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February 2007 Vol. 9 No. 2
SUBMIT IDEA OR EXPERIENCE  
CONFERENCE/WORKSHOP CALENDAR
 EDITORIAL

This month's elementary education page is dedicated to the theme of Healthy Hearts. As February 14th sees Valentine's Day being celebrated by many, this February issue shares lesson ideas related to heart health and understanding.

Hopefully, you will find some ideas that will help to support keeping you and your students healthy and strong, as well as full of energy and desire to participate in physical education activities.

I have included several articles, and a number of web sites, that I hope will be useful to you, your teaching, and your students.

Clive Hickson
Elementary Section Editor

 PE CENTRAL LESSON PLANS

Looking for different ideas for your lessons and teaching? Physical educators have a wonderful opportunity to link their activities in the gymnasium, on the field, or the playground with knowledge of creating a healthy heart.

When teaching heart health with elementary aged students, it is important to emphasize the essential role that physical activity and nutritional habits play. Both activity and healthy eating are necessary to achieve cardiovascular health.

Below are links to PE Central lesson plans, lesson plans that offer a number of ideas for heart activities.

Mended Hearts, Broken Hearts, Healthy Hearts, Half Hearted - Purpose of Activity: 1) Integrate locomotor movements with nutrition information. 2) Solving simple math functions related to the calories-per-gram contents of each nutrient. 3) Performing fitness activities to match the number of calories contained in each nutrient.

Pump It Up! - Purpose of Activity: 1) The student will describe the process by which blood is circulated throughout the body. 2) The student will explain the effects of exercise on the heart. 3) The student will, using class results, develop a histogram of pulse rates.

Speed Stacks

As February is also known as "Heart Month" with Valentine's Day, here are some links to some more PE Central activities that can be incorporated in physical education or health lessons.

Detective Valentine - Purpose of Activity: To improve fitness and work together while solving a valentine's day puzzle.

Valentine Volley - Check out the game to see how it's played. A description is provided.

Broken Heart Station - Purpose of Activity: To provide a fun warm-up to incorporate cooperation, Valentines Day, and fitness.

Valentines for the Heart - Purpose of Activity: A fun warm up activity to create a positive atmosphere on Valentine's Day.

Valentine Tag - Purpose of Activity: To have students engaged in a fun warm up fitness tag game that incorporates a valentine's theme.

Valentine Rescue - Purpose of Activity: To give students the opportunity to practice their chasing, fleeing, and dodging skills in a fun holiday game situation.

Sporttime
 VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR TEACHING

ProTeacher Archive provides a collection of ideas shared by teachers from across the United States and around the world. One of the topics covered is "Circulation." A number of resources are listed for teachers to access and use.

The Franklin Institute provides a number of resources to support understanding how the heart works, including healthy eating, healthy menus, and exercise programs.

Art Teacher Toolbox - Although this is for art, most of these links go to good informational websites that supply information that can be applied to any classroom setting.
I teach physical education pedagogy to prospective physical education teachers at a university. I would like to know what seasoned physical educators out there in the field teaching already would like to pass on to new physical educators not in the field. How can I better prepare these new educators for the "real" world? What information would you like to pass on to these new teachers that would not be learned in a book or does not occur like the teaching models say. Please share in the forum.
 BE HEART SMART

Several organizations have produced resources to support the understanding of the importance of heart health.

The American Heart Association states that there are two types of heart disease in children: congenital and acquired. Congenital heart disease is present in children at birth, whereas acquired heart disease develops during childhood.

Present statistics suggest that approximately 8 of every 1,000 infants born each year in America have a heart defect, and that approximately 1 million Americans are living with cardiovascular defects today.

American Heart Association - One of the aims of the American Heart Association is to help people learn about the relationship between nutrition and exercise and health. In this regard, the American Heart Association has created some programs to assist in educating us about the ways we can keep our heart healthy.

Just Move helps people learn the importance of nutrition and exercise as part of a heart healthy lifestyle. The resource provides an exercise diary, fitness resources, and a section that offers suggestions to help people lead an active lifestyle.

Another American Heart Association program is HeartPower! This curriculum-based program teaches about the heart, and how to keep it healthy for a lifetime. The program focuses on nutrition, physical activity, living tobacco-free, and knowing how the heart works.

