Teaching Children About Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach

TEACHING CHILDREN ABOUT HEALTH takes a case study approach and is written especially for the elementary classroom teacher. The goal of this text is to help teachers become more knowledgeable about and comfortable with health topics, to be more reflective in their practice of teaching about health, and better equipped with activities for incorporating health subjects into their curriculum. Each chapter considers health from a physical, social, and emotional perspective, acknowledging the mind-body connection. The authors include topics that are relevant in children's lives using a wellness/preventive health model. In addition, each chapter provides activities that can be integrated into several disciplines found in most elementary-school curricula. This text is meant to provide elementary school classroom teachers with the incentive and knowledge base they will need to include interdisciplinary lessons about the various health content areas in their daily teaching. It recognizes that since most elementary-school programs do not have separate health education experiences for students, and since these are the primary learning years, it is the responsibility of the classroom teacher to initiate learning about health.

Estelle Weinstein and Efrem Rosen are both Wadsworth authors. Together they author Teaching Children About Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach, Second Edition. Combined, they have over 70 years teaching experience. Estelle Weinstein, Ph.D., earned a Bachelor of Science at C.U.N.Y at Brooklyn in Health & Physical Education. She received her Masters of Arts from Adelphi University for Community and School Health Education. She also received her Doctor of Philosophy at Hofstra University. Since 1980, Estelle has served as Chair of the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation at Hofstra University. Estelle has also received several awards including 'Distinguished Service Award for a Professional, ' 'Outstanding Professional of the Year, ' and 'Faculty of the Year, Hofstra University.' Estelle has written three books, numerous journal articles, resource reviews, and newsletters.

Efrem Rosen, Ph.D. earned a Bachelor of Science at Brooklyn College in Biology. He received his Master of Science degree at Long Island University in Biology and his Ph.D. at Rutgers University in Zoology. He is Professor Emeritus of Biology and Coordinator of the Natural Sciences and Master of Arts in Human Sexuality programs at New College of Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY. Since 1966, Efrem has taught courses in Biology, Ecology, Animal Behavior and Human Sexuality. He is certified in Sex Education and Counseling by the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT). He is a member of the Medical Advisory Committee of Planned Parenthood of Nassau County and a consultant for education and training in Human Sexuality. He has co-authored two books; one on Sexuality Counseling and the other on Teaching Children about Health, K-6. He also authored several articles on adolescent sexuality and AIDS, which have been presented at several national and state conferences.