Prior to the development of FFAME’s Health Curriculum we analyzed a collection of National, State, and Provincial health standards. One thing that we noticed as we evaluated these various standards was that although the format and the wording may have been slightly different the content and topics being covered were all alike. Whether you live in California, Arkansas, or Ontario the issues of obesity, bullying, fitness, nutrition, disease, drugs, human anatomy, hygiene, disease, safety, and much more are a constant.

What’s most important is that by utilizing FFAME’s Standards based Health Curriculum in your school district is that you are adopting a health program that will be utilized uniformly and consistently in every 2^nd through 5^th grade classroom in your district. As these students go through this program, not only will they earn a base health knowledge, but more importantly, they will apply what they have learned through an assortment of higher level thinking questioning, discussion, writing, technology, integrated lessons, and application experiences.

We have observed and interviewed teachers throughout North America and we have witnessed a recurring theme. Teachers want to teach health, but they do not have the time to plan weekly lessons that sufficiently address the enormous health dilemma facing North America as the rate of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other long term health risk factors continue to rise. The well intended text books and other health curriculum materials lie dormant as teachers tirelessly work to meet the rigors of the academic standards of science, social studies, math, and language arts which are often assessed by standardized tests at the end of the school year.

With FFAME’s Health Talk and the online web based applications we have done all the planning and provided easy to use, fun, educational, integrated, standards based, entertaining, and inspiring materials that both teachers and students will look forward to utilizing weekly on their quest for improved health. 

An added bonus is that as students utilize these health materials they will also reinforce what they are learning in other academic areas.  Listed here are a few of the cross curricular standards that will be covered on Health Talk and the integrated online applications.

ACADEMIC STANDARDS INTEGRATED THROUGH FFAME:

SCIENCE STANDARDS:

Scientific Inquiry:

• The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific inquiry, including the processes, skills, and mathematical thinking necessary to conduct a simple scientific investigation.

Properties and Changes in Matter:

• The student will demonstrate an understanding of the properties of matter and the changes that matter undergoes. (Physical Science)

Organisms and Their Environments (Life science):

• The student will demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics and patterns of behavior that allow organisms to survive in their own distinct environments.  

• The students will demonstrate an understanding that animals grow and change and have distinct characteristics.

• The students will demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which air and water are used by living things to help them meet their basic needs.

• Students will analyze the impact of human activities and technological innovations on human health; investigate the structure and function of the major organs of various human body systems; demonstrate an understanding of the structure and function of human body systems and interactions within and between systems.

MATHEMATICS STANDARDS:

Algebra

• The student will demonstrate through the mathematical processes an understanding of numeric patterns, quantitative change, and situations showing increase over time. (Patterns and skip counting)

Data and Probability

• The student will demonstrate through the mathematical processes an understanding of organizing, interpreting, analyzing and making predictions about data, the benefits of multiple representations of a data set, and the basic concepts of probability. (polls)
  

Measurement

• The student will demonstrate through the mathematical processes an understanding of length, time, weight, and volume measurements.
  

Number and Operations

• The student will demonstrate through the mathematical processes an understanding of the representation of whole numbers and fractional parts; the addition and subtraction of whole numbers, and fractions; accurate, efficient, and general methods of multiplying whole numbers; and the relationships among multiplication, division, and related basic facts.

LANGUAGE ARTS:

Reading:

• The student will read and comprehend a variety of informational texts in print and non-print formats.

• BUILDING VOCABULARY: The student will use word analysis and vocabulary strategies to read fluently.

Writing:

• The student will create written work that has a clear focus, sufficient detail, coherent organization, effective use of voice, and correct use of the conventions of written Standard English.

• The student will write for a variety of purposes and audiences.

Researching:

• The student will access and use information from a variety of sources.

Oral Communication:

• The students will listen in order to understand and respond appropriately in a variety of situations for a variety of purposes.

• The students will use speaking skills and strategies appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.