Health: Medicines and Poisons

First graders and kindergarteners are now learning about medicines (K and 1), poisons (K and 1), and tobacco (1st grade only).

Medicine:  Both grade levels started out discussing rules for using medicine.  We discussed how medicines can help us in many ways, but when not used properly, medicine can hurt us very badly.

Rule for medicine:  Medicine should ONLY be used when given to us by a trusted adult.  Medicine should never be shared without a trusted adult's permission and help.  Never take more medicine than a trusted adult gives or says to take.  

Drugs:  We talked about how the word "drug" doesn't always mean something bad.  A drug is anything we put into our bodies, other than food, that changes the way we think, feel, or act.  Drugs change the way our bodies work.  Medicines (cough syrup, tylenol, allergy medicine) are drugs, too.

Poisons:  We then discussed poisons, and how poisons are all around -- in the garage, kitchen, bathroom, and more.  Medicines, if not used properly, can be poisonous to our bodies.  Household cleaners and chemicals, while useful for cleaning or fixing things around the house or yard, can be poisonous if they get into our lungs/eyes/bodies.

Rule for poison:  If you aren't sure something is safe, don't sniff, taste, swallow, or play with it.  

For parts of these lessons, students saw pictures of examples of each type of substance (medicines and poisons) and we talked about safety rules.  Each lesson also had some practice questions/scenarios we discussed.  

Health: Safety

Over the past couple of weeks, we have been covering safety in kindergarten and first grade health.  Lessons are different based on their grade level, but cover the same basic concepts.  Last time I posted on the blog about health lessons, we were discussing fire safety and safety when moving around and on wheels.  We have since moved on to personal safety.  Personal safety is:

• Following safety rules
• Being aware of what is going on around you
• Taking safe action in situations that could be dangerous, destructive, or disturbing
• Asking for help when it is needed

Both grade levels discussed a rule for telling right away:  if something is Dangerous, Destructive, or Disturbing.  Those are what we refer to as our "3 Ds of Telling".  That means if something fits one of those words, we tell a trusted adult right away.  We discussed examples of trusted adults, and students came up with extensive lists of adults they can trust in these types of situations to help.  Some situations are so serious that they are considered emergencies.  Emergencies are when someone needs the help of a doctor, firefighter, or police officer RIGHT AWAY.  We talked about when to call 911 and why it's important to know how to call.  

We also discussed good touch and bad/confusing touches, and how to stay safer from bad touch.  The Michigan Model of Health outcomes for this area of our curriculum are: 

• Students will comprehend concepts related to appropriate and inappropriate touch.
• Students will demonstrate strategies to avoid personally unsafe situations and to get away in cases of inappropriate touch or abduction.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to ask a trusted adult for help.

We watched a video related to this topic, and also had a class discussion about these issues.  Students did a great job listening respectfully and actively participating in our lessons about these serious and extremely important topics.  

PE: Weeks of 5/4 and 5/11

This is such a busy time of the school year!!  The past two weeks have been full of many different kinds of activities for all grades.  Depending on the weather, classes have been going outside to use our outdoor spaces for PE classes.  If weather steered us indoors, we had other fun things to do!  Activities for Y5-5 have included:

• Mile Run Testing:  This is a FitnessGram test to assess cardiovascular fitness.  Grades 3-5 participate in this test.   Spring second graders do this as practice for 3rd grade fall.  Students with a previous fall score know their fall score prior to the start of the spring test, and have a goal of beating their previous time.  (I pre-label the mile run bubble sheets with student names and previous mile run times.  This gives more class time to the completion of the mile run.)  We emphasize best effort during this activity.  Students are encouraged to cheer each other on.  Students hold a "bubble sheet", and receive a mark in each bubble corresponding to each lap.  At the end of their mile (6 laps), I write their time on the bubble sheet.  

• Half Mile Run:  This is a lead-up activity for the mile run for K-2.  During our time to complete a half mile, we emphasize best effort, moving the whole time, and fun!  Students hold a bubble sheet, similar to the 3-5 sheet, but with only three bubbles.  This helps students know exactly what to expect for the 3rd-4th-5th grade "Mile".  =)  

• Fitness Laps activity:  Students run a lap and then stop to do an exercise.  When finished with the exercise (they count their own repetitions), they do another lap.  Exercises are posted on a cone near the starting area for reference, and are different for Y5-2 and 3-5.  

Grades 3rd -5th Fitness Laps

Young Fives - 2nd grade Fitness Laps

• Hand-Paddle Play:  Previously, we used a paddle with a bean bag to work on dexterity and eye-hand coordination.  This week, some classes used their hand as a paddle.  They experimented with things like: 
• Let the ball bounce and then hit it against the wall.  Hit the ball low/medium/high on the wall in front of you.  Catch it with both hands each time.  
• Try to hit it against the wall again when it bounces back!  
• Try to hit the ball with your non-favorite hand.  
• Two Square:  Floor tape marks two square "courts" around the gym.  Students played this game at the conclusion of class.  
• Adapted from Landy & Landy, Ready-to-Use PE Activities for Grades 3-5.

Third graders playing two square.