Creating a culture of wellness in a school goes far beyond what happens in a single classroom. This session will explore how to intentionally build and sustain a school-wide culture of wellness that supports students, staff, and families.
Attendees will learn practical strategies for establishing a strong foundation from the start of the school year, including building relationships, creating a sense of safety and belonging, and clearly defining what “wellness” means within a school community. The session will also highlight ways to increase staff buy-in by prioritizing connection, listening to staff needs, and empowering key stakeholders to lead alongside you.
Participants will be introduced to the 10–80–10 framework to help focus energy where it has the greatest impact, along with simple, effective ways to create momentum without overwhelming staff.
Finally, attendees will walk away with actionable ideas for fostering collaboration across staff, engaging families, and elevating their role as a leader in shaping a culture of lifelong wellness within their school.
What is it really like to be a health and physical education teacher? Come feel the pulse of the profession during an engaging, roundtable-style conversation designed specifically for undergraduate students. Current and former HPE teachers will share real-world experiences and practical advice about: classroom management, beginning-teacher success, the interview process, advocacy, and making the transition from college to the profession. Bring your questions, exchange ideas, and connect with educators who have been in your shoes. Discover your rhythm, strengthen your confidence, and prepare to add your heartbeat to the future of health and physical education!
Thursday November 12, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm EST Inspire
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.
Ready to cook up something different in your classroom? Step into a session where health education meets creativity, movement, and choice. In this interactive experience, you will explore how to design lessons that spark curiosity, get students moving, and inspire meaningful conversations that go beyond the classroom.
Using a “chef’s menu” approach, students become the creators of their own learning through engaging projects like appetizers, entrees, and desserts, each designed to build essential health skills in fun and purposeful ways. From quick warm ups to full lesson experiences, you will walk away with ready to use strategies that promote collaboration, critical thinking, and real world connection.
Come hungry for ideas and leave with a full plate of inspiration!
Looking to move beyond worksheets and bring health education to life? This interactive session will immerse participants in hands-on activities designed specifically for adapted learners. From exploring body systems in creative ways to teaching personal hygiene through engaging tasks and incorporating movement-based games in the gym, attendees will experience strategies they can immediately use in their own classrooms. Walk away with practical tools that promote participation, understanding, and fun for all students.
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.
Step into Casino Health, where every roll, flip, and draw sparks learning! This high-energy, interactive session brings health education to life using only dice, playing cards, and creativity. Participants will experience a variety of engaging activities designed to get students moving, thinking, and collaborating while practicing essential health skills.
These low-prep, highly engaging strategies transform any space into an active learning environment, making lessons more memorable and meaningful. From quick movement challenges to discussion-based games, every activity promotes student voice, teamwork, and critical thinking.
Walk away with ready-to-use ideas that require minimal materials but deliver maximum impact.
Where's The Fun? Busy...happy...fun...good. Yes, we need to avoid that mindset in our classes, but does that mean we need to take away all the fun from our curriculum? This session will show how you can still teach quality physical education, be an effective teacher, challenge your students, and still have a class filled with joy and positivitiy.
Are you ready to transform your health classroom? In this dynamic session, you will explore a curated collection of engaging, skills-based activities designed for middle school health education — and adaptable for any level. Through real student examples and step-by-step implementation guidance, you will leave with ready-to-use projects that bring your curriculum to life. From creative projects to thought-provoking activities, this toolkit has something for every learner. Whether you are a seasoned health teacher or just getting started, you will walk away energized and ready to try something new on Monday morning.
