- Home
- Health Education
- Innovative Tools for Health Education
Innovative Tools for Health Education
Making Inexpensive Props, Visuals, and Manipulatives
72 Pages, 6
Innovative Tools for Health Education: Making Inexpensive Props, Visuals, and Manipulatives guides you in using inexpensive or recycled materials as props for health lessons and activities. This book contains instructions on 30 projects with activity suggestions to make lessons meaningful and memorable, and it helps you
• use ordinary objects lying around the house as effective props in your class;
• bring creativity and freshness to lessons that keep your students engaged in learning; and
• guide your students through practical learning experiences that help them to understand health issues and concepts in new ways.
Preface
Acknowledgments
Activities
1. Portable First Aid Kit
2. Stethoscope
3. Puppets
4. Beanbags
5. Health Balls
6. Stress Balls
7. Germs Under the Black Light
8. Alcohol Goggles
9. DUI Game Kit
10. Bottles With Impact
11. Breathless Cigarettes
12. Smokeless Tobacco Can
13. Homemade Phlegm
14. Tobacco Tar
15. Stinky Beanbag
16. Clogged Arteries
17. Components of Blood
18. Organ Vest
19. Model Lungs
20. MyPyramid Pocket Chart
21. Healthy Placemat
22. Simulation of Fat
23. Simulation of Sugar
24. Food Portion Kit
25. Portion Plates
26. A Pound of Fat
27. Fat Vest
28. Dice
29. Inexpensive Teaching Props
Appendix A: Patterns
Appendix B: Homemade Clay
About the Author
Marilyn Grechus, PhD, is a professor of health education at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri. She has taught health methods courses since 1992 and has presented on related topics at the state, district, and national levels. She has received two Excellence in Teaching awards, one from the University of Central Missouri and the other from the National Society of Leadership & Success. In 2003 she received the Robert M. Taylor award for professional service from the Missouri Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MOAHPERD). MOAHPERD also named her University Health Educator of the Year in 2007. In her leisure time she enjoys playing with her grandchildren and doing crafty things.
Short on funds for health education? Build a stethoscope
Children love to use stethoscopes for listening to their—or others’—hearts. Although store-bought stethoscopes are not very expensive, the homemade versions can be much more appealing.
by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Children love to use stethoscopes for listening to their—or others'—hearts. Although store-bought stethoscopes are not very expensive, the homemade versions can be much more appealing. And, if the materials are donated, children can take the stethoscopes home with them!
Materials
- Small funnel (approximately 2 inches in diameter and 2 inches long)
- T coupling (found in the plumbing department or automotive department of a hardware store)
- Hollow rubber or plastic tubing (such as exercise tubing, surgical tubing, or plastic jump rope)
Instructions for Assembling
- Cut tubing into three pieces. Two pieces are approximately 12 inches (30 cm) long and one piece is 3 inches (8 cm) long.
- Attach the funnel to one end of the 3-inch piece of tubing.
- Attach the bottom end of the T coupling to the other end of the 3-inch piece of tubing.
- Attach the long pieces of tubing to either side of the top piece of the T coupling.
- Work pieces of tubing snugly onto coupling and funnel so it doesn't come apart easily.
If you wish to disassemble and keep, store in zipped plastic bags.
To Use
The long pieces of tubing go into the ears. The funnel is held against the chest to pick up the sound of the beating heart. Use it when teaching students about increased heart rate caused by exercise or activity.
If more than one student uses the same stethoscope, you can disinfect with alcohol wipes between uses.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education.
Create an organ vest to help teach anatomy
Students can gain a better understanding of what the inside of the body looks like by placing the organs in the correct spots.
by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Students can gain a better understanding of what the inside of the body looks like by placing the organs in the correct spots.
Materials
- Old sweatshirt that has plenty of fleece on the inside
- Scissors
- Permanent markers
- Hook-and-loop tape
Instructions for Assembling
- Cut neck binding and waistband from the sweatshirt. Cut sleeves from sweatshirt. Turn it inside out.
- Use the fabric from the sleeves to cut out the organs. (See appendix for patterns to enlarge.) Remember to cut the organs so that the fleece is on the back; that way the organs will stick to the fleece of the vest. (In photo below, the left lung—actually on the right as you face it—is cut from a sleeve.)
- Use permanent markers to add detail to the organs.
To Use
While studying body systems, allow one student to wear the vest while peers put the various organs where they belong. You can make several sets so that the whole class can be involved at one time.
Variations
You can also make organs from these materials:
- Felt in different colors for different organs (brown lung in figure 18.2).
- Thin craft foam. Attach the hook portion of hook-and-loop tape to the back (red heart in figure 18.2).
- Foam meat trays (attach the hook portion of the hook-and-loop tape; pink stomach is shown in figure 18.2).
It is preferable for all organs to be made from the same material.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education.