Another program aimed specifically at children has been developed by Healthy Hearts for Kids. The program is designed to be used with children aged 10-13. The program is aimed to help children learn about cardiovascular health, the importance of physical activity, good nutrition, and tobacco avoidance in order to maintain a healthy body.

 INFORMATION SITES

Statistics tell us that heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. While this somber point is important for us all to know, there is some good news. For example, there are things that can be done to lower the chance of getting heart disease. In fact, if someone already has heart disease, it is possible to slow the progression of the disease, and also cause the disease process to regress with time.

The Healthy Hearts Resource Center suggests that it is never too late to start living healthy, but the earlier a person starts, the better. Therefore, teachers can play a role in educating their children in the basics of healthy living so that healthy habits become part of their lifestyle.

KidsHealth provides some great information for children to understand about their hearts. Graphics and text help children to see and read how their heart works.

Understanding that heart disease can be preventable by following a heart-healthy lifestyle is important for us all. The Mayo Clinic provides five strategies to adopt to protect your heart.

Nutripoints
 SOME THOUGHTS

Although heart health is of vital importance, it is important for us to continue to stress the importance of health in general to our students and their families.

Many other health issues can also confront our students. Osteoporosis, diabetes, and obesity are just a few of the major health issues that need to be discussed and understood in order for a united front to exist between school and home. That way we can try to ensure that students are presented with healthy choices throughout their life.
 RECOMMENDED WEB SITES

Sites to Recommend to Parents and Children

Recommending particular web links to parents and their children is always a good thing to do in order that they can investigate and support their health at home. The following links are ones that you might want to suggest to the parents of your students.

The Healthy Refrigerator - As cholesterol levels increase, most people are unaware that heart disease begins in childhood. This site is dedicated to providing heart-healthy tips for the entire family. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Children's Health - Adults aren't the only ones at risk for heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases; increasingly, kids are at risk too. That is why the American Heart Association is working to help kids and families live heart-healthy lives.

Healthy Heart Habits - Did you know Mom and Dad aren’t the only ones in the house who need to be watching their heart health? A recent study found atherosclerosis, the build up of plaque in the arteries, often begins in childhood. Find out more.

We Can! or "Ways to Enhance Children's Activity & Nutrition" is a national program designed for families and communities to help children achieve a healthy weight. The program focuses on three important behaviors: improved food choices, increased physical activity and reduced screen time. Find out more.

Dietary Guidelines - Boost your child's cardiovascular health with the latest advice from the American Heart Association.

Toledo PE Supply
 MERCURY POISONING

Mercury Poisoning: How Was My Child Poisoned? - Mercury is highly destructive to humans and is the second most toxic substance on earth after plutonium. Read this powerful information.

Symptoms of Chronic Mercury Poisoning - There are an awful lot of possible symptoms of mercury poisoning, check them over, and read some of the personal stories of people who suffered from mercury poisoning.

My Mercury Poisoning - Nutritionally, fish may seem like your friend. But the mercury in many fish can cause everything from miscarriage and heart problems in adults to mental retardation in babies. Actress Daphne Zuniga, who was lucky enough to get early treatment, spotlights the growing threat. Read more.

Mercury in tuna: New safety concerns - To help guide pregnant women and others who wonder whether tuna and other fish are still safe to eat - and if so, how much - here are Consumer Report's answers to 10 crucial questions about mercury in fish. Note that all of the following recommendations for weekly or monthly fish consumption assume that no other mercury-containing seafood is eaten during that time.

How to Limit Exposure to Mercury
While airborne mercury pollution is a serious problem, most of us are exposed to mercury primarily through our diets. Fish is a major source of mercury, and careful attention to fish consumption is important for young children, pregnant women, and women of childbearing age. Good information and links at this site.

Digiwalker

Is Our Tuna "Family Safe?" - This is a 42 page document about the rising mercury in tuna.

Mercury in Tuna and Mercury Poisoning from Tuna - Mercury is a toxic metal that can cause severe neurological problems in children and adults. Mercury contamination is especially dangerous for women of child-bearing age as mercury exposure can also damage a fetus.
Tuna has been the subject of recent public concern due to the presence of mercury. Recent news reports have revealed high levels of mercury in many types of tuna and contradict official statements by the government on the safety of tuna. Find out more.

Environmental Working Group - TUNA CALCULATOR. How much tuna can you eat safely? We will tell you what the FDA won't. See also Protect our Kids from Mercury.
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