IB MYP Year 5 Health Education is a comprehensive, inquiry-based course designed to help students develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to make informed decisions that support lifelong wellness. Aligned with the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) framework and California Health Education Standards, the course explores the interconnected dimensions of physical, mental, emotional, and social health through collaborative discussion, reflection, research, and real-world application.
Throughout the 16-week course, students investigate topics including nutrition and fitness, mental health and resilience, substance abuse prevention, personal safety and CPR, disease prevention, healthy relationships, and digital wellness. Students engage with contemporary health issues through inquiry questions, case studies, wellness projects, discussions, and multimedia assessments that encourage critical thinking and personal reflection.
The course emphasizes the development of healthy habits, responsible decision-making, self-awareness, and respectful communication while fostering the IB learner profile and Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills such as communication, collaboration, self-management, research, and critical thinking. Biblical principles and ethical reflection are integrated throughout the course, encouraging students to consider stewardship, compassion, integrity, and personal responsibility in relation to health and wellness.
Students maintain an in-class wellness journal and complete a variety of summative assessments including wellness guides, resilience portfolios, public health campaigns, emergency response simulations, and relationship awareness projects. This course fulfills portions of IB MYP Health and Physical Education assessment requirements, with additional criteria addressed through Physical Education and/or Sports Performance courses.
This course is intentionally designed to scaffold and reinforce foundational concepts that support success in Biology, Kinesiology, Physical Education, and Sports Performance courses. Through the study of human body systems, nutrition, hydration, disease prevention, stress physiology, injury prevention, and human performance, students build scientific literacy and applied health knowledge that directly connects to future coursework in life sciences and movement-based disciplines.
The curriculum emphasizes practical application of wellness concepts, helping students understand how physical activity, nutrition, sleep, recovery, emotional regulation, and decision-making impact overall performance and long-term health. Students participating in athletics gain critical knowledge related to energy balance, injury prevention, hydration strategies, mental resilience, substance abuse prevention, concussion awareness, teamwork, recovery, and healthy relationship dynamics within competitive environments.
Additionally, the course strengthens communication, reflection, research, and self-management skills that are essential for success both in academic settings and athletic programs. By integrating health science, personal wellness, and performance-based decision-making, the course provides students with a strong interdisciplinary foundation that supports healthy lifestyles, academic growth, and athletic readiness.
- Teacher: Dawn Hoy