Health

Healthcare is important to everyone, from young children learning their first lessons about self-care to teenagers who worry about their looks and well being. These Web sites can help students and teachers understand the way the human body works and how to take care of it.

The Children’s Health Education Center (CHEC) at Milwaukee Children’s Hospital offers high-energy programs that combine cutting-edge technology, engaging models, and hands-on learning designed to teach young children and teens how to stay healthy and safe. The Center’s Web site brings the live CHEC experience to the Internet, with interactive classroom materials for teachers as well as information and community-based resources for children, parents, and caregivers.

The Atlas of the Body: Everyday Health Information for Everyone, from the American Medical Association, includes labeled illustrations of the nervous, circulatory, digestive, endocrine, reproductive, skeletal, muscular, lymphatic, respiratory, and urinary systems that teachers might use in the classroom. Detailed drawings of the sense organs, skin, teeth, hands and feet, fetal development during pregnancy, and effects of stroke also are featured.

Health Habits Keep You Well, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), discusses how to stop the spread of germs at home, work, and school. The site encourages kids to “Be a germ stopper” with tips on washing their hands, covering mouth and nose when they cough or sneeze, and more. PDF versions of “Healthy Habits,” “Germ Stopper,” and “Cover Your Cough” posters can be downloaded in color or black and white.

Columbia/HCA’s The Virtual Body/El Cuerpo Virtual provides information in both English and Spanish. The site offers games that invite students to build a skeleton, simulate blood flow through the heart, and arrange digestive organs. Scores of articles about digestive health, cardiovascular information, orthopedics, and brain function/emotional could provide plenty of support for student research projects.

Animé-style illustrations support Galaxy-H, from the United Kingdom’s Department of Health. As student Voyagers ages 7-11 travel to the different zones in Galaxy-H, they learn about healthy eating habits, exercise, personal hygiene, smoking, and travel safety. Teacher and parent sections suggest activities, provide discussion questions, and explain how student materials address health issues. Some British terminology might be confusing, but it also could be fun for students to learn.

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) created Genome: The Secret of How Life Works, a site offered in English and Spanish. Take a virtual tour of the Smithsonian Institution exhibit to explore genes, proteins, heredity, and more. The site includes interactive games that let students try to replicate a DNA strand in Gene Builder, spin the Hereditary Slot Machine, and take the Genome Quiz. A timeline of genetic research and a teacher guide with lesson plans for elementary and high school students also are provided.

Created by doctoral students at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, PE Central provides K-12 physical education instructors with lesson and assessment ideas, links to sport and instructional sites on the Web, wellness tips, and activities. The site includes a Get Active Stay Active online fitness journal, information on Adapted Physical Education for students with special needs, recommendations for Creating a Positive Learning Climate, and more. Teachers must register their school to participate in some activities; students may register individually for others. Registration is free.

HealthTeacher is a comprehensive kindergarten-grade 12 health curriculum overseen by an advisory board of health educators, students, and administrators from around the country. HealthTeacher provides approximately 300 lesson guides covering nine content areas for all grade levels. Among topics covered are alcohol and other drugs, injury prevention, emotional health, nutrition, physical activity, and tobacco. Lessons are tied to National Health Education Standards. The Teacher Support section provides health literacy resources.

Created by the Nemours Foundation Center for Children’s Health Media, KidsHealth is designed to provide young people with accurate, up-to-date, jargon-free health information. Regularly reviewed by physicians and health experts, KidsHealth includes articles, Q&A sections, illustrations, and interactive games that provide students with information on medicines, acne, bug bites, recipes, safety, anatomy, and more.

Also from the Nemours Foundation Center for Children’s Health Media, TeensHealth examines health, relationships, and growing up. Accessible 24 hours a day, TeensHealth also offers doctor-approved information needed to understand the changes teens may go through. The Web site covers a range of teen health topics, such as body, mind, sexual health, food and fitness, and drugs and alcohol.

Carol Goodrow, a certified special education teacher and 2002 recipient of the Curriculum Premium Website Award, created Kidsrunning. Devoted to promoting the sport of running for kids, the site offers articles, printable charts, and training advice from coaches. Teachers and parents can find curriculum ideas, games, training charts, and other useful tools. Content is available in English and Spanish.

How many zzzzz’s do you need? The National Sleep Foundation is a nonprofit organization that researches sleep and sleep disorders. Its Web site includes information on Sleep for Kids, Teens and Sleep, and a “Sleeptionary” of sleep-related terms.

Developed by Maryland Public Television in cooperation with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Plastic Fork Diaries explores the relationships with food and the eating habits of six middle school students. The site includes over 100 recipes to try out alone or with adult help. About 200 Info Bites report on short investigations of foods, food processing, and nutrition. An Inside U section looks at the digestive system, and Table Talk lets students read what other kids have to say about food. A teacher guide is provided in PDF format.

Winner of a ThinkQuest competition, this informative animated site about sleep is the creation of three high school students. Featuring a colorful alarm clock, the site helps visitors explore sleep basics, learn about sleep disorders, interpret dreams, and access recent research. A fast Internet connection is needed to make the most of the Flash presentation.

Edheads uses the power and interactivity of the Internet to make hard-to-teach concepts understandable for teachers, students, and parents. One section of Edheads lets students try their virtual hand at a knee replacement while a doctor guides them through the surgery. (Warning: the photos are quite graphic!) Others sections cover simple machines and weather. Sections include lesson plans, a glossary, and a teacher’s guide. Site content is suitable for various age groups.

National Geographic for Kids, Smart Technologies, Road Runner High Speed Internet Service, MacMillan McGraw-Hill, and Apple created BrainPOP. While much content is available only to paid subscribers, BrainPOP does provide some free material in each section, including the one devoted to Health. In particular, click on the animated movies for grades K-12 that explain concepts in a voice and visual style accessible to both children and adults.

WebMD presents information, tools for managing health, and support to those who seek information related to creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Continuously reviewed for accuracy and timeliness, the site covers topics ranging from diet and nutrition to the latest news from the Food and Drug Administration. In the Pregnancy and Family section, click on Children’s Health for discussions of some of the most challenging health topics in today’s society, including autism, tantrums, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and vaccination.

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