Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Resources

Healthy children are more prepared to learn. Quality instruction and programs are a major part of developing a health promoting school. Elementary and secondary school educators can find credible teaching resources about public health topics. Please find the list of available teaching resources below.

Anaphylaxis and Allergies	Mental Health
Bullying	Oral Health
Hand Washing	Personal Safety and Injury Prevention
Food and Nutrition	Physical Activity
Human Development and Sexual Health	Sleep
Immunization	Substance Use
Infectious Diseases	Sun Safety

Anaphylaxis and Allergies

Helpful Resources

Anaphylaxis in Schools (Food Allergy Canada) | français
Online course to help school staff understand the basics of anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis in Schools & Other Settings (Food Allergy Canada) | français
National guidelines for Canadian schools for anaphylaxis management

Bullying

Helpful Resources

Bullying: What Educators Need to Know (PREVNet) | français
Information and resources for bullying prevention
Mental Health and Weight Bias in Schools (Ontario Dietitians in Public Health) | français
Information on weight bias and ideas for reframing messages at school

Hand Washing

Lesson Plans, Presentations and Programs

The Handwashing Activity Booklet (PDF) | français
Lessons and activities for elementary students

Helpful Resources

Hand Washing Information
How to Wash Your Hands and How to Use Hand Sanitizer (Public Health Ontario) | français (other languages available)

Food and Nutrition

This section has strategies and resources to support teaching food and Nutrition.

Before You Begin

Food and nutrition contribute to students’ physical and mental health while also supporting school achievement. When students eat regularly throughout the day, they are better able to cope with stress, have the energy they need to focus on their studies and be active so they can get the most out of their school day. These resources provide educators with strategies and resources for teaching food and nutrition in a way that supports students’ relationship with food and their bodies.

Food Neutrality in the Classroom

The Middlesex-London Health Unit encourages a food neutral approach when teaching and talking about food. Food neutrality aims to remove labels, shame, judgement, and stigma from foods and the people eating them. Learn more about food neutrality by reviewing the following educator resources:

Educator Guide

Educator Presentation

Lesson Plans, Presentations and Programs

BrightBites.ca | disponible en français: Evidence-based resources and information for educators about food, eating, and bodies, including tips to teach Nutrition in a Positive Way
Canada’s Food Guide Toolkit for Educators | disponible en français: Lesson plans and activities to support educators teaching about Canada's Food Guide
Food is Science | disponible en français: resources to support the grades 3-9 Food Literacy, Science and Technology curriculum expectations
Elementary School Toolkit: Creating a Supportive Food Environment | disponible en français
Activities and strategies to create a supportive food environment at school
Let’s Get Cookin’ | disponible en français
Train the trainer food literacy program for elementary and secondary students
Tower Gardens
Information and resources on bringing edible school gardens to the classroom

Teach Food First: An Educator’s Toolkit for Exploring Canada’s Food Guide (Healthy Schools BC)
Resource for elementary educators that focuses on using a food exploration approach
Teach Nutrition (Dairy Farmers of Canada) | français
Comprehensive, cross-curricular nutrition resources for elementary and secondary educators

Murray & Bird:Water Works! | disponible en français
Children’s storybook and classroom activities that highlight the importance of staying hydrated with water

Helpful Resources

10 Ways to Create a Supportive Food Environment in Schools | français
Resource for elementary and secondary school staff to help students develop a positive relationship with food
Nurturing Healthy Eaters in the Classroom (Ontario Dietitians in Public Health) | disponible en français
Strategies to foster positive eating behaviours in elementary and secondary schools
Canada’s Food Guide | français
Guidelines, recommendations, recipes, and more
Ontario Student Nutrition Program 2020 Guidelines (Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services) | français
Guidelines for breakfast, lunches and/or snack programs
School Lunch Your Kids Will Munch (Ontario Dietitians in Public Health) | français
Tips for parents/caregivers on packing school lunches
Teacher Fan Club Podcast Challenging Diet Culture Series
Ontario Dietitians in Public Health School Nutrition Resources | disponible en français: Evidence based resources to support best practices related to food and nutrition in elementary and secondary schools in Ontario.
UnlockFood.ca | français
Nutrition guidance and information from Canadian Registered Dietitians

Human Development and Sexual Health

The resources below aim to provide educators with strategies to promote healthy growth and development that can lead to reducing risky sexual behaviour among children and youth. The presentations and activities are linked to Ontario’s Human Development and Sexual Health Curriculum 2019.

