Secondary school educator resources

Educating students about substances is best done by:

• Delivering over multiple lessons.
• Making cross curricular connections between personal choices related to substance use, potential outcomes, and healthy coping skills.
• Creating a safe nurturing environment using non-stigmatizing language.
• Engaging parents and caregivers to enhance programming.

Classroom resources

• YMCA Youth Cannabis Awareness Program – In person or virtual workshops and webinars. (Secondary Grade 9 to 12)
• Ophea – Substance Use, Addictions, and Related Behaviours. (Secondary Grade 9 to 12)
• Health Canada Experiences – Information and resources including Pursue Your Passion, Know More Opioids, Consider the Consequences of Vaping, and Harms of Substance Use Stigma. (Grade 9 to 10)
• Behind the Haze – Interactive website reviewing the harms of vaping. (Grade 9)
• Cannabis and Mental Health – Resources and activities around mental health and substance use. (Secondary Grade 9 to 12)

Additional resources

• Quash – Judgement-free app to help quit smoking or vaping
• School Mental Health Ontario: Substance use and addiction
• NIDA for Teens – Lesson plans for Grade 9 to 12
• Ontario Harm Reduction Network – Learn about opioid overdose recognition and naloxone use

Children’s health and well-being is improved by walking, wheeling, or taking the bus all or part way to school. Teaching students how to be safe as pedestrians is a component of this process.

Classroom resources

• Ontario Active School Travel – A variety of resources for fun events, planning, and advocacy. (Secondary Grade 9 to 12)

Tips for teaching about body image:

• Teach students that our body image and confidence can be influenced by many factors such as: friends, educators, parents, social media, their physical environment, and their social environment.
• Help students to understand that all bodies are good bodies.
• Encourage them to accept their bodies and care for them by practicing habits that will keep them mentally and physically well, including being kind to themselves.

Classroom resources

• Dove Self Esteem Project: Confident Me – Resources designed to enable teachers to run their own in-class workshops on self-esteem and body confidence. (Secondary Grade 9 to 12)

Additional resources

• Overview of disordered eating prevention: How can schools help? – Eating Disorders Ontario Prevention
• Teaching and Talking to Students About Food and Nutrition – Healthy Schools BC

Bullying can take on many forms, all of which can cause immediate and long-lasting harm. School staff can help by:

• Helping students develop healthy communication, relationship, and social-emotional skills.
• Role modelling healthy relationship skills and creating a safe classroom environment.
• Promoting a whole school approach to preventing bullying.
• Being aware of the signs of bullying and its dangers to student health.
• Intervening immediately and supporting students who are being bullied as well as students who are bullying.

Classroom resources

• Kindness in the Classroom – A free CASEL approved curriculum to create a culture of kindness. (Secondary Grade 9 to 12)
• ECNO: Technology Leadership for Ontario’s School Boards – A variety of lesson plans and classroom resources for Ontario educators covering cybersafety basics, digital wellness, artificial intelligence, and social media/gaming. (Grades 9 to 12)  

Additional resources

• Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network – PREVNet offers students, parents and educators extensive information on bullying, cyberbullying and teen dating violence.
• Bullying Facts and Solutions – PREVNet – Provides key facts about bullying and practical solutions on how to stop this behaviour. 
• Healthy Relationships Training Module – PREVNet.
• Egale – A Canadian organization that raises awareness and provides resources for 2SLGBTQI+ issues. Includes resources for educators to build more inclusive schools, as well as training materials and workshops for topics such as Cyberbullying and 2SLGBTQI+ youth and reducing transphobic violence in schools. ​​​
• Kids Help Phone – This resource is designed for use by students. Includes helpful resources on bullying and peer relations, as well as live chat and call features with trained professionals for students requiring additional support.
• Safe@School – A provincial project led by the Ontario Teachers’ Federation. Includes online professional learning modules on youth empowerment, bullying prevention, equity and inclusive education and engaging parents/caregivers in bullying prevention. Additional resources also available on bullying prevention, including consent guides for students, parents or caregivers, and educators.  

