Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Resources
Healthy children are more prepared to learn. Quality instruction and programs are a major part of developing a health promoting school. Elementary and secondary school educators can find credible teaching resources about public health topics. Please find the list of available teaching resources below.
Anaphylaxis and Allergies
Helpful Resources
- Anaphylaxis in Schools (Food Allergy Canada) | français
Online course to help school staff understand the basics of anaphylaxis - Anaphylaxis in Schools & Other Settings (Food Allergy Canada) | français
National guidelines for Canadian schools for anaphylaxis management - Food Allergies in Schools
Bullying
Helpful Resources
- Bullying: What Educators Need to Know (PREVNet) | français
Information and resources for bullying prevention - Mental Health and Weight Bias in Schools (Ontario Dietitians in Public Health) | français
Information on weight bias and ideas for reframing messages at school
Hand Washing
Lesson Plans, Presentations and Programs
- The Handwashing Activity Booklet (PDF) | français
Lessons and activities for elementary students
Helpful Resources
- Hand Washing Information
- How to Wash Your Hands and How to Use Hand Sanitizer (Public Health Ontario) | français (other languages available)
Food and Nutrition
Lesson Plans, Presentations and Programs
- Elementary School Toolkit: Creating a Supportive Food Environment | disponible en français
Activities and strategies to create a supportive food environment at school - Let’s Get Cookin’ | disponible en français
Train the trainer food literacy program for elementary and secondary students - Tower Gardens
Information and resources on bringing edible school gardens to the classroom - Murray & Bird:Water Works! | disponible en français
Children’s storybook and classroom activities that highlight the importance of staying hydrated with water
- Teach Food First: An Educator’s Toolkit for Exploring Canada’s Food Guide (Healthy Schools BC)
Resource for elementary educators that focuses on using a food exploration approach - Teach Nutrition (Dairy Farmers of Canada) | français
Comprehensive, cross-curricular nutrition resources for elementary and secondary educators
Helpful Resources
- 10 Ways to Create a Supportive Food Environment in Schools | français
Resource for elementary and secondary school staff to help students develop a positive relationship with food - Nurturing Healthy Eaters in the Classroom (Ontario Dietitians in Public Health) | disponible en français
Strategies to foster positive eating behaviours in elementary and secondary schools - Canada’s Food Guide | français
Guidelines, recommendations, recipes, and more - Ontario Student Nutrition Program 2020 Guidelines (Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services) | français
Guidelines for breakfast, lunches and/or snack programs - School Lunch Your Kids Will Munch (Ontario Dietitians in Public Health) | français
Tips for parents/caregivers on packing school lunches - UnlockFood.ca | français
Nutrition guidance and information from Canadian Registered Dietitians
Human Development and Sexual Health
The resources below aim to provide educators with strategies to promote healthy growth and development that can lead to reducing risky sexual behaviour among children and youth. The presentations and activities are linked to Ontario’s Human Development and Sexual Health Curriculum 2019.
Before You Begin
This section has strategies and resources to support teaching human development and sexual health.
- Inclusive Language in Teaching Human Development and Sexual Health (PDF)
- Parent Communication (PDF)
- Ground Rules (PDF)
- Tips for Welcoming Gender Diversity in Your Classroom (PDF) from www.gegi.ca
Elementary Teaching Resources (grades 4-8):
Elementary School Toolkit: Promoting Healthy Growth and Development
Secondary Teaching Resources (grades 9-12):
Birth Control/Contraception
- General Information about Birth Control
- General Information about Abstinence
- Birth Control Clinic
- Birth Control Methods - Contraception (grades 9-12) (PPT)
- Birth Control Inquiry Activity (grades 8-12) (PDF) | français Worksheet (PDF) | français
- Birth Control Quiz (grades 9-12) (PDF)
- Birth Control Online Trivia Game (grades 9-12) (PPT)
- Birth Control and STI Online Trivia Game (grades 9-12) (PPT)
- Birth Control and Emergency Contraceptives Online Quiz (grades 9-12) (PDF)
Relationships
- General Information about Relationships
- Healthy Relationships and Consent (grades 9-12) (PPT)
- Levels of Intimacy Exercise (grades 9-12) (PDF) Game PPT Cards (PPT)
- Teen Mating Game-Instructions (grades 9-12) (PDF): Discussion Cards (PDF), Personality Cards (PDF) and Situation Cards (PDF)
Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning and additional sexual orientations and gender identities (2SLGBTQ+)
- General Information about 2SLGBTQ+
- Supporting Gender Inclusivity (PDF): Resource Document
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
- General Information about STIs
- STI Presentation (grades 7-12) (PPT) | français (PPT)
- STI Inquiry Activity (grades 7-12) (PDF)| français Worksheet (PDF) | français
- Don't Pass It Along STI Game (grades 7-12) (PDF): Cards (PDF)
- STI Online Trivia Game (grades 9-12) (PPT)
- STI Online Quiz (grades 9-12) (PDF)
Immunization
Lesson Plans, Presentations and Programs
- Grade 7 Immunization Presentation (PPT) | français
Voice-over presentation for students about grade 7 immunization clinics
Helpful Resources
- Immunization-General Information
Overview of the immunization programs and services provided by the Middlesex-London Health Unit - Immunization requirements for school attendance (Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care) | français
- CARD System for Kids and Adolescents (Immunize Canada) | français
Strategies for coping with fears and anxieties related to immunization
Infectious Diseases
General Information
- A Guide to Common Childhood Infections | disponible en français
Resource on common infections, how they are spread, signs and symptoms, and exclusion and reporting requirements - Infectious Diseases A-Z
Information on a variety of infection diseases - Reportable Disease List and Notification Form
Communicable diseases that must be reported by schools and institutions to the local Medical Officer of Health - COVID 19
Current guidance, local data, and vaccination clinic information - Head Lice
Frequently asked questions and treatment options for head lice
SHSM Infection Control Teacher Package
The Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) is a specialized program offered in Ontario secondary schools. The following resources support Infection Control training for students acquiring the Health and Wellness SHSM.
