THIRD GRADE • HEALTH & WELLNESS
Health and Human Growth & Development
Open any unit to see the main topics, family-friendly lesson overviews, skills, and health standards included in the MPS third-grade curriculum.
UNIT 1
HEALTHRelationships
Students learn that families can look different while sharing care, cooperation, and responsibility. They also identify qualities that support healthy friendships.
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What students will learn
Students learn that families can look different while sharing care, cooperation, and responsibility. They also identify qualities that support healthy friendships.
Lessons at a glance
- Lesson 1: Body BoogieStudents discuss the people who care for one another in a family and practice listening and cooperation while celebrating what makes each family special.
- Lesson 2: Helping HandsStudents explore family roles, responsibilities, and the positive feelings that can come from helping at home.
- Lesson 3: What Is a Friend?Students identify qualities of a healthy friendship and think about how they can demonstrate those qualities in their own relationships.
Health skills
Listening, cooperation, describing family roles, helping at home, recognizing friendship qualities, and communicating respectfully.
Standards represented
1 - Core Concepts; 2 - Analyzing Influences; 4 - Interpersonal Communication; 5 - Decision Making; 6 - Goal Setting; 7 - Self-Management; 8 - Advocacy
Family connection
Talk about one way each person contributes to your family and one quality your child values in a friend.
UNIT 2
HEALTHSociety and Culture
Students explore similarities and differences among people and cultures. They also learn to think critically about how television, movies, and other media can influence ideas about families, gender, values, body image, and self-esteem.
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What students will learn
Students explore similarities and differences among people and cultures. They also learn to think critically about how television, movies, and other media can influence ideas about families, gender, values, body image, and self-esteem.
Lessons at a glance
- Lesson 4: Different and AlikeStudents recognize ways people are alike and different and identify respectful behaviors that help everyone feel included.
- Lesson 5: Media InfluencesStudents examine how media portrays families, gender, values, appearance, and success and consider how those messages can affect feelings and choices.
Health skills
Respecting differences, recognizing cultural diversity, separating entertainment from real life, and analyzing media messages.
Standards represented
1 - Core Concepts; 2 - Analyzing Influences; 6 - Goal Setting; 8 - Advocacy
Family connection
While watching a show together, ask what seems realistic, what seems exaggerated, and what message the program may be sending.
UNIT 3
HEALTHPersonal Skills
Students practice communication, conflict resolution, emotional regulation, values-based decision-making, and refusal skills that support personal safety and healthy relationships.
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What students will learn
Students practice communication, conflict resolution, emotional regulation, values-based decision-making, and refusal skills that support personal safety and healthy relationships.
Lessons at a glance
- Lesson 6: Please Stop!Students distinguish bullying from a one-time conflict, practice assertive communication, and learn how targets and bystanders can seek help.
- Lesson 7: I Feel SillyStudents name different emotions, separate feelings from behavior, and practice appropriate ways to calm down and respond.
- Lesson 8: Beauty and the BeastStudents identify values connected to good character and compare responsible decisions with choices that may hurt themselves or others.
- Lesson 9: Decision-Making and Refusal SkillsStudents use a simple decision-making process and practice safe, confident ways to say no in everyday situations.
Health skills
Using clear 'I' statements, responding to bullying, calming strong emotions, identifying positive values, making responsible decisions, and saying no when needed.
Standards represented
1 - Core Concepts; 2 - Analyzing Influences; 4 - Interpersonal Communication; 5 - Decision Making; 7 - Self-Management
Family connection
Practice a simple refusal phrase together, such as 'No, I don't want to do that,' followed by moving away and talking to a trusted adult when help is needed.
UNIT 4
HEALTHHuman Development
Students build a healthy self-image, learn age-appropriate and medically accurate information about body parts and their functions, and practice body-safety skills involving privacy, boundaries, and trusted adults.
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What students will learn
Students build a healthy self-image, learn age-appropriate and medically accurate information about body parts and their functions, and practice body-safety skills involving privacy, boundaries, and trusted adults.
Lessons at a glance
- Lesson 10: I Am CoolStudents question media messages about popularity and success and identify qualities, strengths, and interests that make them feel good about themselves.
- Lesson 11: My Awesome BodyStudents learn medically accurate names for body parts and discuss how knowing their bodies supports health, communication, and safe choices.
- Lesson 12: My Body Is PrivateStudents learn about body privacy and boundaries, identify trusted grown-ups, and practice the safety steps 'No, Go, Tell' when something feels wrong.
Health skills
Recognizing media influence, naming personal strengths, using correct body terminology, respecting privacy and boundaries, identifying trusted adults, and asking for help.
Standards represented
1 - Core Concepts; 2 - Analyzing Influences; 3 - Accessing Reliable Resources; 4 - Interpersonal Communication; 8 - Advocacy
Family connection
Remind your child that they can talk with you or another trusted adult about questions, uncomfortable situations, body safety, or anything that worries them.