Standards and Framework Connections

This curriculum is standards-aware rather than standards-locked. The table below helps educators, librarians, caregivers, health educators, and informal learning programs connect the lessons to common health education, health literacy, digital citizenship, inquiry, communication, and ELA goals without forcing one district-specific framework.

Local programs should replace or supplement this table with their own state, district, school, library, health education, or community standards when needed.

Curriculum Skill	Where It Appears	National Health Education Standards / SHAPE America Connection	Healthy People 2030 / Health Literacy Connection	Digital Citizenship / ISTE Connection	Library / Inquiry Connection	ELA Speaking, Listening, and Explanation Connection	Notes for Facilitators
Understanding health as physical, mental, social, and environmental well-being	Intro, Curriculum Overview, Weeks 1, 8, 11, 18	Supports comprehending health concepts and seeing health as more than one behavior or body part	Supports personal health literacy and whole-person well-being language	Supports comparing online and offline messages about health and well-being	Supports broad questioning, background knowledge, and concept mapping	Supports explaining complex ideas in plain language	Use everyday examples from home, school, library, community, and digital spaces.
Noticing body signals and health routines without shame	Weeks 1-7, 11-12, 14-18	Supports understanding internal cues, self-awareness, and healthy routine planning without judgment	Supports noticing information needed for everyday health decisions	Supports reflective use of trackers, apps, and device prompts without overtrusting them	Supports observation, note-taking, and pattern finding	Supports descriptive language, oral explanation, and reflective writing	Keep body data private by default and allow fictional examples.
Identifying trusted adults and reliable health resources	Intro, Outcomes, Weeks 1, 8-10, 15-18	Supports accessing valid information and help-seeking skills	Supports finding, understanding, and using information and services with support	Supports responsible information seeking and safer online behavior	Supports source selection and asking where trustworthy help can be found	Supports discussion, questioning, and audience-aware explanation	Emphasize that access can vary and different helpers support different questions.
Asking health questions safely	Weeks 1, 7, 10, 15-18	Supports interpersonal communication and decision-making practices	Supports asking questions that improve understanding before action	Supports inquiry, question refinement, and reflective use of digital information	Supports inquiry cycles and research question development	Supports question generation and collaborative talk	Keep personal questions optional; use fictional scenarios when needed.
Distinguishing health facts, claims, opinions, feelings, ads, and advice	Health Checkpoint, Assessment Checkpoints, Weeks 7, 10, 16-18	Supports analyzing influences and accessing valid information	Supports evaluating information quality before use	Supports media literacy, source evaluation, and responsible participation	Supports source evaluation and categorization of information types	Supports explanation with evidence and careful listening	Model mixed examples such as posters, influencer posts, labels, and conversations.
Checking health information before trusting, sharing, or acting	Health Checkpoint, Outcomes, Weeks 10, 16-18	Supports decision-making and accessing valid information	Directly supports personal health literacy and safer information use	Supports verification, cross-checking, and reflection before sharing	Supports corroboration and evidence checking	Supports citing reasons and explaining next steps	Frame this as careful thinking, not fear.
Recognizing health advertising, sponsorships, influencers, and product claims	Health Checkpoint, Weeks 5-7, 12, 16-18, Glossary	Supports analyzing influences on health messages and decisions	Supports understanding commercial influences on health information	Supports digital media awareness, ad recognition, and sponsorship awareness	Supports source purpose analysis and media inquiry	Supports identifying persuasive techniques and discussing author intent	Include sponsored posts, creator codes, and product labels without shaming learners.
Understanding food, movement, sleep, hygiene, and screen routines in a body-neutral way	Weeks 4-7, 11-14, caregiver guidance	Supports goal-setting, self-awareness, and understanding healthy routines without body ranking	Supports everyday health management and practical decision-making	Supports reflection on apps, feeds, and routines that shape choices	Supports comparing examples from different communities and access situations	Supports explanation, discussion, and routine description	Use access-aware examples and avoid assigning tracking tied to weight or appearance.
Understanding safety, first aid basics, emergencies, and when to get adult help	Facilitator guides, Weeks 1, 8-10, 15-18	Supports safety awareness, help-seeking, and decision-making	Supports knowing when information alone is not enough and outside help is needed	Supports evaluating urgent online messages and not acting alone on serious claims	Supports scenario analysis and practical questioning	Supports concise explanation of safe next steps	Keep emergency response discussion age-appropriate and adult-directed.
Understanding medicine safety at a child-appropriate level	Caregiver guidance, Weeks 8-10, 16-18, Glossary	Supports safety, decision-making, and help-seeking	Supports understanding medicine information only with adult support	Supports skepticism toward online remedies, symptom tips, and product claims	Supports label reading and question-asking	Supports explanation of procedures and boundaries	Use calm rules: never share medicine, never take unknown products, tell an adult.
Practicing interpersonal communication and help-seeking	Weeks 1, 8-10, 15-18, self-assessment	Supports interpersonal communication and advocacy	Supports asking for support, clarification, and safer next steps	Supports respectful digital communication and support-seeking	Supports discussion norms and collaborative inquiry	Supports listening, partner talk, and presenting ideas clearly	Accept AAC, drawing, gestures, and partner explanation as valid communication.
Making supported health decisions	Health Checkpoint, Assessment Checkpoints, Weeks 7, 10, 15-18	Supports decision-making and responsible action with support	Supports using information in ways that match context, risk, and support needs	Supports informed digital choices and slower decision-making online	Supports weighing evidence and context	Supports giving reasons, considering audience, and explaining choices	Keep decisions grounded in support, safety, and access rather than pressure.
Setting realistic personal or group wellness goals without body shame	Outcomes, Self-Assessment, Weeks 12, 14-18	Supports goal-setting in developmentally appropriate, nonjudgmental ways	Supports practical health literacy through small, supported next steps	Supports mindful use of reminders, apps, or planning tools	Supports reflection and iterative improvement	Supports speaking and writing about plans and revisions	Focus goals on habits, environment, support, and routines, not body size or appearance.
Understanding digital wellness, body image, filters, and online health messages	Caregiver guidance, Weeks 12, 16-18, Glossary	Supports analyzing influences and understanding mental and social health factors	Supports recognizing barriers and pressures that shape information use	Supports digital wellness, media awareness, and critical evaluation of edited content	Supports media inquiry and source comparison	Supports discussion of perspective, purpose, and impact	Handle body image gently and avoid personal disclosure prompts.
Creating honest health messages or projects with attribution and accessibility	Weeks 15-18, Self-Assessment, Capstone Rubric	Supports advocacy, communication, and accurate health explanation	Supports using information responsibly and clearly for others	Supports ethical digital creation, attribution, and transparent AI use	Supports research synthesis and ethical information use	Supports presenting claims with evidence, audience awareness, and revision	Allow posters, comics, talks, AAC-supported presentations, and private sharing formats.