Learning Stations for Health Class: How to Take Care of Your Body
Here’s an excellent option for those “we need to move around while we learn” days. You can use the Body Care Learning Stations to take students through six aspects of caring for their physical health (body image, hygiene, physical activity, food and water, safety, sleep), then use a short reflection to help students connect each one to their actual lives.
Table of Contents:
What are the Body Care Learning Stations?
These interactive learning stations introduce students to the key ways we take care of our physical health and bodies. Students will explore six essential body care elements: body image and relationships with the body, hygiene, physical activity, food and water, safety, and sleep. Each station includes an overview of the aspect of body care and an activity for the group to do to help it come alive and generate discussion among their groups.
After completing all stations, students reflect on their learning using a guided worksheet, making connections between what they learned and how it applies to their own daily lives.
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Activity Directions
Set Up:
Print off the worksheet, checklist (this is optional), and learning station posters and additional learning materials (for Stations 3, 4, and 5). Then, set up stations.
Depending on the size of your class, you can always print multiple sets of the station posters.
Divide students into groups and assign them a station. Once at their first station, set a timer for a few minutes. When the timer goes off, direct students to rotate.
Directions:
Students can either complete the worksheet while doing the learning stations or as a reflection afterwards.
Step 1: Respond to the reflection prompt.
Step 2: Identify which health skill authentically relates to the body care element.
Optional: Students can add the Body Care Checklist to their health notebook/portfolio.
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Debrief and Reflect
After students have completed these tasks, come together as a class for debrief and reflection. I watch for those little “ah ha” moments, like realizing sleep helps with mood . . . not just energy.
Take a moment to review the six body care elements and ask students to share which health skill(s) they connected to each aspect of physical health.
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Next, ask students to discuss the following prompts:
Which area of body care do you already do really well? What helps you keep that habit?
Which area of body care do you want to focus on improving? Why?
How does taking care of your body help you feel your best each day?
What did you learn about your relationship with your body during this activity?
What’s one small change you can make this week to take better care of your body?
You might be surprised at the creative ideas they come up with. I know I was!