Food portion kit teaches kids healthy eating habits
Help your students visualize the size of a portion of food so they can more easily follow the guidance of MyPyramid.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Help your students visualize the size of a portion of food so they can more easily follow the guidance of MyPyramid.
Materials
- File box for 5-by-7-inch cards
- Several of the following: tennis ball, baseball, deck of cards, checkbook, dice, matchbook, nickel, CD case, 3-inch-round mint tin, hockey puck, light bulb shape (mine is a stress ball), computer mouse
Instructions for Assembling
Collect the selected items that represent one portion of food. Store in the file box (figure 24.1).
- Tennis ball: 1 cup cooked rice, medium piece of fruit
- Baseball: 12-ounce potato or 1 cup cold cereal
- Deck of cards (or cassette tape): 3 ounces of meat
- CD case: 1 slice of bread, 1 pancake
- Matchbook: 1 tablespoon oil, salad dressing, or syrup
- Nickel: 2 ounces dry spaghetti (1 cup cooked spaghetti)
- Wood square (or 6 dice): 1 ounce cheese
- Mint tin (or hockey puck): bagel
- Checkbook cover: 3 ounces fish
- Computer mouse: baked potato
To Use
Along with a discussion of how much of each food group should be consumed in a day, these models can help students visualize how much they are actually eating.
Short on funds for health education? Build a stethoscope
Children love to use stethoscopes for listening to their—or others’—hearts. Although store-bought stethoscopes are not very expensive, the homemade versions can be much more appealing.
by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Children love to use stethoscopes for listening to their—or others'—hearts. Although store-bought stethoscopes are not very expensive, the homemade versions can be much more appealing. And, if the materials are donated, children can take the stethoscopes home with them!
Materials
- Small funnel (approximately 2 inches in diameter and 2 inches long)
- T coupling (found in the plumbing department or automotive department of a hardware store)
- Hollow rubber or plastic tubing (such as exercise tubing, surgical tubing, or plastic jump rope)
Instructions for Assembling
- Cut tubing into three pieces. Two pieces are approximately 12 inches (30 cm) long and one piece is 3 inches (8 cm) long.
- Attach the funnel to one end of the 3-inch piece of tubing.
- Attach the bottom end of the T coupling to the other end of the 3-inch piece of tubing.
- Attach the long pieces of tubing to either side of the top piece of the T coupling.
- Work pieces of tubing snugly onto coupling and funnel so it doesn't come apart easily.
If you wish to disassemble and keep, store in zipped plastic bags.
To Use
The long pieces of tubing go into the ears. The funnel is held against the chest to pick up the sound of the beating heart. Use it when teaching students about increased heart rate caused by exercise or activity.
If more than one student uses the same stethoscope, you can disinfect with alcohol wipes between uses.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education.
Create an organ vest to help teach anatomy
Students can gain a better understanding of what the inside of the body looks like by placing the organs in the correct spots.
by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Students can gain a better understanding of what the inside of the body looks like by placing the organs in the correct spots.
Materials
- Old sweatshirt that has plenty of fleece on the inside
- Scissors
- Permanent markers
- Hook-and-loop tape
Instructions for Assembling
- Cut neck binding and waistband from the sweatshirt. Cut sleeves from sweatshirt. Turn it inside out.
- Use the fabric from the sleeves to cut out the organs. (See appendix for patterns to enlarge.) Remember to cut the organs so that the fleece is on the back; that way the organs will stick to the fleece of the vest. (In photo below, the left lung—actually on the right as you face it—is cut from a sleeve.)
- Use permanent markers to add detail to the organs.
To Use
While studying body systems, allow one student to wear the vest while peers put the various organs where they belong. You can make several sets so that the whole class can be involved at one time.
Variations
You can also make organs from these materials:
- Felt in different colors for different organs (brown lung in figure 18.2).
- Thin craft foam. Attach the hook portion of hook-and-loop tape to the back (red heart in figure 18.2).
- Foam meat trays (attach the hook portion of the hook-and-loop tape; pink stomach is shown in figure 18.2).
It is preferable for all organs to be made from the same material.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education.
Food portion kit teaches kids healthy eating habits
Help your students visualize the size of a portion of food so they can more easily follow the guidance of MyPyramid.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Help your students visualize the size of a portion of food so they can more easily follow the guidance of MyPyramid.
Materials
- File box for 5-by-7-inch cards
- Several of the following: tennis ball, baseball, deck of cards, checkbook, dice, matchbook, nickel, CD case, 3-inch-round mint tin, hockey puck, light bulb shape (mine is a stress ball), computer mouse
Instructions for Assembling
Collect the selected items that represent one portion of food. Store in the file box (figure 24.1).
