Objectives

• review healthy behaviors;
• choose one of their own behaviors they'd like to change or improve; and
• write a letter to themselves pledging to make that change, detailing why it's important to their health and outlining how they might enact the change.

Materials

• Computer with Internet access
• Print and online resources about healthy behaviors (exercise) and dangerous and unhealthy behaviors (smoking, taking drugs, drinking alcohol)

Procedures

1. After watching the video, ask students: How would you describe a healthy person? Write their answers on the boa rd. Possible answers include

• exercises often,
• eats healthy foods,
• doesn't eat a lot of junk food,
• doesn't do drugs, and
• talks about their problems with someone.

2. Ask students to write down an aspect of their lifestyle that they'd like to change or improve-for example, "eat a healthier diet" or "get more exercise." Then, have them to list one or two specific ways they could make that change-for example, "eat five fruits and vegetables every day" or "take walks after school, at least three times a week."
 

3. Explain that they're going to research the lifestyle aspect they'd like to change and then create an action plan in the form of a letter to themselves.
 

4. Once students have chosen a lifestyle aspect to change, give them this list of questions to address in their letter:

• What aspect of your health would you like to improve?
• Why is this change important to your health? What could happen if you don't make this change?
• What behavior do you need to modify? Explain one or two specific behavior changes you can make.
• Imagine how changing this habit would improve your life.

5. Have students use print and online resources in their research. These Web sites contain helpful information:

1. 
   Food and Fitness
    

   TeensHealth: Food and Fitness
   http://websrv01.kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/
   
   

   Discovery Health: Nutrition Center
   http://health.discovery.com/centers/diabetes/ada/nutrition.html
   
   USDA: The Food Guide Pyramid
   http://www.choosemyplate.gov/

   FDA: Guidance on How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Panel on Food Labels
   http://www.fda.gov/food/labelingnutrition/consumerinformation/ucm078889.htm

   
   

   Dole: 5 a Day
   http://www.dole5aday.com/index.jsp
   
   

   Smoking, Drugs and Alcohol
   
   TeensHealth: Drugs and Alcohol
   http://websrv01.kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/

   
   

   Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
   http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/
   
   

   National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency: Facts and Information
   http://www.ncadd.org/
   
   The Addiction Cycle
   http://www.angelfire.com/biz2/TheRecoveryPage/Addcycle.html

   Scholastic: Real News about Drugs and Your Body
   http://headsup.scholastic.com/articles/about-heads-up/
   
   Depression
   Discovery Health: Diseases and Conditions Encyclopedia: Depression
   http://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/depression
   
   Teen Health: Depression
   http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/depression.html

   Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: Depression
   http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=home

   
   

6. Because students' letters may be personal, you shouldn't share them with the class. Instead, ask students to pull a few lines or a short paragraph that they believe might motivate another student wishing to change the same habit. Tell them that these quotes will be anonymously posted on a "healthy habits" board.

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Evaluation

• Three points: Students were highly engaged in class discussions; wrote a detailed, thorough letter answering all of the questions provided.
• Two points: Students participated in class discussions; wrote a satisfactory letter answering most of the questions provided.
• One point: Students participated minimally in class discussions; wrote a simplistic letter answering few or none of the questions provided.

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Vocabulary

depression
Definition: A medical condition that leads to intense, prolonged feelings of sadness or despair
Context: A person suffering from depression may lose interest in things they enjoy, feel tired or irritable, or experience a change in appetite.
 

diet
Definition: The food and drink that a person consumes; a balanced diet is based on the scientific principles that healthful foods and appropriate nutrients must be consumed each day.
Context: Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet.
 

drugs
Definition: Substances, such as alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, and cocaine, which are unhealthy, often illegal, and can lead to addiction
Context: Although alcohol and nicotine are legal drugs, they can be just as dangerous as illegal drugs like marijuana and heroin.
 

Food Guide Pyramid
Definition: A visual representation of the number of recommended daily servings in each of the six food groups
Context: According to the Food Guide Pyramid, people should eat two to three servings of dairy foods, like milk or cheese, every day.
 

nutrients
Definition: Substances, including proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, found in foods that people need to stay healthy
Context: Eat a variety of foods to get the nutrients you need to stay healthy.
 

nicotine
Definition: A poisonous substance derived from tobacco; the substance that causes addiction to cigarettes
Context: When people smoke cigarettes, nicotine enters their bloodstream.
 

tobacco
Definition: The dried leaves of the plant Nicotiana tabacum or related species
Context: Tobacco, used in cigarettes and chew, contains the poisonous substance nicotine.
 

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Standards

• Science as Inquiry: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
• Life Science: Structure and function in living systems; Regulation and behavior
• Science in Personal and Social Perspectives: Personal health; Risks and benefits

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Credits

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