Classroom resources

• Bright Bites – An online program by Ontario Dietitians in Public Health with HPE and Science curriculum-based lesson plans. (Secondary Grade 9 to 12)
• Canada’s Food Guide in the Classroom – Digital lesson plans about Canada’s Food Guide. (Grade 9)
• Sustain Ontario – Food Literacy and Children and Youth initiatives. (Secondary Grade 9 to 12)
• Food is Science – Evidence-based resources for Ontario’s Science and Technology Curriculum. (Grade 9)
• Teach Nutrition – Dairy Farmer’s of Canada – Tools and resources by registered dietitians. (Grade 9)

Additional resources

• • Teaching and Talking to Students about Food and Nutrition – Healthy Schools BC
  • Unlock Food
  • Canada’s Food Guide

Sexual health is an important component to a person’s overall health. Teaching sexual health is best done through:

• Creating a safe, respectful, and accepting space for all students.
• Using inclusive language to support all students.
• Reflecting on personal values and biases prior to teaching.

Classroom resources

• Amaze.org – Animated videos to support HDSH curriculum topics. Preview videos first. (Secondary Grade 9 to 12)
• Teaching Sexual Health – Teacher and parent portal with evidence-based resources and lesson plans. (Secondary Grade 9 to 12)
• Educator Guide – SIECCAN – Gender-Based Violence Prevention within School-Based Comprehensive Sexual Health Education. (Secondary Grade 9 to 12)
• Niagara Region Public Health – lessons and resources on contraception, healthy relationships, and sexually transmitted infections.
• Draw the Line – Sexual violence prevention resources.

Additional resources

• Contraception Booklet – Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada
• Sexually Transmitted Infection Booklet – Public Health Agency of Canada
• SEX and U – Sexual and reproductive health information
• Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network – PREVNet
• Sieccan – Sexual and reproductive health information
• Saleema Noon – Sexual Health Educators
• Talking About Sexuality in Canadian Communities – Resources for youth with disabilities
• Egale Canada – 2SLGBTQI+ resources

Immunization is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of vaccine preventable diseases. Educators can empower students by:

• Developing health and media literacy so students can assess credible sources.
• Facilitating open and non-judgemental discussions based in evidence.

Additional resources

• Immunization Information on the Internet: Can you trust what you read? – Immunize Canada
• Teens, meet Vaccines – Public Health Agency of Canada (Intermediate)

School staff can help reduce the spread of illness by:

• Teaching students about how infectious illnesses can be shared and ways to prevent their spread.
• Encouraging proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette
• Reminding students, families and staff to stay home when sick.
• Being aware of requirements related to reportable diseases according to Section 265 of the Ontario Education Act.

Mental health is an essential component of overall health. When teaching students about maintaining good mental health School Mental Health Ontario suggests:

• Keep the focus on positive mental health.
• Create a safe space where students feel comfortable learning and expressing ideas.
• Be mindful of accessibility and inclusivity of Black, Indigenous, racialized, and 2SLGBTQI+ communities.
• Encourage participation to the degree students are comfortable.
• Complete the SMHO Mental Health Literacy Course for Educators to increase knowledge and comfort in support student mental health and well-being.  

Classroom resources

• Mental Health Literacy Lesson Plans – SMHO and OPHEA – Lesson plans for mental health literacy and social-emotional learning. (Secondary Grade 9 to 12)
• Everyday Mental Health Classroom Resource – SMHO – Evidence-informed mental health practices for classroom routines. (Secondary Grade 9 to 12)
• Kindness in the Classroom – A free CASEL approved curriculum to create a culture of kindness. (Grades 9 to 12) 
• ECNO: Technology Leadership for Ontario’s School Boards – A variety of lesson plans and classroom resources for Ontario educators covering cybersafety basics, digital wellness, artificial intelligence and social media/gaming. (Grades 9 to 12) 

Additional resources

• School Mental Health Ontario – Evidence-based mental health promotion
• Teach Resiliency – PHE Canada

Physical activity should be taught within the context of a healthy school, using the Ontario HPE Curriculum Elementary or Ontario HPE Curriculum Secondary. Quality programs:

• Are most effective when delivered in healthy schools supported by staff, families, and communities.
• Use physical activity as a key vehicle for student learning.
• Are physically and emotionally safe places to learn.
• Are student-centred and skill-based.
• Are balanced, integrated, and connected to real life.

Classroom resources

• Ophea Teaching Tools
• PHE Canada

Additional resources

• Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines: Youth 12 to 17 years
• International School-Related Sedentary Behaviour Recommendations