Before You Begin

This section has strategies and resources to support teaching human development and sexual health.

Inclusive Language in Teaching Human Development and Sexual Health (PDF)
Parent Communication (PDF)
Ground Rules (PDF)
Tips for Welcoming Gender Diversity in Your Classroom (PDF) from www.gegi.ca

Elementary Teaching Resources (grades 4-8):

Elementary School Toolkit: Promoting Healthy Growth and Development

Secondary Teaching Resources (grades 9-12):

Birth Control/Contraception

General Information about Birth Control
General Information about Abstinence
Birth Control Clinic
Birth Control Methods - Contraception (grades 9-12) (PPT)
Birth Control Inquiry Activity (grades 8-12) (PDF) | français Worksheet (PDF) | français
Birth Control Quiz (grades 9-12) (PDF)
Birth Control Online Trivia Game (grades 9-12) (PPT)
Birth Control and STI Online Trivia Game (grades 9-12) (PPT)
Birth Control and Emergency Contra ceptives Online Quiz (grades 9-12) (PDF)

Relationships

General Information about Relationships
Healthy Relationships and Consent (grades 9-12) (PPT)
Levels of Intimacy Exercise (grades 9-12) (PDF) Game PPT Cards (PPT)
Teen Mating Game-Instructions (grades 9-12) (PDF): Discussion Cards (PDF), Personality Cards (PDF) and Situation Cards (PDF)

Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning and additional sexual orientations and gender identities (2SLGBTQ+)

General Information about 2SLGBTQ+
Supporting Gender Inclusivity (PDF): Resource Document

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

General Information about STIs
STI Presentation (grades 7-12) (PPT) | français (PPT)
STI Inquiry Activity (grades 7-12) (PDF)| français Worksheet (PDF) | français
Don't Pass It Along STI Game (grades 7-12) (PDF): Cards (PDF)
STI Online Trivia Game (grades 9-12) (PPT)
STI Online Quiz (grades 9-12) (PDF)

Immunization

Lesson Plans, Presentations and Programs

Grade 7 Immunization Presentation (PPT) | français
Voice-over presentation for students about grade 7 immunization clinics

Helpful Resources

Immunization-General Information
Overview of the immunization programs and services provided by the Middlesex-London Health Unit
Immunization requirements for school attendance (Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care) | français
CARD System for Kids and Adolescents (Immunize Canada) | français
Strategies for coping with fears and anxieties related to immunization

Infectious Diseases

General Information

A Guide to Common Childhood Infections | disponible en français
Resource on common infections, how they are spread, signs and symptoms, and exclusion and reporting requirements
Infectious Diseases A-Z
Information on a variety of infection diseases
Reportable Disease List and Notification Form
Communicable diseases that must be reported by schools and institutions to the local Medical Officer of Health
COVID 19
Current guidance, local data, and vaccination clinic information
Head Lice
Frequently asked questions and treatment options for head lice

SHSM Infection Control Teacher Package

The Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) is a specialized program offered in Ontario secondary schools. The following resources support Infection Control training for students acquiring the Health and Wellness SHSM.

