Students can always benefit from Health and Physical Education (HPED). Quality HPED supports students in establishing good health practices early in life and helps them maintain them into adulthood.
From learning about athleticism through sports to healthy eating and more, HPED offers positive outcomes when planned well. Those interested in working in HPED can improve their chances of getting hired and, most importantly, gain the knowledge needed for the job by pursuing an online Master of Education (M.Ed.) program in the subject, such as the degree offered by Eastern Washington University (EWU).
The program offers students the opportunity to practice for the realities of HPED jobs, such as health teacher, physical education (PE) teacher and sports coach, through project-based learning. Graduates will develop their practical skills and learn how to work towards achieving healthy student outcomes, for elementary, middle and high school-age students.
The Importance of Health Curriculums
Health literacy curriculums give students of various ages the chance to learn healthy habits, regardless of their home environment. This can be a lifeline for some students, though all stand to benefit from supportive, knowledgeable HPED professionals at their schools.
As PLT4M explains, “Health education is a critical component of a well-rounded educational program, equipping students with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.” However, developing good health curricula is not without its challenges.
For example, health can be an emotional and culturally sensitive topic. Communities and families may have strong feelings about what “healthy” habits are or are not. That means HPED teachers must tread carefully to balance science and knowledge with parental expectations.
Meanwhile, student expectations also may pose a problem. Students have more access to information than ever, which also means an increase in misinformation. Teachers must be prepared to tackle misleading ideas head-on, and be able to discuss sensitive health issues, even if they may be uncomfortable for some.
How to Develop a Quality Health Curriculum
PLT4M notes that the National Health Education Standards (NHES) are a great starting place for developing a health curriculum as they guide educators in what students need to learn. The NHES is helpful in that it breaks down the standards by student grade, providing a tailored approach to learning.
There are many other useful resources for creating health curriculums. One is the Create Better Health (CBH) Curriculum provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). While this is geared towards SNAP-Ed eligible adults, some lessons within are also applicable to younger students. Overall, the lessons comprising this plan help learners become more independent and able to cook nutritious meals for themselves using what is available.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also offers guidance on how health and nutrition education can be integrated into students’ daily learning environments. Students can learn in the classroom through fun and simple exercises that incorporate food information. They can participate in farm-to-school programs to gain a better understanding of the source of their food, and they may also utilize school gardens if available for hands-on learning.
The CDC goes on to say that “Cafeterias are learning labs where students are exposed to new foods through the school meal program, see what balanced meals look like, and may be encouraged to try new foods through verbal prompts from school nutrition staff.” Information can also be distributed around a campus via posters or morning announcements to reinforce messages about healthy eating.
Starting Your HPED Journey
EWU’s online M.Ed. – Health and Physical Education program prepares educators to develop psychomotor, cognitive and affective activities that encourage lifelong healthy living and help build an understanding of good health curricula. These educators can develop long-lasting positive influences on their students.
Courses like Advocacy, Promotion, and Programming in HPED and Health Basics equip graduates with the tools to effectively tailor key lessons to student needs, while receiving constructive feedback that can be applied in real-world teaching environments. Graduates also have the chance to complete internship hours to develop their core knowledge and become effective providers of health education for their own future pupils.
Learn more about EWU’s online M.Ed. – Health and Physical Education program.
