Secondary School Educator Resources

Educating students about substances is best done by:

• delivering over multiple lessons,
• making cross curricular connections (français) between personal choices related to substance use, potential outcomes, and healthy coping skills (pg. 64 – HPE curriculum 2019 & CCSA),
• creating a safe nurturing environment in the classroom for learning. For example, developing trust, open communication and using non-stigmatizing language (Français), and 
• engaging parents and caregivers to enhance programming.

Resources from KFL&A Public health to download or print

Coming soon!

Classroom resources

Resource	Grade level
YMCA Youth Cannabis Awareness Program Offers in person or virtual workshops and webinars (français).	Secondary (Grade 9 to Grade 12)
Ophea Substance Use, Addictions, and Related Behaviours (français).	Secondary (Grade 9 to Grade 12)
Health Canada Experiences Offers a variety of information and resources to help educators increase teens’ awareness of the potential effects of substances. Substance programs include; Pursue Your Passion, Know More Opioids, Consider the Consequences of Vaping, and Harms of Substance Use Stigma (français)	Grade 9 to Grade 10
Behind the Haze Interactive website reviewing the harms of vaping (available in English only).	Grade 9
Cannabis and Mental Health Provides a variety of resources and activities around mental health and substance use. Activities can be added into course content or used to create lessons (français).	Secondary (Grade 9 to Grade 12)

Additional resources

• Quash - Judgement-free app to help quit smoking or vaping.
• School Mental Health Ontario: Substance use and addiction - School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO) - Provides information on substance use and addiction, along with additional resources.
• NIDA for Teens - Provides background information for educators and parents as well as variety of lesson plans for Grade 9 to Grade 12.
• Ontario Harm Reduction Network - Learn what an opioid overdose is, how to recognize an overdose, and how to respond using naloxone. 

Children's health and well-being is improved by walking, wheeling, or taking the bus all or part way to school. For parents and children to feel comfortable using active transportation they must feel confident that the trip will be safe and convenient. Teaching students how to be safe as pedestrians is a component of this process. Pedestrian safety skills will also help make school drop off and pick up times safer overall and build foundational skills in active travel that children will use throughout their lives.

Resources from KFL&A Public health to download or print

Coming soon!

Classroom resources

Resource	Grade level
Ontario Active School Travel A variety of resources for fun events, planning, and advocacy if you are looking to learn more about Active school travel or are interested in a more cohesive all school approach to increasing active school travel	Secondary (Grade 9 to Grade 12)

 

Tips for teaching about body image:

• Teach students that our body image and confidence can be influenced by many factors such as: friends, educators, parents, social media, their physical environment, and their social environment.
• Help students to understand that all bodies are good bodies.
• Encourage them to accept their bodies and care for them by practicing habits that will keep them mentally and physically well, including being kind to themselves.

Classroom resources

Resource	Grade level
Dove Self Esteem Project: Confident Me Resources designed to enable teachers to run their own in-class workshops, to help young girls and boys understand more about self-esteem and body confidence.	Secondary (Grade 9 to Grade 12)

Additional resources

• Overview of disordered eating prevention: How can schools help? - Eating Disorders Ontario Prevention
• Teaching and Talking to Students About Food and Nutrition - Healthy Schools BC

 

Bullying can take on many forms, all of which can cause immediate and long-lasting harm to a child’s physical, emotional, social and mental health. School staff can help promote healthy relationships and reduce bullying by:

• Helping students develop healthy communication, relationship, and social-emotional skills through classroom curricula and activities.
• Role modelling healthy relationship skills and creating a safe classroom environment.
• Promoting a whole school approach to preventing bullying by developing and maintaining positive and inclusive environments for all students.
• Being aware of the signs of bullying and its dangers to student health.
• Intervening immediately and consistently when bullying behaviours occur and being aware of how to support students who are being bullied as well as students who are bullying.