- Tennis ball: 1 cup cooked rice, medium piece of fruit
- Baseball: 12-ounce potato or 1 cup cold cereal
- Deck of cards (or cassette tape): 3 ounces of meat
- CD case: 1 slice of bread, 1 pancake
- Matchbook: 1 tablespoon oil, salad dressing, or syrup
- Nickel: 2 ounces dry spaghetti (1 cup cooked spaghetti)
- Wood square (or 6 dice): 1 ounce cheese
- Mint tin (or hockey puck): bagel
- Checkbook cover: 3 ounces fish
- Computer mouse: baked potato
To Use
Along with a discussion of how much of each food group should be consumed in a day, these models can help students visualize how much they are actually eating.
Short on funds for health education? Build a stethoscope
Children love to use stethoscopes for listening to their—or others’—hearts. Although store-bought stethoscopes are not very expensive, the homemade versions can be much more appealing.
by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Children love to use stethoscopes for listening to their—or others'—hearts. Although store-bought stethoscopes are not very expensive, the homemade versions can be much more appealing. And, if the materials are donated, children can take the stethoscopes home with them!
Materials
- Small funnel (approximately 2 inches in diameter and 2 inches long)
- T coupling (found in the plumbing department or automotive department of a hardware store)
- Hollow rubber or plastic tubing (such as exercise tubing, surgical tubing, or plastic jump rope)
Instructions for Assembling
- Cut tubing into three pieces. Two pieces are approximately 12 inches (30 cm) long and one piece is 3 inches (8 cm) long.
- Attach the funnel to one end of the 3-inch piece of tubing.
- Attach the bottom end of the T coupling to the other end of the 3-inch piece of tubing.
- Attach the long pieces of tubing to either side of the top piece of the T coupling.
- Work pieces of tubing snugly onto coupling and funnel so it doesn't come apart easily.
If you wish to disassemble and keep, store in zipped plastic bags.
To Use
The long pieces of tubing go into the ears. The funnel is held against the chest to pick up the sound of the beating heart. Use it when teaching students about increased heart rate caused by exercise or activity.
If more than one student uses the same stethoscope, you can disinfect with alcohol wipes between uses.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education.
Create an organ vest to help teach anatomy
Students can gain a better understanding of what the inside of the body looks like by placing the organs in the correct spots.
by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Students can gain a better understanding of what the inside of the body looks like by placing the organs in the correct spots.
Materials
- Old sweatshirt that has plenty of fleece on the inside
- Scissors
- Permanent markers
- Hook-and-loop tape
Instructions for Assembling
- Cut neck binding and waistband from the sweatshirt. Cut sleeves from sweatshirt. Turn it inside out.
- Use the fabric from the sleeves to cut out the organs. (See appendix for patterns to enlarge.) Remember to cut the organs so that the fleece is on the back; that way the organs will stick to the fleece of the vest. (In photo below, the left lung—actually on the right as you face it—is cut from a sleeve.)
- Use permanent markers to add detail to the organs.
To Use
While studying body systems, allow one student to wear the vest while peers put the various organs where they belong. You can make several sets so that the whole class can be involved at one time.
Variations
You can also make organs from these materials:
- Felt in different colors for different organs (brown lung in figure 18.2).
- Thin craft foam. Attach the hook portion of hook-and-loop tape to the back (red heart in figure 18.2).
- Foam meat trays (attach the hook portion of the hook-and-loop tape; pink stomach is shown in figure 18.2).
It is preferable for all organs to be made from the same material.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education.
Food portion kit teaches kids healthy eating habits
Help your students visualize the size of a portion of food so they can more easily follow the guidance of MyPyramid.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Help your students visualize the size of a portion of food so they can more easily follow the guidance of MyPyramid.
Materials
- File box for 5-by-7-inch cards
- Several of the following: tennis ball, baseball, deck of cards, checkbook, dice, matchbook, nickel, CD case, 3-inch-round mint tin, hockey puck, light bulb shape (mine is a stress ball), computer mouse
Instructions for Assembling
Collect the selected items that represent one portion of food. Store in the file box (figure 24.1).
- Tennis ball: 1 cup cooked rice, medium piece of fruit
- Baseball: 12-ounce potato or 1 cup cold cereal
- Deck of cards (or cassette tape): 3 ounces of meat
- CD case: 1 slice of bread, 1 pancake
- Matchbook: 1 tablespoon oil, salad dressing, or syrup
- Nickel: 2 ounces dry spaghetti (1 cup cooked spaghetti)
- Wood square (or 6 dice): 1 ounce cheese
- Mint tin (or hockey puck): bagel
- Checkbook cover: 3 ounces fish
- Computer mouse: baked potato
To Use
Along with a discussion of how much of each food group should be consumed in a day, these models can help students visualize how much they are actually eating.
Short on funds for health education? Build a stethoscope
Children love to use stethoscopes for listening to their—or others’—hearts. Although store-bought stethoscopes are not very expensive, the homemade versions can be much more appealing.
by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Children love to use stethoscopes for listening to their—or others'—hearts. Although store-bought stethoscopes are not very expensive, the homemade versions can be much more appealing. And, if the materials are donated, children can take the stethoscopes home with them!
