Learning
Quality pre-kindergarten through diploma comprehensive school health education provides students with the knowledge and skills to thrive physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially across their lifetime. It contributes to a student's ability to develop skills and acquire knowledge that will help them successfully practice behaviors that enhance, protect, and promote health and avoid health risks.
Health education assists students in practicing healthy lifestyle behaviors which in turn leads to achieving academic success. The Maine DOE is committed to supporting schools in the delivery of effective health education instructional programs by providing access and direction to a broad range of resources and tools reflective of Maine's learning standards. The Maine DOE Health Education Program specialists are a resource not only for teachers, but also administrators, nonprofits, higher education faculty, parents, and community members.
Health education can assist students to be better consumers of information, manage the complex world around them, and be more inclusive of others. Through an effective skills-based health education curriculum, students will practice skills that protect, promote, and enhance lifelong health.
Looking for the standards and performance expectations? Go to the Health Education and Physical Education Standards page.
Professional Learning Opportunities. Upcoming events, recorded webinars, and professional learning opportunities for health and physical education educators. Go to the Professional Learning webpage.
Resources
Instructional Strategies and Resources
Maine Department of Education Resources
- Acute & Emergency Care This School Health Services webpage offers resources for concussion management, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillators (AED), and more.
- Maine DOE Health Education YouTube PlaylistVideo
- The MOOSE Project (Maine Online Open-Source Education)
- Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
- Maine DOE Certification Office
- 520 Endorsement Health Education
State Resources
- Maine AHPERD Maine's professional organization for health and physical education teachers.
- Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault Works toward ending sexual violence by providing public policy advocacy, access to resources and services, public awareness and prevention activities, and statewide training. Includes the Children's Safety Partnership.
- Maine Family Planning Education Program Provides comprehensive, accurate and non-judgmental reproductive information, resources to improve the health and well-being of teens and young adults in Maine, and curriculum and training resources for educators.
- Maine Health Teachers Toolbox A Maine-based Facebook page with shared resources and distance learning lessons.
- Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey Data from self-reported student behavior for grades five through 12 at the local, county, public health district, and state level.
- Prevention for ME Information, tools, and resources to prevent and protect Maine youth from tobacco. Tips for parents are also provided.
- Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention Links to health topics from A to Z offering information, programs, and related services.
National Resources
- SHAPE America A national professional organization for health and physical education. This link goes to the health education guidance and position statement page, which has supporting documents for schools on health education.
- U.S. CDC Diseases and Conditions An A to Z index for diseases and conditions for educators and students.
- US CDC Healthy Schools Research and resources that support school health education and healthy school practices.
Primary Health Education Web Resources
- KidsHealth in the Classroom Free health-related lesson plans for all grades and subject areas. Each teacher's guide includes discussion questions, activities, and reproducible handouts and quizzes aligned to national health education standards.
- Common Sense Media Dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing information about thriving in a world of media and technology.
- Cancer Prevention, Bone Marrow Registry, and Organ Donations Information for all ages and educators regarding common cancer symptoms, the Bone Marrow Registry, and organ donation.
Professional Development, Training & Certification
Connections to Health Education
Advocacy
- Advocacy Resources for School Health Education
- American School Health Association (ASHA) Advocacy
- SHAPE America Advocacy
- Appropriate Practices in School-Based Health Education
- What is Health Literacy? (SHAPE America)
- Improving School Health (US CDC Healthy Schools)
- Health and Academics (US CDC Healthy Schools)
- Parents/Caregivers for Healthy Schools (US CDC Healthy Schools)
- School Health as a Strategy to Improve Both Public Health and Education (Journal Article)
Laws & Policies
Laws, statutes, rules, and policies that govern and guide health education in Maine, aligned to the health education standards.
Curriculum Design & Development
The following resources and tools may be helpful when designing and developing comprehensive school health education curriculum. In Maine, how schools choose to implement standards remains entirely a local decision.
- 15 Steps for Designing, Coordinating & Managing Health Education Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment A framework used by many Maine schools when designing and developing their comprehensive school health education curriculum.
- Characteristics of Effective Health Education Curriculum Research-based characteristics of state-of-the-art health education curricula according to reviews of effective programs and experts in the field of health education.
- Health Education Description of Content Areas A compilation of potential content to connect with skills when teaching health education.
- Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT) Developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this tool can help districts, schools, and others conduct a clear, complete, and consistent analysis of health education curricula. Results can assist schools in selecting or developing appropriate and effective health education curricula and improve the delivery of health education.
Contact
Emily Poland, MPH, RN, NCSN
School Nurse Consultant
Coordinated School Health Team Leader
Email: Emily.Poland@maine.gov