Classroom resources

Resources	Grade level
Kindness in the Classroom A free CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning) approved evidence-based emotional learning curriculum designed to help schools create a culture of kindness.	Secondary (Grade 9 to Grade 12)
Media Smarts Free lesson kits to help educators address issues related to cyberbullying, including differences in online vs offline communication, cyberbullying and the law, creating positive online cultures, and ways to manage privacy online.	Secondary (Grade 9 to Grade 12)
The Fourth R. Healthy Relationships Plus Program Evidence-based classroom and small-group programs to teach healthy communication and relationship skills, and reduce violence, bullying, unsafe sexual behaviour and substance use. Classroom program is curriculum aligned. Program requires purchase, however, may be available through some school boards. Contact your school board or assigned PHN for more information.	Secondary (Grade 9 to Grade 12)

Additional resources

• Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network - PREVNet - PREVNet’s website offers students, parents and educators extensive information on bullying, cyberbullying and teen dating violence.
• Bullying Facts and Solutions - PREVNet - Provides key facts about bullying and practical solutions on how to stop this behaviour. 
• Healthy Relationships Training Module for educators. - PREVnet
• Egale - A Canadian organization that raises awareness and provides resources for 2SLGBTQI issues. Includes resources for educators to build more inclusive schools, as well as training materials and workshops for topics such as Cyberbullying and 2SLGBTQI youth and reducing transphobic violence in schools. ​​​​​​​
• Kids Help Phone - This resource is designed for use by students. Includes helpful resources on bullying and peer relations, as well as live chat and call features with trained professionals for students requiring additional support.   
• Safe@School - a provincial project led by the Ontario Teachers’ Federation. Includes online professional learning modules on youth empowerment, bullying prevention, equity and inclusive education and engaging parents/caregivers in bullying prevention. Additional resources also available on bullying prevention, including consent guides for students, parents or caregivers, and educators.

Resources from KFL&A Public health to download or print

Coming soon!

Resources from KFL&A Public health to download or print

Coming soon!

Classroom resources

Resources	Grade level
Bright Bites An online program developed by Ontario Dietitians in Public Health (ODPH) includes Health and Physical Education and Science Curriculum based lesson plans for that incorporates badges that your class or school can work towards. Most of the listed resources and activities are currently located under the “badges page”	Secondary (Grade 9 to Grade 12)
Canada's Food Guide in the Classroom This series of digital lesson plans will guide students in learning about Canada’s Food Guide and facilitate a deeper understanding of concepts within the guide. Students can apply their learnings to real world scenarios and apply critical thinking skills to health messages.	Grade 9
Sustain Ontario Visit Food Literacy and Children & Youth initiatives for hands-on teaching resources for educators; as well as case studies, evaluations, guides, and other resources for advancing education about our food and food system.	Secondary (Grade 9 to Grade 12)
Food is Science Experimental, evidence-based resources to help educators understand and teach new food literacy learning in Ontario’s Science and Technology Curriculum	Grade 9
Teach Nutrition - Dairy Farmer's of Canada Tools and resources created by registered dietitians for educators. Activities are grade specific and focus on topics such as: sensory exploration through food, Canada’s food guide, and the Canadian food cycle.	Grade 9

Additional resources

• Teaching and Talking to Students about Food and Nutrition - Healthy Schools BC
• Unlock Food
• Canada’s Food Guide
• Dietitians 4 Teachers

Immunization is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of vaccine preventable diseases. Educators can empower students to make informed health decisions by:

• Developing health and media literacy with students so they can assess credible sources of health-related information
• Facilitating open and non-judgemental discussions that are based in evidence

Resources from KFL&A Public health to download or print

Coming soon!

Additional resources

• Immunization Information on the Internet: Can you trust what you read? - Immunize Canada
• Teens, meet Vaccines - Public Health Agency of Canada - For teen-aged children. Describes how vaccines work, their safety, and the diseases they protect against. (Grade level: Intermediate)

School staff can help reduce the spread of illness by practicing the following:

• Teaching students about how infectious illnesses can be shared, and ways to prevent or reduce their spread

• Encouraging proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, discouraging the sharing of personal items (such as drinks, lip balms, utensils etc.)

• Using illness screening tools as needed

• Reminding students, families and staff to stay home when sick

• Being aware of requirements related to reportable diseases according to Section 265 of the Ontario Education Act

Resources from KFL&A Public health to download or print

Coming soon!

Resources from KFL&A Public health to download or print

Coming soon!

Additional resources

Asthma

• OPHEA - This website provides recommendations and resources for organizations to develop asthma friendly and supportive environments for children and youth.

Allergies

• Food Allergy Canada - Food Allergy Canada educates, supports, and advocates for the needs of people living with food allergies and the risk of anaphylaxis.  This website includes educational resources for elementary and secondary schools.