Materials
- Small funnel (approximately 2 inches in diameter and 2 inches long)
- T coupling (found in the plumbing department or automotive department of a hardware store)
- Hollow rubber or plastic tubing (such as exercise tubing, surgical tubing, or plastic jump rope)
Instructions for Assembling
- Cut tubing into three pieces. Two pieces are approximately 12 inches (30 cm) long and one piece is 3 inches (8 cm) long.
- Attach the funnel to one end of the 3-inch piece of tubing.
- Attach the bottom end of the T coupling to the other end of the 3-inch piece of tubing.
- Attach the long pieces of tubing to either side of the top piece of the T coupling.
- Work pieces of tubing snugly onto coupling and funnel so it doesn't come apart easily.
If you wish to disassemble and keep, store in zipped plastic bags.
To Use
The long pieces of tubing go into the ears. The funnel is held against the chest to pick up the sound of the beating heart. Use it when teaching students about increased heart rate caused by exercise or activity.
If more than one student uses the same stethoscope, you can disinfect with alcohol wipes between uses.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education.
Create an organ vest to help teach anatomy
Students can gain a better understanding of what the inside of the body looks like by placing the organs in the correct spots.
by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Students can gain a better understanding of what the inside of the body looks like by placing the organs in the correct spots.
Materials
- Old sweatshirt that has plenty of fleece on the inside
- Scissors
- Permanent markers
- Hook-and-loop tape
Instructions for Assembling
- Cut neck binding and waistband from the sweatshirt. Cut sleeves from sweatshirt. Turn it inside out.
- Use the fabric from the sleeves to cut out the organs. (See appendix for patterns to enlarge.) Remember to cut the organs so that the fleece is on the back; that way the organs will stick to the fleece of the vest. (In photo below, the left lung—actually on the right as you face it—is cut from a sleeve.)
- Use permanent markers to add detail to the organs.
To Use
While studying body systems, allow one student to wear the vest while peers put the various organs where they belong. You can make several sets so that the whole class can be involved at one time.
Variations
You can also make organs from these materials:
- Felt in different colors for different organs (brown lung in figure 18.2).
- Thin craft foam. Attach the hook portion of hook-and-loop tape to the back (red heart in figure 18.2).
- Foam meat trays (attach the hook portion of the hook-and-loop tape; pink stomach is shown in figure 18.2).
It is preferable for all organs to be made from the same material.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education.
Food portion kit teaches kids healthy eating habits
Help your students visualize the size of a portion of food so they can more easily follow the guidance of MyPyramid.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Help your students visualize the size of a portion of food so they can more easily follow the guidance of MyPyramid.
Materials
- File box for 5-by-7-inch cards
- Several of the following: tennis ball, baseball, deck of cards, checkbook, dice, matchbook, nickel, CD case, 3-inch-round mint tin, hockey puck, light bulb shape (mine is a stress ball), computer mouse
Instructions for Assembling
Collect the selected items that represent one portion of food. Store in the file box (figure 24.1).
- Tennis ball: 1 cup cooked rice, medium piece of fruit
- Baseball: 12-ounce potato or 1 cup cold cereal
- Deck of cards (or cassette tape): 3 ounces of meat
- CD case: 1 slice of bread, 1 pancake
- Matchbook: 1 tablespoon oil, salad dressing, or syrup
- Nickel: 2 ounces dry spaghetti (1 cup cooked spaghetti)
- Wood square (or 6 dice): 1 ounce cheese
- Mint tin (or hockey puck): bagel
- Checkbook cover: 3 ounces fish
- Computer mouse: baked potato
To Use
Along with a discussion of how much of each food group should be consumed in a day, these models can help students visualize how much they are actually eating.
Short on funds for health education? Build a stethoscope
Children love to use stethoscopes for listening to their—or others’—hearts. Although store-bought stethoscopes are not very expensive, the homemade versions can be much more appealing.
by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Children love to use stethoscopes for listening to their—or others'—hearts. Although store-bought stethoscopes are not very expensive, the homemade versions can be much more appealing. And, if the materials are donated, children can take the stethoscopes home with them!
Materials
- Small funnel (approximately 2 inches in diameter and 2 inches long)
- T coupling (found in the plumbing department or automotive department of a hardware store)
- Hollow rubber or plastic tubing (such as exercise tubing, surgical tubing, or plastic jump rope)
Instructions for Assembling
- Cut tubing into three pieces. Two pieces are approximately 12 inches (30 cm) long and one piece is 3 inches (8 cm) long.
- Attach the funnel to one end of the 3-inch piece of tubing.
- Attach the bottom end of the T coupling to the other end of the 3-inch piece of tubing.
- Attach the long pieces of tubing to either side of the top piece of the T coupling.
