Healthy habits at school
Students learn the daily habits that keep their bodies well, like washing hands, brushing teeth, eating a range of foods, sleeping enough, and moving their bodies during the day.
What does a student learn in
These are the years students learn that their daily choices shape how they feel. Students name basic habits that keep a body healthy, like washing hands, eating a range of foods, and getting enough sleep. They practice saying no, asking a trusted adult for help, and noticing what makes them feel safe or upset. By spring, students can talk through a small choice out loud and explain why one option is healthier.
- Healthy habits
- Feelings
- Safety
- Trusted adults
- Asking for help
- Making choices
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 name feelings like happy, sad, worried, or angry, and practice ways to calm down. They learn how to listen, share, and use kind words with classmates and family.
- 3
Safety at home and school
Students learn how to stay safe near streets, on playgrounds, around medicine, and online. They practice what to do in an emergency and which trusted adults to ask for help.
- 4
Choices and small goals
Students think through simple choices, like what to eat for snack or how to handle a problem with a friend. They set a small health goal and notice what helps them stick with it.
- 5
Speaking up for health
Students share what they have learned by encouraging friends and family to follow healthy habits, telling someone when a rule is broken, and asking questions about staying well.
Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 2.
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 how sleep, food, and handwashing affect how they feel, and practice using that knowledge to take care of themselves and the people around them.
- Grades K-2
Analyze influences that affect health and well-being of self and others
Students look at what shapes their health choices, like what family members say, what friends do, or what they see on TV, and think about whether those influences help or hurt their well-being.
- 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 how they feel, asking for help, and listening when someone else needs support. These everyday conversation skills help them stay healthy and get along with the people around them.
- Grades K-2
Use a decision-making process to support health and well-being of self and…
Students practice a simple step-by-step way to make choices, like deciding whether to tell a trusted adult when something feels wrong. The goal is making decisions that keep themselves and the people around them safe and healthy.
- Grades K-2
Use a goal-setting process to support health and well-being of self and others
Students practice setting a simple health goal, like drinking more water or getting to bed on time, and figure out the steps to reach it.
- Grades K-2
Demonstrate practices and behaviors to support health and well-being of self…
Students practice habits that keep themselves and the people around them healthy, like washing hands, getting enough sleep, or helping a friend feel safe.
- Grades K-2
Advocate to promote health and well-being of self and others
Students practice speaking up for healthy choices, like asking for a nutritious snack or telling a friend why washing hands matters.
| 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 sleep, food, and handwashing affect how they feel, and practice using that knowledge to take care of themselves and the people around them. | DE-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 what family members say, what friends do, or what they see on TV, and think about whether those influences help or hurt their well-being. | DE-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. | DE-HE.3.k-2 |
| Use interpersonal communication skills to support health and well-being of self… Grades K-2 | Students practice saying how they feel, asking for help, and listening when someone else needs support. These everyday conversation skills help them stay healthy and get along with the people around them. | DE-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 step-by-step way to make choices, like deciding whether to tell a trusted adult when something feels wrong. The goal is making decisions that keep themselves and the people around them safe and healthy. | DE-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 figure out the steps to reach it. | DE-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 helping a friend feel safe. | DE-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 for a nutritious snack or telling a friend why washing hands matters. | DE-HE.8.k-2 |
Common Questions
What does health class look like in these early grades?
Students learn habits that keep their bodies and feelings healthy. That means washing hands, eating a mix of foods, getting enough sleep, moving their bodies, and naming how they feel. They also practice asking a trusted adult for help.
How can I support healthy habits at home?
Build short routines students can own. Let them rinse vegetables, pick a fruit at the store, set a bedtime, or wash hands before snack. Talk out loud about why: clean hands keep germs away, sleep helps the body grow.
How do I help when feelings get big?
Name the feeling first, then offer a small action. Try sentences like, you look frustrated, do you want water or a hug? Naming feelings and choosing a next step is exactly what students practice at school.
How should I sequence health topics across the year?
Start with personal care and safety in the fall (handwashing, sleep, knowing a trusted adult). Move into food, feelings, and friendships mid-year. End the year with decision-making and simple goals students set and track over a week.
What does mastery look like by the end of second grade?
Students can name basic healthy habits and why they matter. They can find a trusted adult, ask for help with clear words, make a simple choice between two options, and set a small goal like drinking more water this week.
Which skills usually need the most reteaching?
Decision-making and goal-setting take the most repetition. Students grasp the habits quickly but struggle to slow down, weigh two choices, and check back on a goal. Build short weekly routines where students pick, try, and reflect.
How do I teach asking for help without scaring students?
Practice the words in calm moments. Role-play scenarios like a scraped knee, a mean comment, or feeling sick. Students should know two or three trusted adults by name and the exact sentence they can use to start the conversation.
Are students expected to know about nutrition labels or food groups?
At this age, no detailed labels. Students sort foods into simple groups like fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins, and learn that water is the best drink for thirst. Cooking and grocery trips at home reinforce this faster than worksheets.
How do I know a student is ready for the next grade in health?
A ready student can describe one or two healthy habits, name a feeling, point to a trusted adult, and explain a small choice they made. They do not need definitions. They need to show the habit and the words.