4TH QUARTER

The Kindergarten to Grade 12 (“K to 12”) Health curriculum aims to assist the Filipino learner in attaining, sustaining and promoting life-long health and wellness. The learning experience through the program provides opportunities for the development of health literacy competencies among students and to enhance their over-all wellbeing. Health Education from Kindergarten to Grade 10 focuses on the physical, mental, emotional, as well as the social, moral and spiritual dimensions of holistic health. It enables the learners to acquire essential knowledge, attitudes, and skills that are necessary to promote good nutrition; to prevent and control diseases; to prevent substance misuse and abuse; to reduce health-related risk behaviors; to prevent and control injuries with the end-view of maintaining and improving personal, family, community, as well as global health. Health Education emphasizes the development of positive heath attitudes and relevant skills in order to achieve a good quality of living. Thus, the focus on skills development is explicitly demonstrated in the primary grade levels. Meanwhile, a comprehensive body of knowledge is provided in the upper year levels to serve as a foundation in developing desirable health attitudes, habits and practices. In order to facilitate the development of health literacy competencies, the teacher is highly encouraged to use developmentally-appropriate learner-centered teaching approaches. This includes scaffolding on student experience and prior learning; utilizing culture-responsive scenarios and materials; incorporating arts, and music in imparting health messages; engaging learners in meaningful games and cooperative learning activities; and using life skills and value-based strategies particularly in discussing sensitive topics such as substance abuse and sexuality. The teacher is also advised to use differentiated instruction in order to cater to the learners’ various needs and abilities.