Healthy habits at school
Students start the year learning the basics of taking care of their bodies. They practice washing hands, covering coughs, eating a mix of foods, and getting enough sleep.
What does a student learn in
These early years are when students start naming healthy habits and practicing them on purpose. Students learn what keeps a body well, from washing hands to eating breakfast to asking a trusted adult for help. They also begin spotting what shapes their choices, like ads, friends, and feelings. By spring, students can describe a simple healthy habit and explain one small step they take to stick with it.
- Healthy habits
- Feelings and emotions
- Trusted adults
- Making choices
- Safety basics
- Setting small goals
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
Feelings and getting along
Students put words to how they feel and notice how others feel too. They practice asking for help, using kind words, and solving small problems with classmates.
- 3
Safe bodies, safe choices
Students learn rules that keep them safe at home, on the playground, and crossing the street. They talk about safe and unsafe touch and who the trusted adults are in their lives.
- 4
Setting small health goals
Students pick one small thing to work on, like drinking more water or moving their bodies every day. They track how it goes and notice what helps them stick with it.
- 5
Speaking up for health
By the end of the year, students share what they have learned with family and friends. They might make a poster about brushing teeth or remind a sibling to buckle up.
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 others well.
- Grades K-2
Analyze influences that affect health and well-being of self and others
Students look at why they make the choices they do, like what a parent says, what friends do, or what they see on TV, and how those things shape their health habits.
- Grades K-2
Access valid and reliable resources to support health and well-being of self…
Students learn to find trustworthy sources of health information, like a doctor, a school nurse, or a reliable website. They practice knowing who to ask or where to look when they have a question about staying healthy or helping someone else.
- Grades K-2
Use interpersonal communication skills to support health and well-being of self…
Talking, listening, and asking for help are ways to stay healthy and care for others. Students practice the words and actions that make it easier to share feelings, solve problems, and look out for friends.
- Grades K-2
Use a decision-making process to support health and well-being of self and…
Students practice a simple set of steps for making choices, like whether to play safely or what to eat, that keep themselves and others healthy.
- Grades K-2
Use a goal-setting process to support health and well-being of self and others
Students pick a simple health goal, like drinking more water or getting more sleep, and follow basic steps to reach it.
- Grades K-2
Demonstrate practices and behaviors to support health and well-being of self…
Students practice everyday habits that keep themselves and the people around them healthy, like washing hands, getting enough sleep, or telling a trusted adult when something feels wrong.
- Grades K-2
Advocate to promote health and well-being of self and others
Students learn to speak up for their own health and the health of people around them, like asking a grown-up for help when something feels wrong or encouraging a friend to wash their hands.
| 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 others well. | IL-HE.1.k-2 |
| Analyze influences that affect health and well-being of self and others Grades K-2 | Students look at why they make the choices they do, like what a parent says, what friends do, or what they see on TV, and how those things shape their health habits. | IL-HE.2.k-2 |
| Access valid and reliable resources to support health and well-being of self… Grades K-2 | Students learn to find trustworthy sources of health information, like a doctor, a school nurse, or a reliable website. They practice knowing who to ask or where to look when they have a question about staying healthy or helping someone else. | IL-HE.3.k-2 |
| Use interpersonal communication skills to support health and well-being of self… Grades K-2 | Talking, listening, and asking for help are ways to stay healthy and care for others. Students practice the words and actions that make it easier to share feelings, solve problems, and look out for friends. | IL-HE.4.k-2 |
| Use a decision-making process to support health and well-being of self and… Grades K-2 | Students practice a simple set of steps for making choices, like whether to play safely or what to eat, that keep themselves and others healthy. | IL-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 simple health goal, like drinking more water or getting more sleep, and follow basic steps to reach it. | IL-HE.6.k-2 |
| Demonstrate practices and behaviors to support health and well-being of self… Grades K-2 | Students practice everyday habits that keep themselves and the people around them healthy, like washing hands, getting enough sleep, or telling a trusted adult when something feels wrong. | IL-HE.7.k-2 |
| Advocate to promote health and well-being of self and others Grades K-2 | Students learn to speak up for their own health and the health of people around them, like asking a grown-up for help when something feels wrong or encouraging a friend to wash their hands. | IL-HE.8.k-2 |
Common Questions
What does health class actually cover in the early grades?
Students learn habits that keep their bodies and feelings healthy. That includes washing hands, brushing teeth, eating a mix of foods, getting sleep, moving their bodies, and naming feelings like sad, mad, or worried. They also practice being kind and safe with other people.
How can a parent help with this at home?
Talk through everyday choices out loud. At breakfast, ask which foods give energy. At bedtime, ask how the body feels after a busy day. Small five-minute chats during real moments do more than a worksheet ever will.
What should a student be able to do by the end of second grade?
Students should name basic ways to stay healthy and safe, ask a trusted adult for help, and talk through a simple choice like what to eat or how to handle a disagreement. They should also set a small goal, such as drinking more water this week.
How should the year be sequenced across these eight standards?
Start with personal habits like hygiene, sleep, and food, since students can practice those right away. Move into feelings and friendships in the middle of the year. Save decision-making, goal-setting, and speaking up for others until students have the vocabulary to use them well.
Which parts of health usually need the most reteaching?
Decision-making and goal-setting take the most practice. Young students can name a healthy choice but struggle to slow down and think through steps before acting. Build in short, repeated practice with real classroom situations rather than teaching it once and moving on.
What does it mean for a student to ask for help from a trusted adult?
Students learn to name the adults in their life they can go to when something feels wrong, scary, or confusing. That might be a parent, a grandparent, a teacher, a coach, or a school nurse. Practicing this out loud at home makes it easier to do in a real moment.
How is feelings and friendship work part of health class?
Naming feelings and getting along with others is a core part of health at this age. Students practice words for what they feel, ways to calm down, and how to speak up when something bothers them. These skills sit alongside handwashing and bike helmets, not separate from them.
How do teachers know students are ready for third grade?
By the end of second grade, students can describe daily habits that keep them healthy, name a trusted adult to go to for help, and walk through a small choice or goal with support. They can also speak up kindly when a classmate needs help.