Intgrating health education across the curriculum

Abstract

Seven 5th grade thematic integrated units were developed using a model developed by the 5th grade teacher at Abrams Elementary School, Oconto Falls Area School District. Using an outcome based approach with emphasis on student assessment; the thematic integrated units covered six of the ten health strands suggested in the Wisconsin, A Guide to Curriculum Planning in Health Education. Sixty-eight total objectives were integrated into seven thematic units; 55 objectives spanned the subjects of Art, Education for Employment, Language Arts, Math, Music, Physical Education, Reading, Science and Social Studies and 13 objectives for health education. The 68 objectives were taught in a total of 80 lessons within the seven thematic integrated units. Non-empirical data from observations, health portfolios, journals and class discussions were collected to make statements about the initial success of implementing thematic integrated units. The results of this project demonstrated that health education objectives can be integrated into the curriculum thereby eliminating the need to teach it as an isolated subject area.