Health Class
April 30th: Good Nutrition and Exercises are IMPORTANT!!
For the past 2 weeks, we participated in activities where we learned the most valuable things in life that would make a difference in how we stay healthy. We did two experiments of the drinks: 1) compared juice drinks in amount of calories, fat content, sugar, and protein to determine which would have nutritional values and be worthwhile to drink; 2) we test tasted 3 different kind of milk; whole, 2%, and 1% and determine which tastes better and which would be healthier to drink from.
When we compared the juice drinks, we learned that what we thought would be the healthiest is actually the worst while the drink we thought would be the worst is actually better to drink. In our experiment, fruit V8 is the worst drink with least nutritional value while the Yoohoo (chocolate milk) is better with protein and least calories.
When experimenting milk, we learned that while the whole milk tastes better, it’s high in calories and fat (160 calories, 5g saturated fat) and not too healthy for us to drink. In comparison, the 1% has only 110 calories and 1.5g of saturated fat and it would be healthier for drinking on daily basis which is necessary for body growth because it has all the nutritions that our bodies need.
We learned about BMI (Body Mass Index); why we use it, and why it is not always accurate for everyone. We have different bone density, different body build, and different pace of body growth. All these factors make BMI unreliable at times so we have to be careful about how to use them. The best way we would know if we are healthy is to monitor ourselves–eat healthy, watch for junk food, exercise, and sleep good. In addition to that, we learned how the exercise affects our heart rate and why it is good for our heart and the body as a whole. We measured our pulse rate at several positions: sitting, walking, and running. We all went outside to walk and run and it was a nice break for all of us!! We had fun calculating and seeing the difference among each other. We also determined our target heart rate and why it is important to keep below it. We exercise but we can exercise too excessively and it can cause harm to our hearts and bodies. If we stay within HR (heart rate) Zone, our exercise would be beneficial.
Here’s to our health! Summer is coming so now is the perfect time for us to try and be healthier everyday!!
“It is remarkable how ones wits are sharpened by physical exercise”– Pliny the Younger
March 22-26th
4th quarter: NEW HEALTH CLASS! WELCOME!
Here is attachment of syllabus for 4th quarter Health class:
Please feel free to contact Nicole Beatty, the school counselor, at (720) 235-0003 or via email at Nicole@rmdeafschool.net if you have any questions about the class! Enjoy your Spring Break!! 
Spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s play hard!”
March 8-18th: Communicable Disease
The last classes of the quarter covered topic about communicable diseases. First, we identified the difference between communicable vs non-communicable diseases and ways of preventing the spread of disease. Noncommunicable diseases can be allergies, asthama, cancer, heart/ circulatory problems, disabetes and arthritis. Those diseases are not spreadable and are usually inherited from parents or influenced by the environmental factors such as pollution and poor eating habits.
A communicable disease is carried by microorganisms and transmitted through people, animals, surfaces, foods, or air. Communicable diseases is shared through fluid exchange, things that are contaminated, or close contact with others.
The disease might need a blood exchange via an injection, float along a sneeze in a movie theater, or get transmitted through childbirth. The examples of communicable diseases also, and they are the following: swine flu, ringworm, whooping cough, and sexually transmitted infections (HIV/AIDS)We discussed our bodies’ defenses against infection and then we did the worksheet for in-class assignment. The students were to choose a disease and identify whether it is communicable or non-communicable then name what are the risk behaviors, symptoms, treatment, and prevention. The most popular topic for this was the HIV/AIDS.
Here are the websites we have used for learning about the diseases:
http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/
http://hes.ucfsd.org/gclaypo/commdise/commdise.html
http://www.searo.who.int/en/section1174/section1459.htm
“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.”
~Jim Rohn
March 2-5th: Drugs and What is Alcohol?
We covered several different drugs that are common among high school students, and they are alcohol drinking, use of marijuana, and cigarette smoking. We talked about how these drugs affect the bodies. For example, the smoking has nicotine and it suppress feelings which need to be addressed for one to be healthy mentally. Nicotine is damaging to body because it raises blood pressure and lungs are being damaged by the smoke. While it’s damaging, cigarette and marijuana smoking are addicting and teens who smoke are found not to perform well in school, not feeling like they are a part of school, become isolated from other students, and can’t perform as well in sports. The negative effects of alcohol drinking on body and mind are also discussed and the students made their own list of negative effects of the drinking. The goal of this lesson is for the students to understand the addictions that are
Here are the websites that parents can use to discuss with their child(ren):
http://www.teendrugabuse.us/teensmoking.html
http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/govpubs/ph323/
http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/alcohol/alcohol.html
“Reach for the stars not the drugs” — unknown
February 16-25: Mental Health
This week, we covered topics such as personality traits, self-esteem, goal setting, stress management, and skills to build healthy relationships. The goal for this topic is to understand how social and cultural factors influence psychosocial development and identity formation among young teens and adults. We discuss how we differ in psychosocial development due to our upbringings and our genes that we are born with. We discuss what “mental illnesses” mean and how the label affect us in general. Depression, attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and anxiety, conduct, and eating disorders are common among middle school students, and mental health disorders are more common in young people than many realize. Studies show that 1 in five children and adolescents have a mental health disorder.