Course Instruction Page (PDF)
Infection Control Presentation for SHSM-Health and Wellness (PPT)
Don't Pass it Along Activity

Instructions (PDF)
Activity Cards (PDF)

Infection Control Quiz (PDF)
Infection Control Quiz-Answer Sheet (PDF)
Infection Control Certificate (PDF)

Mental Health

Lesson Plans, Presentations and Programs

School Mental Health | disponible en français
Resources, information, and activities to help elementary schools promote student mental health
Murray & Bird: The Search for the Missing Hat  | disponible en français
Children’s storybook and classroom activities that promote connectedness and help-seeking
Take What You Need (PDF) | français
Activity for elementary and secondary schools to encourage empathy among students
#Food4Thought
Small group program for grades 7-12 that aims to build relationships and connectedness through cooking, eating, and chatting together
School Mental Health Ontario | français
Evidence-informed information to support student mental health

Everyday Mental Health Classroom Resource | français
Practices to incorporate into your elementary classroom that promote mental health
MH LIT: Student Mental Health in Action | français
Education series for secondary students focusing on mental health and help-seeking skills

Roots of Empathy Program | français
Empathy-based classroom program designed for elementary students
Anxiety Canada: Educator Resources | français
Information about anxiety, including videos and resources for children and youth

Helpful Resources

Tandem
Immediate child and youth mental health support in Middlesex-London
Kids Help Phone | français
24/7 e-mental health support for children and youth
Wellness Together Canada  | français
Free 24/7 mental health and substance use support, and population-specific mental health resources
Health811 | français
Connect with a registered nurse day or night for free, secure and confidential health advice

Oral Health

Lesson Plans, Presentations and Programs

Oral Health Resources and Activities for Elementary Students (PDF) | française
Resources and classroom activities for K-4 students about oral health

Helpful Resources

Healthy Smiles Ontario | français
Government-funded dental program for children and youth
School-based Dental Screenings
Information on mandated dental screenings for all publicly funded elementary schools

Personal Safety and Injury Prevention

Lesson Plans, Presentations and Programs

Active and Safe Routes to School
Resources and tools to encourage children and families to choose active transportation

Helpful Resources

Parachute Canada  | français
Tips, information, and resources for preventing injuries at all ages
Rowan’s Law Concussion Resources (Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport) | français
Resource e-booklets and videos geared to those ages 10 and Under, ages 11-14 and Ages 15 and up
Tony the Street-Wise Cat Road Safety Videos | disponible en français
Collection of stop-motion videos that demonstrate pedestrian safety skills

Physical Activity

Lesson Plans, Presentations and Programs (Elementary Teachers)

Murray & Bird: Murray’s Outdoor Adventure | disponible en français
Storybook and activities encouraging outdoor exploration and play
Outdoors: The Ultimate Playground | français
Toolkit for outdoor play including no-prep games for elementary students.
International Walk to School Month (Ontario Active School Travel) | français

Helpful Resources

Ophea - Teaching Resources | français
Curriculum linked lesson plans, activities and professional development
PHE Learning Centre (PHE Canada) | français
Physical and health education activities for in-person and remote learning

Sleep

Lesson Plans, Presentations and Programs

Sleep Presentation (grades 9-12) (PPT)
Sleep Brochure (grades 9-12) (PDF)
A guide to a better night’s sleep
Sleep Tips Card (2 per page) (grades 9-12) (PDF)
Printable card with tips for improving sleep

Helpful Resources

Sleep
Information, guidelines, and tips on sleep
Sleep Foundation
Articles and recommendations for improving sleep
Sleep Hygiene Tips and Worksheets for Kids & Teenagers (Positive Psychology)

Substance Use

Lesson Plans, Presentations and Programs

Elementary School Toolkit: Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction | disponible en français
Strategies and activities aimed at preventing and delaying substance use
Secondary School Toolkit: Reducing Substance Use
Strategies and curriculum activities to reduce substance use among youth

Alcohol

General information on Alcohol

• Alcohol (grade 9-12) (PPT)
Presentation to create awareness and knowledge about the effects of alcohol, the harmful effects of alcohol misuse, and community supports

• Alcohol Poisoning Fact Sheet (PDF)

Cannabis

General information on Cannabis

• Cannabis Infographic (PDF)

Vaping and Tobacco Products

General infomation on Vaping and Tobacco Products