and environmental factors that affect their choices, including decisions around alcohol use

Media Smarts  - Alcohol-Related Lesson Plans

• Lesson plans and activities about alcohol advertising and media literacy

Media Smarts: Thinking Like a Tobacco Company

• Lesson plans and activities about tobacco advertising, target marketing gender and tobacco and other digital and media literacy topics.

 

School & Student Engagement Resources

Not an Experiment - Vaping Prevention Resource

• Videos, escape room activity, posters, announcements, and other resources on health effects of vaping
• Developed by Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit 

Reducing Substance Use - A School-Based Toolkit

• Developed by Middlesex-London Health Unit
• Resource designed to provide educators and parents with
  strategies to reduce substance use (tobacco, e-cigarettes, alcohol, cannabis, illicit drugs) among youth. 

The Blunt Truth - Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines

• This youth education resource provides evidence-based information on safer ways to use cannabis, for those who have made the choice to use.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) School Programs and Assembly Presentations

Professional Development & Community Partner Resources

Drug Free Kids Canada

• Tips and guides for parent or caring adults seeking support in talking with teens about various drugs

Understanding Substance Use - Educator's Guide

• Guide on substance use and how to promote well-being and reduce risks of substance-related harms to students.
• Developed by Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addictions (CCSA)

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

• Fact sheets and other resources about alcohol and a number of other drugs

Vaping Products - Information for Teachers

Bullying Prevention

PREV Net (Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence)

• A collection of websites, videos and tools for educators on bullying awareness and prevention

Safe@School

• Lesson Plans and resources intended to help educators teach and reinforce concepts about bullying prevention
• Includes a free online bullying prevention course for educators and a cyberbullying prevention course for students

Concussions, Injury Prevention and Safety

Concussion Resources for Educators

• Compiled by Parachute Canada
• Includes videos, tools and concussion guidelines for teachers

Ophea’s Concussion Identification, Management and Prevention for Ontario Schools e-Learning module

• This e-Learning module is intended for all school staff including educators, administrators and support staff.
• Developed to increase awareness and understanding of concussion, and the method and strategies to be used for identification and appropriate management. The module also includes strategies and resources to assist in the education of concussion prevention.
• Module takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. A certificate is provided upon completion.
• No cost, but does require an OPHEA account (free to register)

 

Handwashing

Scrub Club

• Interactive games, webisodes, activity sheets and teacher’s guide promoting handwashing activities for kids 3 to 8 years old.

 

Head lice (pediculosis)

Anaphylaxis

 

Anaphylaxis in Schools – Online Course

• Free Course
• Takes approximately 30 minutes to complete
• Receive a certificate upon completion
• Includes National Guidelines for Anaphylaxis Management in Canadian Schools

 

EpiPen Videos

• Includes Videos on how to use an EpiPen, when to use it, and severe allergy triggers.

 

Food Allergy Canada

• Free resources for educators
• Template to create an anaphylaxis emergency plan
• Elementary and high school curriculum
• Links to additional resources

 

Ontario Ministry of Education - Supporting Students with Medical Conditions

• Provides links to resources on prevalent medical conditions in schools, legislation for Sabrina’s Law (anaphylaxis) and Ryan’s Law (asthma), and steps to creating a Plan of Care

 

Food Allergy Canada Allergy Awareness Challenge

• School program for educators to help raise awareness about food allergies in the classroom
• Program materials available for elementary and high school classes
• Includes presentations, promotional material, activities, worksheets and lesson plans

 

Asthma

 

Asthma e-Learning Module

An e-Learning module from OPHEA designed to support school staff in understanding and applying Ryan’s Law in their school to ensure the safety and well-being of students with asthma. – Requires an OPHEA account (free for educators)

 

Creating Asthma-Friendly Schools

• Developed by OPHEA
• Provides sample policy, student management template and information on asthma triggers and steps to prevent asthma attacks in the school environment

 

Managing Asthma in our Schools

• Video developed by OPHEA (also available to order as a DVD from OPHEA)
• Can be shown at staff meetings as a training tool

 

Diabetes

 

Diabetes Training for School Staff

• Free online training developed by Canadian Paediatric Society and Diabetes Canada
• Important information for anyone who comes in contact with a student who has type 1 diabetes: teachers, non-teaching school staff, bus drivers, playground monitors, before- and after-school program staff, extracurricular leaders, and so on.
• Training divide into three levels, based on the role of the staff person with regards to supporting a student/students with diabetes.