We reviewed the causes of mental illnesses and which are mostly by biology and environment. We closed the discussion with what we can do for ourselves if we recognize the “imbalance” in ourselves and in others. The things in life that happen are out of our control (i.e., exposure to environmental toxins, such as high levels of lead; stress related to chronic poverty, discrimination, or other serious hardships; and the loss of important people through death, divorce, or broken relationship). These factors happen beyond our control, but it is our responsibility to maintain our mental health. Just like we exercise our bodies to stay healthy physically; we exercise our minds by doing things necessary to keep healthy mentally, such as getting help, managing stress, and staying positive about people and things around you.
Here are several websites we used to cover the topic in class:
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/CA-0004/default.asp
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-illness-children
http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/school/teststress/index.html
“Attitudes are nothing more than habits of thought.” –John C. Maxwell
February 11th: BMI: Why is Body Weight Important?
Concept of BMI: Body Mass Index was introduced this week. According to the Center for Disease Control, “for adults, overweight and obesity ranges are determined by using weight and height to calculate a number called the “body mass index” (BMI). BMI is used because, for most people, it correlates with their amount of body fat.”
Students are aware that in the past many people assumed people who were overweight were lazy and indulgent. Now it is quite clear that there are many genetic factors that control our weight and make it more or less easy to control.
We looked at our own BMI by going to http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dnpabmi/Calculator.aspx . Given the sensitivity of this issue, they were given privacy when calculating their BMI and were encouraged to finish calculating their BMI at home with their parents. Not only that, but we also learned that the test does not take into account athletes whose body weight is due primarily to muscle mass. We discussed about factors that may influence our BMI….physical development and timing of development (some develop at earlier age), gender, and height, and density/sizes of their bones. In order to maintain healthy weight, one would need to follow the food pyramid, eat healthy, nurtitious meals, and stay active.
The greatest wealth is health. ~Virgil
February 5th: “Get Your Calcium!!”
This week, we covered the following points about the health benefits of calcium-rich foods:
*Diets that are rich in lowfat and fat-free milk and milk products help build and maintain bone mass.
*Students their age especially need to drink milk, bcause this is when their bone mass is being built
We took samples of 1%, 2%, and whole milk and each student had an opportunity to try 3 paper glasses to try the taste test to determine which would taste better. Before taking samples, they decided that 1% would taste better because it is healthier, but to their surprise, the whole milk tasted better.
After the tasting test, we talked about how we can reduce the fat we consume by switching the milk we drink. If they usually drink whole milk, they should witch gradually to 2%, then to 1% milk, and finally to fat-free milk. We reviewed the label of each milk, in addition to the milk that are flavored and then compared them to see which is a better choice for them.
Questions included are the following:
*What is the serving size for this drink?
*How many total calories in one serving?
*How many total grams of fat in one serving?
*What percent of calcium in one serving?
This week, the students learned to read charts, to develop thinking skill in making comparisons, and to practice their math computation skill.
“Got Milk? Drink like there’s no tomorrow!”
Welcome to Health Class of 2010!
We started off the 3rd quarter with this new, exciting class! We have covered nutrition during the first 2 weeks; we talked about food pyramid and learned that the food pyramid is an important nutritional tool. They classified foods, understand nutrients provided by each food group, and determine whether they are healthy eaters.
We planned a nutritional breakfast meal and made breakfast taco to enjoy as a culminating event. We discussed the nutrition of ingredients of the breakfast tacos: scrambled eggs, bacons, cheese, vegetables (mushrooms, green peppers), and salsa. We discussed healthier replacements also (i.e., turkey bacons would be healthier).
Parents: here are the websites to food pyramid that we’ve covered in class:
http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/food/pyramid.html
http://www.nourishinteractive.com/hco/free_printables (free activities/worksheets to do with your children)
“I wasn’t feeling well in the first half. I felt down, man. I had three slices of pizza before the game and the food took me down.”
