Healthy habits at home and school
Students learn the basics of taking care of their bodies: washing hands, brushing teeth, eating a mix of foods, sleeping enough, and moving every day. They start to notice which habits help them feel their best.
What does a student learn in
These are the years students learn that small daily habits add up to health. Students name the basics that keep a body well, like washing hands, eating real food, sleeping enough, and moving around. They practice asking a trusted adult when something feels wrong or scary, and they start making simple choices on their own. By spring, students can explain one healthy habit and who to go to for help.
- Healthy habits
- Hygiene
- Trusted adults
- Making choices
- Asking for help
- Safety
Year at a glance
How the year usually goes. Every school and district set their own curriculum, so treat this as a guide, not official pacing.
- 1
- 2
Who and what shapes our choices
Students start to see how family, friends, ads, and screens nudge what they eat, watch, and do. They practice noticing those nudges instead of just going along with them.
- 3
Asking for help and finding answers
Students learn who the trusted grown-ups are at home, school, and in the community, and when to go to them. They practice asking a parent, teacher, nurse, or doctor for help with a health question.
- 4
Talking it out and staying safe
Students practice using words to share feelings, set limits, and work through small conflicts. They also rehearse what to say in tricky moments, like saying no to something that feels unsafe.
- 5
Making choices and setting small goals
Students walk through simple steps for making a choice, like stop, think, and decide. They pick small health goals, such as drinking more water or going to bed on time, and track how it goes.
- 6
Speaking up for healthy habits
Students put it all together by showing healthy behaviors and encouraging others to do the same. They might remind a friend to buckle up, share a hand-washing reminder, or make a poster about a healthy habit.
Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 1.
Health Education
Health Education
- Grades K-2
Use functional knowledge of health concepts to support health and well-being of…
Students learn basic health facts, like why sleep matters or how germs spread, and practice using that knowledge to make simple choices that keep themselves and the people around them healthy.
- Grades K-2
Analyze influences that affect health and well-being of self and others
Students look at what shapes their health choices, like family habits, friends, and the places they spend time. They practice noticing when something pushes them toward a healthy or unhealthy decision.
- Grades K-2
Access valid and reliable resources to support health and well-being of self…
Students learn where to find trustworthy health information, like a doctor, a school nurse, or a parent, and practice using those sources to get help for themselves or someone else.
- Grades K-2
Use interpersonal communication skills to support health and well-being of self…
Students practice saying what they need, asking for help, and listening when someone else speaks. These everyday conversation skills help students stay safe and look out for the people around them.
- Grades K-2
Use a decision-making process to support health and well-being of self and…
Students learn a simple set of steps for making choices, like deciding what to eat or how to respond when a friend is hurt. Thinking through those steps helps students pick options that are better for themselves and the people around them.
- Grades K-2
Use a goal-setting process to support health and well-being of self and others
Students pick a health goal, like drinking more water or getting enough sleep, and practice the steps to reach it. They learn that small, planned actions can improve how they and the people around them feel.
- Grades K-2
Demonstrate practices and behaviors to support health and well-being of self…
Students practice small habits that protect their own health and the health of people around them, like washing hands, getting enough sleep, or saying something kind.
- Grades K-2
Advocate to promote health and well-being of self and others
Students learn to speak up for healthy choices, like asking for a snack break or reminding a friend to wash their hands. Advocacy means using your voice to help yourself and the people around you stay well.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Use functional knowledge of health concepts to support health and well-being of… Grades K-2 | Students learn basic health facts, like why sleep matters or how germs spread, and practice using that knowledge to make simple choices that keep themselves and the people around them healthy. | FL-HE.1.k-2 |
| Analyze influences that affect health and well-being of self and others Grades K-2 | Students look at what shapes their health choices, like family habits, friends, and the places they spend time. They practice noticing when something pushes them toward a healthy or unhealthy decision. | FL-HE.2.k-2 |
| Access valid and reliable resources to support health and well-being of self… Grades K-2 | Students learn where to find trustworthy health information, like a doctor, a school nurse, or a parent, and practice using those sources to get help for themselves or someone else. | FL-HE.3.k-2 |
| Use interpersonal communication skills to support health and well-being of self… Grades K-2 | Students practice saying what they need, asking for help, and listening when someone else speaks. These everyday conversation skills help students stay safe and look out for the people around them. | FL-HE.4.k-2 |
| Use a decision-making process to support health and well-being of self and… Grades K-2 | Students learn a simple set of steps for making choices, like deciding what to eat or how to respond when a friend is hurt. Thinking through those steps helps students pick options that are better for themselves and the people around them. | FL-HE.5.k-2 |
| Use a goal-setting process to support health and well-being of self and others Grades K-2 | Students pick a health goal, like drinking more water or getting enough sleep, and practice the steps to reach it. They learn that small, planned actions can improve how they and the people around them feel. | FL-HE.6.k-2 |
| Demonstrate practices and behaviors to support health and well-being of self… Grades K-2 | Students practice small habits that protect their own health and the health of people around them, like washing hands, getting enough sleep, or saying something kind. | FL-HE.7.k-2 |
| Advocate to promote health and well-being of self and others Grades K-2 | Students learn to speak up for healthy choices, like asking for a snack break or reminding a friend to wash their hands. Advocacy means using your voice to help yourself and the people around you stay well. | FL-HE.8.k-2 |
Common Questions
What does health class look like in the early grades?
Students learn the basics of taking care of their bodies and feelings. That means handwashing, brushing teeth, eating a mix of foods, sleeping enough, moving every day, and naming emotions. They also practice safety habits like seatbelts, crossing the street, and asking a trusted adult for help.
How can I help my child build healthy habits at home?
Pick one habit at a time and make it part of the daily routine. Brush teeth together in the morning, wash hands before meals, and talk about what was on the plate at dinner. Five minutes of steady practice beats a long lecture.
What should my child be able to do by the end of second grade?
Students should name basic body parts, food groups, and feelings. They should know how to wash hands, when to ask an adult for help, and how to make a small healthy choice like picking water over soda. They can also set a simple goal, such as going to bed on time.
How should I sequence health topics across the year?
Start with personal care and safety in the fall, since routines are fresh. Move into nutrition and physical activity mid-year, then feelings, friendships, and asking for help in the spring. Revisit handwashing and safety any time illness or a field trip is coming up.
What does mastery actually look like at this age?
Mastery is doing the habit, not just naming it. A student who can list food groups but skips breakfast has not mastered the skill. Look for students who wash hands without reminders, name a feeling instead of acting it out, and tell a trusted adult when something is wrong.
My child is a picky eater. Is that a health class problem?
Not really, but health class can help. Students learn to notice when they are hungry or full and to try foods from different groups. At home, offer one new food next to a familiar one and skip the pressure. Taste-testing without a battle does more than any lesson.
Which skills usually need the most reteaching?
Decision-making and asking for help. Students can recite rules but freeze in the moment. Build short role-plays into morning meeting: what to do if a stranger talks to them, if a friend gets hurt, or if they feel sick at school. Repetition is what makes it stick.
How do I talk about feelings without making it a big deal?
Name feelings out loud during normal moments. Say things like, I feel frustrated when traffic is slow, or, you look disappointed about the rain. Students learn that feelings have names and pass. That single habit does most of the work.
How will I know if a student is ready for the next grade in health?
Ready students show the habits without prompting, name a trusted adult they would go to, and can pick the better of two simple choices and say why. If a student still cannot describe a feeling or name a safety rule by spring, plan small-group practice before the year ends.