- Course Instruction Page (PDF)
- Infection Control Presentation for SHSM-Health and Wellness (PPT)
- Don't Pass it Along Activity
- Instructions (PDF)
- Activity Cards (PDF)
- Infection Control Quiz (PDF)
- Infection Control Quiz-Answer Sheet (PDF)
- Infection Control Certificate (PDF)
Mental Health
Lesson Plans, Presentations and Programs
- School Mental Health | disponible en français
Resources, information, and activities to help elementary schools promote student mental health - Murray & Bird: The Search for the Missing Hat | disponible en français
Children’s storybook and classroom activities that promote connectedness and help-seeking - Take What You Need (PDF) | français
Activity for elementary and secondary schools to encourage empathy among students - #Food4Thought
Small group program for grades 7-12 that aims to build relationships and connectedness through cooking, eating, and chatting together - School Mental Health Ontario | français
Evidence-informed information to support student mental health - Everyday Mental Health Classroom Resource | français
Practices to incorporate into your elementary classroom that promote mental health - MH LIT: Student Mental Health in Action | français
Education series for secondary students focusing on mental health and help-seeking skills - Roots of Empathy Program | français
Empathy-based classroom program designed for elementary students - Anxiety Canada: Educator Resources | français
Information about anxiety, including videos and resources for children and youth
Helpful Resources
- Tandem
Immediate child and youth mental health support in Middlesex-London - Kids Help Phone | français
24/7 e-mental health support for children and youth - Wellness Together Canada | français
Free 24/7 mental health and substance use support, and population-specific mental health resources - Health811 | français
Connect with a registered nurse day or night for free, secure and confidential health advice
Oral Health
Lesson Plans, Presentations and Programs
- Oral Health Resources and Activities for Elementary Students (PDF) | Version française à venir bientôt
Resources and classroom activities for K-4 students about oral health
Helpful Resources
- Healthy Smiles Ontario | français
Government-funded dental program for children and youth - School-based Dental Screenings
Information on mandated dental screenings for all publicly funded elementary schools
Personal Safety and Injury Prevention
Lesson Plans, Presentations and Programs
- Active and Safe Routes to School
Resources and tools to encourage children and families to choose active transportation
Helpful Resources
- Parachute Canada | français
Tips, information, and resources for preventing injuries at all ages - Rowan’s Law Concussion Resources (Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport) | français
Resource e-booklets and videos geared to those ages 10 and Under, ages 11-14 and Ages 15 and up
Tony the Street-Wise Cat Road Safety Videos | disponible en français
Collection of stop-motion videos that demonstrate pedestrian safety skills
Physical Activity
Lesson Plans, Presentations and Programs (Elementary Teachers)
- Murray & Bird: Murray’s Outdoor Adventure | disponible en français
Storybook and activities encouraging outdoor exploration and play - Outdoors: The Ultimate Playground | français
Toolkit for outdoor play including no-prep games for elementary students. - International Walk to School Month (Ontario Active School Travel) | français
Helpful Resources
- Ophea - Teaching Resources | français
Curriculum linked lesson plans, activities and professional development - PHE Learning Centre (PHE Canada) | français
Physical and health education activities for in-person and remote learning
Sleep
Lesson Plans, Presentations and Programs
- Sleep Presentation (grades 9-12) (PPT)
- Sleep Brochure (grades 9-12) (PDF)
A guide to a better night’s sleep - Sleep Tips Card (2 per page) (grades 9-12) (PDF)
Printable card with tips for improving sleep
Helpful Resources
- Sleep
Information, guidelines, and tips on sleep - Sleep Foundation
Articles and recommendations for improving sleep - Sleep Hygiene Tips and Worksheets for Kids & Teenagers (Positive Psychology)
Substance Use
General Information
- Cannabis Infographic (PDF)
Lesson Plans, Presentations and Programs
- E-Cigarettes and Vaping (PPT)
E-cigarette overview including health effects, laws and fines, harm reduction and community supports - Alcohol (PPT)
Presentation to create awareness and knowledge about the effects of alcohol, the harmful effects of alcohol misuse, and community supports
Creating Supportive Environments
- School Tool Kits – Reducing Substance Use – Tobacco, E-Cigarettes, Alcohol, Cannabis, Illicit Drugs
Strategies and curriculum activities to reduce substance use among youth. Secondary (PDF) - Substance Use, Addictions and Related Behaviours
Strategies to create a healthy environment for your school community
Other Helpful Resources
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health: Primary Education Resources for Teachers
- Cannabis: What Educators Need to Know (PDF) (French)
- Canada’s Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines (PDF) (French)
- Lower-Risk Cannabis Guidelines for Youth (PDF) (French)
- Vaping fact sheets: What youth and educators need to know (Includes French resources)
- The Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey
Sun Safety
General Information
Other Helpful Resources
- Canadian Dermatology Association: Sun Safety for Everyday
- Canadian Cancer Society: Be Sun Safe
- Melanoma Network of Canada
- ScreenMe.ca: Sun Safety video Recommended for K-3 elementary students
Date of creation: July 8, 2014
Last modified on: November 29, 2023
Last modified on: November 29, 2023