- Work pieces of tubing snugly onto coupling and funnel so it doesn't come apart easily.
If you wish to disassemble and keep, store in zipped plastic bags.
To Use
The long pieces of tubing go into the ears. The funnel is held against the chest to pick up the sound of the beating heart. Use it when teaching students about increased heart rate caused by exercise or activity.
If more than one student uses the same stethoscope, you can disinfect with alcohol wipes between uses.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education.
Create an organ vest to help teach anatomy
Students can gain a better understanding of what the inside of the body looks like by placing the organs in the correct spots.
by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Students can gain a better understanding of what the inside of the body looks like by placing the organs in the correct spots.
Materials
- Old sweatshirt that has plenty of fleece on the inside
- Scissors
- Permanent markers
- Hook-and-loop tape
Instructions for Assembling
- Cut neck binding and waistband from the sweatshirt. Cut sleeves from sweatshirt. Turn it inside out.
- Use the fabric from the sleeves to cut out the organs. (See appendix for patterns to enlarge.) Remember to cut the organs so that the fleece is on the back; that way the organs will stick to the fleece of the vest. (In photo below, the left lung—actually on the right as you face it—is cut from a sleeve.)
- Use permanent markers to add detail to the organs.
To Use
While studying body systems, allow one student to wear the vest while peers put the various organs where they belong. You can make several sets so that the whole class can be involved at one time.
Variations
You can also make organs from these materials:
- Felt in different colors for different organs (brown lung in figure 18.2).
- Thin craft foam. Attach the hook portion of hook-and-loop tape to the back (red heart in figure 18.2).
- Foam meat trays (attach the hook portion of the hook-and-loop tape; pink stomach is shown in figure 18.2).
It is preferable for all organs to be made from the same material.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education.
Food portion kit teaches kids healthy eating habits
Help your students visualize the size of a portion of food so they can more easily follow the guidance of MyPyramid.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Help your students visualize the size of a portion of food so they can more easily follow the guidance of MyPyramid.
Materials
- File box for 5-by-7-inch cards
- Several of the following: tennis ball, baseball, deck of cards, checkbook, dice, matchbook, nickel, CD case, 3-inch-round mint tin, hockey puck, light bulb shape (mine is a stress ball), computer mouse
Instructions for Assembling
Collect the selected items that represent one portion of food. Store in the file box (figure 24.1).
- Tennis ball: 1 cup cooked rice, medium piece of fruit
- Baseball: 12-ounce potato or 1 cup cold cereal
- Deck of cards (or cassette tape): 3 ounces of meat
- CD case: 1 slice of bread, 1 pancake
- Matchbook: 1 tablespoon oil, salad dressing, or syrup
- Nickel: 2 ounces dry spaghetti (1 cup cooked spaghetti)
- Wood square (or 6 dice): 1 ounce cheese
- Mint tin (or hockey puck): bagel
- Checkbook cover: 3 ounces fish
- Computer mouse: baked potato
To Use
Along with a discussion of how much of each food group should be consumed in a day, these models can help students visualize how much they are actually eating.
Short on funds for health education? Build a stethoscope
Children love to use stethoscopes for listening to their—or others’—hearts. Although store-bought stethoscopes are not very expensive, the homemade versions can be much more appealing.
by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Children love to use stethoscopes for listening to their—or others'—hearts. Although store-bought stethoscopes are not very expensive, the homemade versions can be much more appealing. And, if the materials are donated, children can take the stethoscopes home with them!
Materials
- Small funnel (approximately 2 inches in diameter and 2 inches long)
- T coupling (found in the plumbing department or automotive department of a hardware store)
- Hollow rubber or plastic tubing (such as exercise tubing, surgical tubing, or plastic jump rope)
Instructions for Assembling
- Cut tubing into three pieces. Two pieces are approximately 12 inches (30 cm) long and one piece is 3 inches (8 cm) long.
- Attach the funnel to one end of the 3-inch piece of tubing.
- Attach the bottom end of the T coupling to the other end of the 3-inch piece of tubing.
- Attach the long pieces of tubing to either side of the top piece of the T coupling.
- Work pieces of tubing snugly onto coupling and funnel so it doesn't come apart easily.
If you wish to disassemble and keep, store in zipped plastic bags.
To Use
The long pieces of tubing go into the ears. The funnel is held against the chest to pick up the sound of the beating heart. Use it when teaching students about increased heart rate caused by exercise or activity.
If more than one student uses the same stethoscope, you can disinfect with alcohol wipes between uses.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education.
Create an organ vest to help teach anatomy
Students can gain a better understanding of what the inside of the body looks like by placing the organs in the correct spots.
by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Students can gain a better understanding of what the inside of the body looks like by placing the organs in the correct spots.
Materials
- Old sweatshirt that has plenty of fleece on the inside
- Scissors
- Permanent markers
- Hook-and-loop tape
Instructions for Assembling
- Cut neck binding and waistband from the sweatshirt. Cut sleeves from sweatshirt. Turn it inside out.
