Health Education

I will be writing over the next six weeks about a class I am currently taking on health, fitness, and issues of abuse. The class began with us being shown a sample concept map, and then we were asked to create our own map about health education. After being given post-it notes, we were asked to create individual “sticky-notes” with each one highlighting a different category of health education. After a few minutes, we shared our notes with each one at our table and worked together to combine them to create a group concept map.

Our group focused on nutrition, fitness, and the mental and physical attributes of the body and the way they connect with each other. I was amazed to see how broad a subject health can be to teach. It encompasses so many different areas and the sub-categories often cannot be limited to just one field. For instance, exercise is important to maintain fitness but also is important to both physical and emotional health, as well as requiring proper nutrition to be in peak form. When we presented our map to the rest of the class and compared theirs with ours, we saw that each of the other groups had similar struggles of where to place the subcategories and surprisingly, there seemed to be no right or wrong method.

I am wondering if all concept maps will be as challenging to create as this one was and if this will be a good concept to use with elementary students. Our group went through some confusion and frustration trying to come to a consensus and finish the project in the amount of time we were given, and when we could not decide at times, one of us would make the decision to write something down in order for us to finish on time. Perhaps if the subject were not as broad as health education, or we had more time to organize, it might be an easier group project. Our class was told that we will have an opportunity in the future to create a different group concept map, and I am thinking that it might be easier now that we have done one. Seeing the other groups’ concept maps also helped me to see how we could do a better job in the future. We will see.