Engagement is essential in effective health education, yet many classrooms still rely on passive instruction that limits student connection and retention. This session explores how to design and organize interactive health lesson plans that actively involve students through strategies such as simulations, movement-based learning, collaborative challenges, and real-world problem solving. Participants will learn a practical planning framework that aligns objectives, standards, and assessments with engaging instruction, while also addressing scaffolding, time management, and classroom structure. Attendees will leave with ready-to-use ideas, templates, and strategies to increase student engagement while maintaining purposeful, standards-based instruction across a variety of health topics.
Are you looking for fresh, engaging ways to tackle some of the most important — and often most avoided — topics in health education? This interactive session will explore innovative, evidence-informed teaching strategies designed to help educators confidently facilitate conversations around family life education, healthy relationships, and consent. Participants will experience hands-on activities, discussion frameworks, and classroom-ready tools that break down barriers, reduce stigma, and create safe learning environments where students feel empowered to ask questions and engage authentically. Whether you're a seasoned health educator or just beginning to navigate these topics, you'll leave with practical techniques and renewed confidence to bring meaningful, age-appropriate instruction back to your students.
Join Mary McCarley, SHAPE America’s 2016 Southern District Health Teacher of the Year and Health Education Content Specialist with Goodheart-Willcox, as she shares instructional strategies to engage students in practicing health skills. From warm up activities to in-class assessments and exit tickets, participants will leave with instructional best practices and health assessments for their teacher toolbox as well as complimentary access to Goodheart-Willcox’s updated skills-based middle and high school health program.
Energy brings Energy! This session explores how health and physical education programs can become powerful platforms for student voice, leadership, and advocacy. Participants will examine practical strategies to empower students to take ownership of their learning, lead initiatives, and drive meaningful change within their schools and communities. Through real-world examples and interactive discussion, attendees will learn how to intentionally build opportunities for student agency into curriculum and programming. The session will leave participants with actionable tools to foster leadership, amplify student voices, and cultivate a culture of growth in action.
This session explores innovative approaches to modern health education through the integration of social-emotional learning (SEL), life skills, and student-centered electives. Participants will gain insight into two unique high school Health Electives—Finding Happiness and Life 101: Senior Seminar—designed to promote emotional well-being, resilience, and real-world readiness. In addition to showcasing these electives, this session will provide practical, ready-to-use SEL activities aligned with CASEL competencies that can be seamlessly incorporated into any health classroom. Attendees will leave with adaptable strategies to enhance student engagement, foster meaningful connections, and support the development of lifelong wellness skills.
This presentation highlights how skill-based health education can be enhanced through the intentional use of AVID/WICOR strategies: Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading to create more meaningful and engaging learning experiences for students.
Participants will explore practical, classroom-ready strategies such as coding health articles, gallery walks, class contracts, essential questions, quick writes and philosophical chairs to promote active participation and deeper thinking. These approaches help shift instruction where learners take ownership of their understanding and application of health concepts. The session will also emphasize structured writing through note catchers, student-driven inquiry, collaboration, and purposeful reading, along with organizational strategies that support goal setting and reflection.
Participants can expect to leave with strategies they can implement immediately in their health classrooms to increase engagement, strengthen health literacy, and support students in making informed, real-world health decisions.
