curriculum

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

SCHOOL HEALTH AND NUTRITION

Health education in the curriculum

_{While health education can be taught as a separate subject it may
also be integrated into other subjects such as science, technology, physical education,
home economics, and social studies.

_{The advantages of offering health education as a separate subject may be that:}

_{- pupils are conscious of addressing health knowledge, skills and attitudes in
designated health education lessons}

_{- health education is allotted its own space in the time-table}

_{- curriculum planning and recording are easier}

_{- health education resources are more directly applicable.}

_{However, an integrated approach has potentially greater benefits for the quality of
pupil learning.}

_{Integration may be easier in primary schools where the division between separate
subjects may not be so strong. For example, in a science unit on the stream as an
ecosystem, pupils could consider the healthiness of the stream as a source of safe water.
In physical education, pupils could monitor their heart rates and discuss the benefits of
exercise on heart health.}

_{The advantages of integrating health education across the curriculum include:}

- making the curriculum contemporary, meaningful and relevant to the
pupil

_{- providing action-oriented foci to the unit}

_{- a greater depth of learning concepts rather than isolated facts.}

_{However, an integrated approach:}

_{- requires careful planning within and across units and year levels to ensure that
health education is comprehensive and co-ordinated}

_{- risks the health message being lost.}}