- Use the fabric from the sleeves to cut out the organs. (See appendix for patterns to enlarge.) Remember to cut the organs so that the fleece is on the back; that way the organs will stick to the fleece of the vest. (In photo below, the left lung—actually on the right as you face it—is cut from a sleeve.)
- Use permanent markers to add detail to the organs.
To Use
While studying body systems, allow one student to wear the vest while peers put the various organs where they belong. You can make several sets so that the whole class can be involved at one time.
Variations
You can also make organs from these materials:
- Felt in different colors for different organs (brown lung in figure 18.2).
- Thin craft foam. Attach the hook portion of hook-and-loop tape to the back (red heart in figure 18.2).
- Foam meat trays (attach the hook portion of the hook-and-loop tape; pink stomach is shown in figure 18.2).
It is preferable for all organs to be made from the same material.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education.
Food portion kit teaches kids healthy eating habits
Help your students visualize the size of a portion of food so they can more easily follow the guidance of MyPyramid.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Help your students visualize the size of a portion of food so they can more easily follow the guidance of MyPyramid.
Materials
- File box for 5-by-7-inch cards
- Several of the following: tennis ball, baseball, deck of cards, checkbook, dice, matchbook, nickel, CD case, 3-inch-round mint tin, hockey puck, light bulb shape (mine is a stress ball), computer mouse
Instructions for Assembling
Collect the selected items that represent one portion of food. Store in the file box (figure 24.1).
- Tennis ball: 1 cup cooked rice, medium piece of fruit
- Baseball: 12-ounce potato or 1 cup cold cereal
- Deck of cards (or cassette tape): 3 ounces of meat
- CD case: 1 slice of bread, 1 pancake
- Matchbook: 1 tablespoon oil, salad dressing, or syrup
- Nickel: 2 ounces dry spaghetti (1 cup cooked spaghetti)
- Wood square (or 6 dice): 1 ounce cheese
- Mint tin (or hockey puck): bagel
- Checkbook cover: 3 ounces fish
- Computer mouse: baked potato
To Use
Along with a discussion of how much of each food group should be consumed in a day, these models can help students visualize how much they are actually eating.
Short on funds for health education? Build a stethoscope
Children love to use stethoscopes for listening to their—or others’—hearts. Although store-bought stethoscopes are not very expensive, the homemade versions can be much more appealing.
by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Children love to use stethoscopes for listening to their—or others'—hearts. Although store-bought stethoscopes are not very expensive, the homemade versions can be much more appealing. And, if the materials are donated, children can take the stethoscopes home with them!
Materials
- Small funnel (approximately 2 inches in diameter and 2 inches long)
- T coupling (found in the plumbing department or automotive department of a hardware store)
- Hollow rubber or plastic tubing (such as exercise tubing, surgical tubing, or plastic jump rope)
Instructions for Assembling
- Cut tubing into three pieces. Two pieces are approximately 12 inches (30 cm) long and one piece is 3 inches (8 cm) long.
- Attach the funnel to one end of the 3-inch piece of tubing.
- Attach the bottom end of the T coupling to the other end of the 3-inch piece of tubing.
- Attach the long pieces of tubing to either side of the top piece of the T coupling.
- Work pieces of tubing snugly onto coupling and funnel so it doesn't come apart easily.
If you wish to disassemble and keep, store in zipped plastic bags.
To Use
The long pieces of tubing go into the ears. The funnel is held against the chest to pick up the sound of the beating heart. Use it when teaching students about increased heart rate caused by exercise or activity.
If more than one student uses the same stethoscope, you can disinfect with alcohol wipes between uses.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education.
Create an organ vest to help teach anatomy
Students can gain a better understanding of what the inside of the body looks like by placing the organs in the correct spots.
by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Students can gain a better understanding of what the inside of the body looks like by placing the organs in the correct spots.
Materials
- Old sweatshirt that has plenty of fleece on the inside
- Scissors
- Permanent markers
- Hook-and-loop tape
Instructions for Assembling
- Cut neck binding and waistband from the sweatshirt. Cut sleeves from sweatshirt. Turn it inside out.
- Use the fabric from the sleeves to cut out the organs. (See appendix for patterns to enlarge.) Remember to cut the organs so that the fleece is on the back; that way the organs will stick to the fleece of the vest. (In photo below, the left lung—actually on the right as you face it—is cut from a sleeve.)
- Use permanent markers to add detail to the organs.
To Use
While studying body systems, allow one student to wear the vest while peers put the various organs where they belong. You can make several sets so that the whole class can be involved at one time.
Variations
You can also make organs from these materials:
- Felt in different colors for different organs (brown lung in figure 18.2).
- Thin craft foam. Attach the hook portion of hook-and-loop tape to the back (red heart in figure 18.2).
