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Teacher Tips—What Works!

Teacher tips are tried-and-true teaching strategies developed by health education teachers from across the country. Take a look at some classroom activities that really work, then share some of your own!

Submitted by Colette Dux
El Camino Real High School
Woodland Hills, CA

Learning to Read Food Labels

To practice reading food labels, I have students bring in labels from various sources. In groups, students analyze three to four labels based on: serving size, number of servings per container, number of calories per serving, the amount and type of fat per serving, protein, carbohydrates (fiber, sugar), and the amount of sodium and cholesterol. Have students use what they know about the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to compare their foods and present to the class which are the most healthy and least healthy choices.

Family Relationships

As a practice or an assessment activity, have students work in groups to create a skit, play, or talk show that represents a family type, a family problem/dilemma, and the roles each family member plays to interact as a healthy unit, successfully supporting each other through the problem. Problems may include divorce, sudden illness, loss of job, or any other situations the students think of that would affect a family. Groups should present their scenario to the class, clearly showing the problem with actions that demonstrate how each member contributes to the mental/emotional health of the family (e.g., communication, making sacrifices, trusting, finding/seeking counseling).