What does health class look like in the early grades?

Students learn habits that keep their bodies and feelings healthy. That includes washing hands, eating different kinds of food, getting enough sleep, naming feelings, and being kind to others. Most lessons are short and tied to everyday routines.

How can I support what is taught in health class at home?

Talk about the small choices that come up each day. Ask what foods give energy at breakfast, who they can go to when they feel upset, or why brushing teeth matters before bed. Short conversations stick better than long talks.

What should students be able to do by the end of second grade?

Students should name basic body parts, list a few ways to stay healthy, ask a trusted adult for help, and make a simple choice between a healthy and unhealthy option. They should also be able to say how they feel using words instead of actions.

How do I sequence health topics across the year?

Start with routines students already know, such as handwashing, sleep, and food groups. Move into feelings and friendships in the middle of the year, then build toward asking for help and making safe choices. Revisit each topic in short blocks rather than one long unit.

My child gets upset easily. How can I help build the feelings skills taught at school?

Give the feeling a name when it shows up. Saying things like "that sounds frustrating" helps students match words to what they feel. Then offer one calming step, like a drink of water or a few deep breaths, and try it together.

Which skills usually need the most reteaching?

Asking a trusted adult for help and stopping to think before acting are the two that take the longest. Students can name the steps but forget them in the moment. Short role-plays during morning meeting or transitions help more than worksheets.

Does my child need to memorize health facts?

No. The goal is habits and choices, not memorized lists. If students can wash their hands well, name a feeling, pick a healthy snack, and tell a grown-up when something is wrong, they are on track.

How do I know students are ready for the next grade in health?

Watch for students who can describe a healthy habit, point to a trusted adult by role, and walk through a simple choice out loud. If most students can do those things without prompting, the foundation is set for third grade.

What does a student learn in ?

These are the years students learn that everyday choices keep their bodies and feelings healthy. Students name basic habits like washing hands, eating real food, moving their bodies, and asking a trusted grown-up for help when something feels wrong. They start to notice what shapes those choices, from family routines to feelings. By spring, students can talk through a small health decision out loud and set a simple goal like drinking more water this week.

Healthy habits
Feelings and emotions
Trusted adults
Making choices
Setting goals
Asking for help

Source: Massachusetts Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks

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
Healthy habits at home and school
Students learn the basics of taking care of themselves. They practice washing hands, brushing teeth, eating a mix of foods, sleeping enough, and moving their bodies during the day.
2
Feelings and friendships
Students put words to feelings like happy, sad, worried, or angry. They practice kind ways to talk with friends, take turns, and ask a trusted adult for help when something is wrong.
3
Safety at home, school, and outside
Students learn rules that keep them safe, like crossing streets, riding in cars, and staying away from medicines or cleaning supplies. They practice what to do in an emergency and who to call.
4
Making good choices
Students start thinking before they act. They practice simple choices like what to eat for snack or how to handle a problem on the playground, and notice how their choices affect others.
5
Speaking up for self and others
Students learn to share what they need and stand up for classmates in kind ways. They practice telling an adult when someone is hurt or unsafe and encouraging friends to make healthy choices.

Mastery Learning Standards

The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 2.

Health Education

Use functional knowledge of health concepts to support health and well-being of…

MA-HE.1.k-2

Grades K-2

Students learn basic health facts, like how germs spread or why sleep matters, and practice using that knowledge to make healthier choices for themselves and the people around them.
Analyze influences that affect health and well-being of self and others

MA-HE.2.k-2

Grades K-2

Students look at what shapes how they feel and stay healthy, like family habits, friends, and ads they see. They practice noticing when something is pushing them toward a good or not-so-good choice.
Access valid and reliable resources to support health and well-being of self…

MA-HE.3.k-2

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 where to turn when they or someone else needs help staying healthy.
Use interpersonal communication skills to support health and well-being of self…

MA-HE.4.k-2

Grades K-2

Students practice asking for help, saying no, and listening carefully so they and the people around them stay safe and feel good.
Use a decision-making process to support health and well-being of self and…

MA-HE.5.k-2

Grades K-2

Students learn a simple set of steps for making choices, like what to eat or how to respond when a friend gets hurt, that leads to a healthier outcome for themselves and the people around them.
Use a goal-setting process to support health and well-being of self and others

MA-HE.6.k-2

Grades K-2

Students practice setting a simple health goal, like drinking more water or getting to bed on time, and think through the steps to reach it.
Demonstrate practices and behaviors to support health and well-being of self…

MA-HE.7.k-2

Grades K-2

Students practice habits that keep themselves and the people around them healthy, like washing hands, getting enough sleep, or speaking up when something feels wrong.
Advocate to promote health and well-being of self and others

MA-HE.8.k-2

Grades K-2

Students practice speaking up for healthy choices, like asking a grown-up for help or telling a friend why washing hands matters. Advocacy means using your voice to look out for yourself and the people around you.