- Foam meat trays (attach the hook portion of the hook-and-loop tape; pink stomach is shown in figure 18.2).
It is preferable for all organs to be made from the same material.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education.
Food portion kit teaches kids healthy eating habits
Help your students visualize the size of a portion of food so they can more easily follow the guidance of MyPyramid.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Help your students visualize the size of a portion of food so they can more easily follow the guidance of MyPyramid.
Materials
- File box for 5-by-7-inch cards
- Several of the following: tennis ball, baseball, deck of cards, checkbook, dice, matchbook, nickel, CD case, 3-inch-round mint tin, hockey puck, light bulb shape (mine is a stress ball), computer mouse
Instructions for Assembling
Collect the selected items that represent one portion of food. Store in the file box (figure 24.1).
- Tennis ball: 1 cup cooked rice, medium piece of fruit
- Baseball: 12-ounce potato or 1 cup cold cereal
- Deck of cards (or cassette tape): 3 ounces of meat
- CD case: 1 slice of bread, 1 pancake
- Matchbook: 1 tablespoon oil, salad dressing, or syrup
- Nickel: 2 ounces dry spaghetti (1 cup cooked spaghetti)
- Wood square (or 6 dice): 1 ounce cheese
- Mint tin (or hockey puck): bagel
- Checkbook cover: 3 ounces fish
- Computer mouse: baked potato
To Use
Along with a discussion of how much of each food group should be consumed in a day, these models can help students visualize how much they are actually eating.
Short on funds for health education? Build a stethoscope
Children love to use stethoscopes for listening to their—or others’—hearts. Although store-bought stethoscopes are not very expensive, the homemade versions can be much more appealing.
by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Children love to use stethoscopes for listening to their—or others'—hearts. Although store-bought stethoscopes are not very expensive, the homemade versions can be much more appealing. And, if the materials are donated, children can take the stethoscopes home with them!
Materials
- Small funnel (approximately 2 inches in diameter and 2 inches long)
- T coupling (found in the plumbing department or automotive department of a hardware store)
- Hollow rubber or plastic tubing (such as exercise tubing, surgical tubing, or plastic jump rope)
Instructions for Assembling
- Cut tubing into three pieces. Two pieces are approximately 12 inches (30 cm) long and one piece is 3 inches (8 cm) long.
- Attach the funnel to one end of the 3-inch piece of tubing.
- Attach the bottom end of the T coupling to the other end of the 3-inch piece of tubing.
- Attach the long pieces of tubing to either side of the top piece of the T coupling.
- Work pieces of tubing snugly onto coupling and funnel so it doesn't come apart easily.
If you wish to disassemble and keep, store in zipped plastic bags.
To Use
The long pieces of tubing go into the ears. The funnel is held against the chest to pick up the sound of the beating heart. Use it when teaching students about increased heart rate caused by exercise or activity.
If more than one student uses the same stethoscope, you can disinfect with alcohol wipes between uses.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education.
Create an organ vest to help teach anatomy
Students can gain a better understanding of what the inside of the body looks like by placing the organs in the correct spots.
by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Students can gain a better understanding of what the inside of the body looks like by placing the organs in the correct spots.
Materials
- Old sweatshirt that has plenty of fleece on the inside
- Scissors
- Permanent markers
- Hook-and-loop tape
Instructions for Assembling
- Cut neck binding and waistband from the sweatshirt. Cut sleeves from sweatshirt. Turn it inside out.
- Use the fabric from the sleeves to cut out the organs. (See appendix for patterns to enlarge.) Remember to cut the organs so that the fleece is on the back; that way the organs will stick to the fleece of the vest. (In photo below, the left lung—actually on the right as you face it—is cut from a sleeve.)
- Use permanent markers to add detail to the organs.
To Use
While studying body systems, allow one student to wear the vest while peers put the various organs where they belong. You can make several sets so that the whole class can be involved at one time.
Variations
You can also make organs from these materials:
- Felt in different colors for different organs (brown lung in figure 18.2).
- Thin craft foam. Attach the hook portion of hook-and-loop tape to the back (red heart in figure 18.2).
- Foam meat trays (attach the hook portion of the hook-and-loop tape; pink stomach is shown in figure 18.2).
It is preferable for all organs to be made from the same material.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education.
Food portion kit teaches kids healthy eating habits
Help your students visualize the size of a portion of food so they can more easily follow the guidance of MyPyramid.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Help your students visualize the size of a portion of food so they can more easily follow the guidance of MyPyramid.
Materials
- File box for 5-by-7-inch cards
- Several of the following: tennis ball, baseball, deck of cards, checkbook, dice, matchbook, nickel, CD case, 3-inch-round mint tin, hockey puck, light bulb shape (mine is a stress ball), computer mouse
Instructions for Assembling
Collect the selected items that represent one portion of food. Store in the file box (figure 24.1).
