Essential Health Concepts
- 1
The student will explain how nutrition and other health-enhancing behaviors affect personal health and academic achievement.4.1
-
Body Systems
- a
Identify the major structures and functions of the immune system.4.1.a
- a
-
Nutrition
- b
Identify foods that contain saturated and trans fat.4.1.b
- c
Describe the importance of protein for growth and development.4.1.c
- d
Determine how serving sizes, additives, preservatives, sodium, and added sugar content for a variety of foods and beverages affect health.4.1.d
- b
-
Physical Health
- e
Describe the benefits of rest, sleep, and a physically active lifestyle.4.1.e
- e
-
Disease Prevention/Health Promotion
- f
Describe causes of communicable disease (i.e., how viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi are spread).4.1.f
- g
Describe the types and causes of noncommunicable/chronic diseases.4.1.g
- f
-
Substance Abuse Prevention
- h
Compare the short- and long-term consequences of the use of alcohol, tobacco, nicotine products, marijuana, inhalants, and other drugs.4.1.h
- i
Identify effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills to resist/refuse alcohol, tobacco, nicotine products, marijuana, inhalants, and other drugs.4.1.i
- h
-
Safety/Injury Prevention
- j
Explain appropriate protective gear when engaged in physical activities such as cycling, rollerblading, skateboarding, and water sports.4.1.j
- k
Describe safe and unsafe use of the Internet, including online gaming. 4.1.k
- j
-
Mental Wellness/Social and Emotional Skills
- l
Identify feelings and emotions associated with loss and grief and their impact on one’s health.4.1.l
- m
Describe self-concept and how it can be influenced by internal and external factors.4.1.m
- n
Identify effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills (e.g., speaking, listening, eye contact, body language). 4.1.n
- o
Recognize that every person is different and has different needs.4.1.o
- l
-
Violence Prevention
- p
Explain the difference between teasing and taunting and when teasing and taunting can be considered bullying.4.1.p
- q
Describe steps to resolve a conflict.4.1.q
- r
Recognize harmful or abusive relationships.4.1.r
- p
-
Community/Environmental Health
- s
Describe the effects of water pollution on health.4.1.s
- t
Identify community health issues. 4.1.t
- s
-
Healthy Decisions
- 2
The student will describe health concepts and behaviors that prevent illness, disease, and injury and that promote positive relationships.4.2
-
Body Systems
- a
Describe how the immune system defends the body against germs and disease. 4.2.a
- a
-
Nutrition
- b
Describe the effects of saturated and trans fat on overall health.4.2.b
- c
Identify a variety of animal and plant-based protein foods.4.2.c
- d
Compare the serving sizes, additives, preservatives, sodium, and added sugar content of a variety of foods and beverages. 4.2.d
- b
-
Physical Health
- e
Explain how physical activity, rest, and sleep affect physical and mental health. 4.2.e
- e
-
Disease Prevention/Health Promotion
- f
Analyze strategies for preventing communicable diseases.4.2.f
- g
Explain the role of heredity in some chronic diseases.4.2.g
- f
-
Substance Abuse Prevention
- h
Examine factors that can influence an individual’s decision to use or avoid alcohol, tobacco, nicotine products, marijuana, inhalants, and other drugs.4.2.h
- i
Describe the effects of peer pressure on use of alcohol, tobacco, nicotine products, marijuana, inhalants, and other drugs. 4.2.i
- h
-
Safety/Injury Prevention
- j
Explain the health consequences of not following safety practices for recreational activities.4.2.j
- k
Explain the consequences of unsafe Internet use.4.2.k
- j
-
Mental Wellness/Social and Emotional Skills
- l
Describe healthy coping skills for handling the emotions of loss and grief.4.2.l
- m
Describe how developing a healthy self-concept is an ongoing and essential life skill.4.2.m
- n
Explain how bullying impacts individuals and affects one’s health. 4.2.n
- o
Analyze positive strategies for resolving conflict.4.2.o
- l
-
Violence Prevention
- p
Explain the importance of seeking assistance from a trusted adult when in unsafe or uncomfortable situations. 4.2.p
- q
Demonstrate effective communication skills. 4.2.q
- r
Explain why bullying or teasing someone who may have different needs or abilities is inappropriate.4.2.r
- p
-
Community/Environmental Health
- s
Explain the health consequences associated with water pollution.4.2.s
- t
Discuss the benefits of volunteering, and identify local volunteer opportunities. 4.2.t
- s
-
Advocacy and Health Promotion
- 3
The student will describe the importance of identifying and accessing health resources for personal and community health.4.3
-
Body Systems
- a
Describe the effects of nutrition, personal hygiene, and sleep on the immune system.4.3.a
- a
-
Nutrition
- b
Identify ways to moderate intake of foods high in saturated and trans fats, including understanding the role of serving sizes.4.3.b
- c
Design snack options that include protein, vegetables, and fruit.4.3.c
- d
Explain how serving sizes, additives, preservatives, and added sugar affect one’s health over time (e.g., increased vulnerability to disease and obesity). 4.3.d
- b
-
Physical Health
- e
Create a plan to meet the daily requirement for physical activity, rest, and sleep, using valid and reliable resources.4.3.e
- e
-
Disease Prevention/Health Promotion
- f
Develop a plan to prevent the spread of communicable disease.4.3.f
- g
Explore methods to reduce risks associated with noncommunicable/chronic disease.4.3.g
- f
-
Substance Abuse Prevention
- h
Determine the importance of resistance/refusal skills in saying no to alcohol, tobacco, inhalants, and other drugs.4.3.h
- i
Demonstrate effective refusal skills for situations involving peer pressure to use harmful substances. 4.3.i
- h
-
Safety/Injury Prevention
- j
Promote safe participation in recreational activities.4.3.j
- k
Develop strategies for safe Internet and online gaming use.4.3.k
- j
-
Mental Wellness/Social and Emotional Skills
- l
Identify strategies and resources, including understanding the role of school counselors, psychologists, and social workers, to manage feelings that may result from loss and grief.4.3.l
- m
Explain how challenges and successes provide learning experiences to help develop a healthy self-concept.4.3.m
- n
Practice initiating, sustaining, and ending conversations.4.3.n
- o
Describe ways to show compassion for others. 4.3.o
- l
-
Violence Prevention
- p
Promote strategies to report bullying and aggressive behaviors and to safely advocate and stand up for others.4.3.p
- q
Demonstrate strategies to resolve conflict in a variety of situations.4.3.q
- r
Identify trusted adults at home, in school, and in the community who can help with unsafe or uncomfortable situations.4.3.r
- p
-
Community/Environmental Health
- s
Identify possible solutions for a community health issue and volunteer opportunities to address the issue.4.3.s
- t
Develop strategies to reduce water pollution. 4.3.t
- s
-
Frequently asked questions
- What grade levels do these standards cover?
- Grade 4
- Where can I read the official document?
- Health Education Standards of Learning for Virginia Public Schools
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