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 how germs spread or why sleep matters, and practice using that knowledge to make healthier choices for themselves and the people around them.	MA-HE.1.k-2
Analyze influences that affect health and well-being of self and others Grades K-2	Students look at what shapes how they feel and stay healthy, like family habits, friends, and ads they see. They practice noticing when something is pushing them toward a good or not-so-good choice.	MA-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 where to turn when they or someone else needs help staying healthy.	MA-HE.3.k-2
Use interpersonal communication skills to support health and well-being of self… Grades K-2	Students practice asking for help, saying no, and listening carefully so they and the people around them stay safe and feel good.	MA-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 what to eat or how to respond when a friend gets hurt, that leads to a healthier outcome for themselves and the people around them.	MA-HE.5.k-2
Use a goal-setting process to support health and well-being of self and others Grades K-2	Students practice setting a simple health goal, like drinking more water or getting to bed on time, and think through the steps to reach it.	MA-HE.6.k-2
Demonstrate practices and behaviors to support health and well-being of self… Grades K-2	Students practice habits that keep themselves and the people around them healthy, like washing hands, getting enough sleep, or speaking up when something feels wrong.	MA-HE.7.k-2
Advocate to promote health and well-being of self and others Grades K-2	Students practice speaking up for healthy choices, like asking a grown-up for help or telling a friend why washing hands matters. Advocacy means using your voice to look out for yourself and the people around you.	MA-HE.8.k-2

Health Education

Use functional knowledge of health concepts to support health and well-being of…

MA-HE.1.k-2

Grades K-2

Students learn basic health facts, like how germs spread or why sleep matters, and practice using that knowledge to make healthier choices for themselves and the people around them.
Analyze influences that affect health and well-being of self and others

MA-HE.2.k-2

Grades K-2

Students look at what shapes how they feel and stay healthy, like family habits, friends, and ads they see. They practice noticing when something is pushing them toward a good or not-so-good choice.
Access valid and reliable resources to support health and well-being of self…

MA-HE.3.k-2

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 where to turn when they or someone else needs help staying healthy.
Use interpersonal communication skills to support health and well-being of self…

MA-HE.4.k-2

Grades K-2

Students practice asking for help, saying no, and listening carefully so they and the people around them stay safe and feel good.
Use a decision-making process to support health and well-being of self and…

MA-HE.5.k-2

Grades K-2

Students learn a simple set of steps for making choices, like what to eat or how to respond when a friend gets hurt, that leads to a healthier outcome for themselves and the people around them.
Use a goal-setting process to support health and well-being of self and others

MA-HE.6.k-2

Grades K-2

Students practice setting a simple health goal, like drinking more water or getting to bed on time, and think through the steps to reach it.
Demonstrate practices and behaviors to support health and well-being of self…

MA-HE.7.k-2

Grades K-2

Students practice habits that keep themselves and the people around them healthy, like washing hands, getting enough sleep, or speaking up when something feels wrong.
Advocate to promote health and well-being of self and others

MA-HE.8.k-2

Grades K-2

Students practice speaking up for healthy choices, like asking a grown-up for help or telling a friend why washing hands matters. Advocacy means using your voice to look out for yourself and the people around you.

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 how germs spread or why sleep matters, and practice using that knowledge to make healthier choices for themselves and the people around them.	MA-HE.1.k-2
Analyze influences that affect health and well-being of self and others Grades K-2	Students look at what shapes how they feel and stay healthy, like family habits, friends, and ads they see. They practice noticing when something is pushing them toward a good or not-so-good choice.	MA-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 where to turn when they or someone else needs help staying healthy.	MA-HE.3.k-2
Use interpersonal communication skills to support health and well-being of self… Grades K-2	Students practice asking for help, saying no, and listening carefully so they and the people around them stay safe and feel good.	MA-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 what to eat or how to respond when a friend gets hurt, that leads to a healthier outcome for themselves and the people around them.	MA-HE.5.k-2
Use a goal-setting process to support health and well-being of self and others Grades K-2	Students practice setting a simple health goal, like drinking more water or getting to bed on time, and think through the steps to reach it.	MA-HE.6.k-2
Demonstrate practices and behaviors to support health and well-being of self… Grades K-2	Students practice habits that keep themselves and the people around them healthy, like washing hands, getting enough sleep, or speaking up when something feels wrong.	MA-HE.7.k-2
Advocate to promote health and well-being of self and others Grades K-2	Students practice speaking up for healthy choices, like asking a grown-up for help or telling a friend why washing hands matters. Advocacy means using your voice to look out for yourself and the people around you.	MA-HE.8.k-2

Common Questions

What does health class look like in the early grades?
Students learn habits that keep their bodies and feelings healthy. That includes washing hands, eating different kinds of food, getting enough sleep, naming feelings, and being kind to others. Most lessons are short and tied to everyday routines.
How can I support what is taught in health class at home?
Talk about the small choices that come up each day. Ask what foods give energy at breakfast, who they can go to when they feel upset, or why brushing teeth matters before bed. Short conversations stick better than long talks.
What should students be able to do by the end of second grade?
Students should name basic body parts, list a few ways to stay healthy, ask a trusted adult for help, and make a simple choice between a healthy and unhealthy option. They should also be able to say how they feel using words instead of actions.
How do I sequence health topics across the year?
Start with routines students already know, such as handwashing, sleep, and food groups. Move into feelings and friendships in the middle of the year, then build toward asking for help and making safe choices. Revisit each topic in short blocks rather than one long unit.
My child gets upset easily. How can I help build the feelings skills taught at school?
Give the feeling a name when it shows up. Saying things like "that sounds frustrating" helps students match words to what they feel. Then offer one calming step, like a drink of water or a few deep breaths, and try it together.
Which skills usually need the most reteaching?
Asking a trusted adult for help and stopping to think before acting are the two that take the longest. Students can name the steps but forget them in the moment. Short role-plays during morning meeting or transitions help more than worksheets.
Does my child need to memorize health facts?
No. The goal is habits and choices, not memorized lists. If students can wash their hands well, name a feeling, pick a healthy snack, and tell a grown-up when something is wrong, they are on track.
How do I know students are ready for the next grade in health?
Watch for students who can describe a healthy habit, point to a trusted adult by role, and walk through a simple choice out loud. If most students can do those things without prompting, the foundation is set for third grade.