- Tennis ball: 1 cup cooked rice, medium piece of fruit
- Baseball: 12-ounce potato or 1 cup cold cereal
- Deck of cards (or cassette tape): 3 ounces of meat
- CD case: 1 slice of bread, 1 pancake
- Matchbook: 1 tablespoon oil, salad dressing, or syrup
- Nickel: 2 ounces dry spaghetti (1 cup cooked spaghetti)
- Wood square (or 6 dice): 1 ounce cheese
- Mint tin (or hockey puck): bagel
- Checkbook cover: 3 ounces fish
- Computer mouse: baked potato
To Use
Along with a discussion of how much of each food group should be consumed in a day, these models can help students visualize how much they are actually eating.
Short on funds for health education? Build a stethoscope
Children love to use stethoscopes for listening to their—or others’—hearts. Although store-bought stethoscopes are not very expensive, the homemade versions can be much more appealing.
by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Children love to use stethoscopes for listening to their—or others'—hearts. Although store-bought stethoscopes are not very expensive, the homemade versions can be much more appealing. And, if the materials are donated, children can take the stethoscopes home with them!
Materials
- Small funnel (approximately 2 inches in diameter and 2 inches long)
- T coupling (found in the plumbing department or automotive department of a hardware store)
- Hollow rubber or plastic tubing (such as exercise tubing, surgical tubing, or plastic jump rope)
Instructions for Assembling
- Cut tubing into three pieces. Two pieces are approximately 12 inches (30 cm) long and one piece is 3 inches (8 cm) long.
- Attach the funnel to one end of the 3-inch piece of tubing.
- Attach the bottom end of the T coupling to the other end of the 3-inch piece of tubing.
- Attach the long pieces of tubing to either side of the top piece of the T coupling.
- Work pieces of tubing snugly onto coupling and funnel so it doesn't come apart easily.
If you wish to disassemble and keep, store in zipped plastic bags.
To Use
The long pieces of tubing go into the ears. The funnel is held against the chest to pick up the sound of the beating heart. Use it when teaching students about increased heart rate caused by exercise or activity.
If more than one student uses the same stethoscope, you can disinfect with alcohol wipes between uses.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education.
Create an organ vest to help teach anatomy
Students can gain a better understanding of what the inside of the body looks like by placing the organs in the correct spots.
by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Students can gain a better understanding of what the inside of the body looks like by placing the organs in the correct spots.
Materials
- Old sweatshirt that has plenty of fleece on the inside
- Scissors
- Permanent markers
- Hook-and-loop tape
Instructions for Assembling
- Cut neck binding and waistband from the sweatshirt. Cut sleeves from sweatshirt. Turn it inside out.
- Use the fabric from the sleeves to cut out the organs. (See appendix for patterns to enlarge.) Remember to cut the organs so that the fleece is on the back; that way the organs will stick to the fleece of the vest. (In photo below, the left lung—actually on the right as you face it—is cut from a sleeve.)
- Use permanent markers to add detail to the organs.
To Use
While studying body systems, allow one student to wear the vest while peers put the various organs where they belong. You can make several sets so that the whole class can be involved at one time.
Variations
You can also make organs from these materials:
- Felt in different colors for different organs (brown lung in figure 18.2).
- Thin craft foam. Attach the hook portion of hook-and-loop tape to the back (red heart in figure 18.2).
- Foam meat trays (attach the hook portion of the hook-and-loop tape; pink stomach is shown in figure 18.2).
It is preferable for all organs to be made from the same material.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education.
Food portion kit teaches kids healthy eating habits
Help your students visualize the size of a portion of food so they can more easily follow the guidance of MyPyramid.
This is an excerpt from Innovative Tools for Health Education by Marilyn Grechus, PhD
Help your students visualize the size of a portion of food so they can more easily follow the guidance of MyPyramid.
Materials
- File box for 5-by-7-inch cards
- Several of the following: tennis ball, baseball, deck of cards, checkbook, dice, matchbook, nickel, CD case, 3-inch-round mint tin, hockey puck, light bulb shape (mine is a stress ball), computer mouse
Instructions for Assembling
Collect the selected items that represent one portion of food. Store in the file box (figure 24.1).
- Tennis ball: 1 cup cooked rice, medium piece of fruit
- Baseball: 12-ounce potato or 1 cup cold cereal
- Deck of cards (or cassette tape): 3 ounces of meat
- CD case: 1 slice of bread, 1 pancake
- Matchbook: 1 tablespoon oil, salad dressing, or syrup
- Nickel: 2 ounces dry spaghetti (1 cup cooked spaghetti)
- Wood square (or 6 dice): 1 ounce cheese
- Mint tin (or hockey puck): bagel
- Checkbook cover: 3 ounces fish
- Computer mouse: baked potato
To Use
Along with a discussion of how much of each food group should be consumed in a day, these models can help students visualize how much they are actually eating.
Related Books