• Medical Conditions - Government of Ontario - This website has been developed to assist school boards, principals, teachers, staff and others who play an important role in helping to create safer environments for pupils with life-threatening allergies. It contains vital information on how to develop strategies to reduce the risk of anaphylaxis and how to respond in the event of an emergency, in compliance with Sabrina's Law.

Mental health is an essential component of overall health.  Learning about mental health from a young age and developing skills to support positive mental health throughout their lives will help students to be healthier and more successful.

Educators are well positioned to teach students about maintaining mental health as part of their overall health. School Mental Health Ontario suggests the following:

• Keep the focus on positive mental health.
• Create a safe space where participants feel comfortable taking in new information and expressing ideas.
• Be mindful of accessibility and inclusivity of Black, Indigenous, racialized, and 2SLGBTQI+ communities.
• Encourage participation, to the degree students are comfortable.
• Guide the conversation, keep it focused on the lesson, and avoid setting up opportunities for sensitive personal disclosures (offer ways to safely report personal/peer concerns, should they arise).

Resources from KFL&A Public health to download or print

Coming soon!

Classroom resources

Resources	Grade level
Mental Health Literacy Lesson Plans - SMHO and OPHEA These lesson plans can be used to support basic mental health literacy and social-emotional learning for students.	Secondary (Grade 9 to Grade 12)
Everyday Mental Health Classroom Resource - (SMHO) Explore a variety of evidence-informed mental health practices that are easily incorporated into classroom routines.	Secondary (Grade 9 to Grade 12)
Media Smarts Free lesson plans to help educators meet digital media literacy curriculum requirements. These lesson plans will help students develop the skills needed to think critically about the media they consume, and to access, use and engage with digital media in an effective, responsible, and meaningful way. Lessons available in English and French.	Secondary (Grade 9 to Grade 12)

Additional resources

• School Mental Health Ontario - SMHO offers evidence-based mental health promotion and prevention programming designed to help students flourish and remain resilient as they journey through life.
• Teach Resiliency - PHE Canada - offers educators quality evidenced-based resources and tools to foster positive mental health and resiliency among students.
• Positive Mental Health Toolkit - Pan-Canadian Joint Consortium for School Health - Offers online modules to help schools promote positive mental health. The modules cover positive mental health, school connectedness, resiliency in school environments, school team relationships, and assessing comprehensive school health.

Physical activity should be taught within the context of a healthy school, using the Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum Elementary or Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum Secondary. Quality Health and Physical Education programs:

• Are most effective when they are delivered in healthy schools and when students’ learning is supported by school staff, families, and communities.
• Use physical activity as a key vehicle for student learning.
• Are physically and emotionally safe places to learn.
• Are student-centred and skill-based.
• Are balanced, integrated, and connected to real life.

Classroom resources

Resources	Grade level
Canadian Active Living Fitness (Thompson) Circuit Cards (2005) Set of 36 laminated circuit cards consisting of cardiovascular, strength, balance, and flexibility exercises with illustrated pictures. A teachers' manual, and two full-scale anatomy charts are included. Excellent for hallway and gym circuits to support DPA, and the H&PE curriculum. Borrow this resource (Resource number 14452)	Secondary (Grade 9 to Grade 12)
Circuit Training Equipment (2008) Circuit training equipment includes items such as; mini cones and hurdles, dice, beanbags, wobble balls, and skipping ropes. Can be used independently, or in conjunction with the Canadian Active Living Fitness (Thompson) Circuit Cards. Borrow this resource (Resource number 1213)	Secondary (Grade 9 to Grade 12)
​​​​​​​Omnikin Balls and Pump - includes 6 small Omnikin balls (2008) Lightweight balls can be used for a variety of fun, cooperative, and active games. Instruction and activity manual is included. Borrow this resource (Resource number 14513)	Secondary (Grade 9 to Grade 12)
Yoga Kit (2011)  This kit, created to support DPA, as well as the HP&E curriculum, consists of 25 yoga mats, a set of illustrated, colourful yoga cards, and two DVDs designed for use in the classroom, and in physical education class. Borrow this resource	Secondary (Grade 9 to Grade 12)

Additional resources

• Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines: An integration of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep for Youth 12 to 17 years.
• Kingston Gets Active: A community coalition that works together to help you find ways to get physically active every day.
• Ophea Teaching Tools: teacher resources to support the implementation of the Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum and a Healthy School Community.

Resources from KFL&A Public health to download or print

Coming soon!