Abstract:

Literature, especially children’s literature, can be a highly effective and an easy-to-use strategy to enhance health education. However, do you wonder which books work well for various content areas and skill levels? There are endless titles just waiting to improve your lesson plans! In this session, many suggested readings related to a variety of health education standards and educational levels will be presented. Titles appropriate for lesson plan components, from set induction through assessment, will be demonstrated.

There are many terrific books that can simply and creatively be incorporated into health education. In doing so, teachers connect general literature and reading with health. Students are offered valuable opportunities to further develop their reading appreciation and literacy skills. Presentation will stimulate an appreciation for literature and its usefulness in the health education classroom. Demonstration of how literature infusion can enhance health education lessons pertaining to: self-esteem, communication, decision-making, stress management, grief, growth and development, mental health, bullying and more will be included. Numerous suggested titles for K-college in content areas and standards will be provided.

There will be several objectives met by this session. These objectives correspond to AAHE (American Association for Health Education) standards. Participants will be better able to: plan lessons which incorporate children’s literature; implement lessons with literature as set induction, teaching strategy and performance assessment; nurture student reading; assess health education utilizing literature; act as literature resource for students; explain how health education can support learning in “core” courses.

Keywords:

Health education, strategies, K-12, teacher preparation, literature.