Pictured above: NAHS Journalism teacher Lee Ann Thompson and journalism students assist NAMS teachers in creating their health video.
Educators at New Albany Middle School (NAMS) understand the close relationship between student health and academic achievement. That is why NAMS teachers spent several days this past summer developing health education videos to teach students important skills for staying safe and healthy.
The teacher-created videos are based on both the Planet Health Curriculum and the Health Education Curriculum that was developed by Dr. Sean King of Union University. Dr. King served as the Curriculum Specialist for the Carol M. White Physical Education Program Grant during the 2009-2010 school year.
The curriculum and videos were developed to help classroom teachers meet the requirements of the 2007 Healthy Students Act, which include 45 minutes of health education per week in grade K-8.
According to NAMS School Nurse Jessica Gray, health education for NAMS students will consist of using teacher made video, purchased videos, and guest speakers to help guide them in developing the knowledge and skills necessary to enjoy a safe and active lifestyle. Gray added that she plans to give daily health tips during the morning announcements and organize health education lessons twice a week around the following monthly themes:
· August- “Health Education & Nutrition”
· September – “Let’s Get Moving”
· October – “Drug Awareness”
· November – “Smoke Out”
· December – “Keep It Clean & Healthy”
· January – “Goal Setting, Decision Making, & Communication”
· February – “Health Hearts & Safety/First Aid”
· March – “Mental Health, Self Esteem, & Eating Healthy”
· April – “Violence, Peer Pressure, & Bulling”
· May – “Summer Safety”
“We want all our students to be fit, healthy, and ready to succeed,” says NAMS Principal Lisa Mitchell. “The teacher made videos will be an excellent tool for our students.”
Lecia Stubblefield, Director of Carol M. White Physical Education Grant said that she is pleased with the quality of the videos that the teachers at NAMS developed over the summer and hopes to present the idea of using teacher made health videos at education conferences in the future. She added that teachers were trained to use Flip cameras, Apple computers, and the iMovie program to develop their videos.
“This is yet another way that our teachers are stepping up to make our school district among the top schools in the state – learning new technology to use in the classrooms and improving health education,” Stubblefield said.
Pictured below: NAMS teachers Andy Hall and Tana Ranager work to complete health videos to be used as a part of the health education at NAMS.
