Covering health

paliz · Post by **paliz** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 4:30 pm

I was wondering how much "health" is covered in Beyond. We are on unit 14 and I don't think we have really touched on the subject and I am required to in my state. Will we be getting into it more or should I maybe find some extra books to read on the topic?

Post by **Carrie** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 10:15 pm

paliz,

Health is one of those topics that doesn't fit well into a history unit study!

It is also an area that is usually covered in the day-to-day of our at home routine: grooming, eating habits, dental health, first aid, balanced food groups and eating habits, personal hygeine, bike safety, fire prevention and reaction plans, tornado and thunderstorm safety, electrical safety, manners, exercise, etc.

If you look at the table of contents of any elementary grade level health text, you'll find the topics covered are ones you are most likely already talking about within your own home. It's the same thing that you find in most public school texts for social studies when you see community helpers, farms, cities, etc. as topics, and it seems like a waste of time to cover these things when in homeschooling they are done in the day-to-day.

However, if you have a health requirement for your state, you can just select a health topic each week, note it, and cover it on Fridays for instance. Just make a point to talk about the topic and give a demonstration of some kind (how to brush your teeth the correct way or how to wash your face properly) etc. This would be much more helpful than reading a text about it.

If you truly desire a health text, they do abound, but I think you'd be wasting your money!

I had actually purchased the ABeka ones at one point early on in my homeschooling, thinking I was missing some health topics. I quickly resold them after realizing we were already talking about everything in them.

Maybe some other moms will chime in here with their health ideas.

Blessings,
Carrie

paliz · Post by **paliz** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 4:59 am

Thanks Carrie. I like the idea of just picking a topic and talking about it on Fridays. I guess to be honest, I wasn't sure exactly what they meant by that. I mean, in the school district we live in they even check the kids BMI (parents supposedly can't refuse) and send notes home about where their kids are on it. I was afraid it was going to be something complacated to cover but you make excellent points.

MamaBear23Cubs · Post by **MamaBear23Cubs** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 7:06 am

I purchased grade 2 health from Rod and Staff. Most is what we have done without the books/workbooks. It was cheap but I prefer to do my own thing for health. We only done a few lessons in it. Sometimes we go to it if my daugher wants to.

blessedmomof4 · Post by **blessedmomof4** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:27 am

Same here-health is a day-to-day experience for us-I just make note of it-although, in my state, we are not required anymore to report annually, so that takes a bit of pressure off-I used to live in NYS, where i had to submit quarterly reports every year

Tansy · Post by **Tansy** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 12:48 pm

We were doing a "Good Grooming Habit" a week but a few weeks ago My dd spent her own $ on an American girl book The Care and Keeping of Me She begged to have it as part of school. I have found it a nice facilitator to a lot of health issues. I do plan on skipping the menses part tho, she is still a wee bit young for that. And it does have lots of frivolous stuff in it but my dd seems to love frivolity so its a fun excuse and she gets health stuff as well.

I was surprised how it has helped my dd talk about how she feels about being adopted. And it helps me connect with my very pink frilly dress wearing child... As I sit in my drab comfy clothes.

lmercon · Post by **lmercon** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 12:53 pm

I have to say that when I taught fourth grade at ps, my students used to love to study health concepts and how their body systems worked. I would combine many health topics when I would teach the different body systemsin science class. My students were the most attentive and involved in those lessons. I wouldn't skip these topics as they are very important to little ones. They love to learn about their own bodies.
just a thought,
Laura

water2wine · Post by **water2wine** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 2:21 pm

Also using Rod & Staff for this. They have two levels and a book called God's will for my body. I agree with Carrie though that it is really a parent child thing on how to teach this and something that is part of every day life. I like having the books to cover the other things.

It's also a good summer book if you feel like you do not have time in the school year.

Post by **Carrie** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 3:09 pm

Laura,

You are so right! Children do love to study the body systems. They are fascinated by it (and so am I).

We are going to do a study of the human body in the science portion of one of our upcoming guides (most likely the guide after "Preparing....").

We've been trying and testing some wonderful science resources about the body this year with our older son and are looking forward to putting them into a future guide.

Blessings,
Carrie

paliz · Post by **paliz** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 4:22 pm

these are wonderful ideas. I wonder if I could find something easy to do during the summer.