Consistency is Good for Health

Students and parents will see changes this year in the Ankeny Community School District’s health curriculum following a decision by the Board of Education.

The board approved a new curriculum at that will create a district-wide standard as to what is taught in health class.

The changes are part of a complete K-12 curriculum overhaul started by the district at the beginning to the 2008-09 school year. It also approved changes to both the physical education curriculum and the science curriculum.

Susie Meade, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, said there was little consistency between district schools teaching health.

“Before teachers in (each) grade would get together to plan what they would teach that year,” Meade said. “There wasn’t a collective plan for the entire district.”

The new curriculum will ensure each health class a student takes teaches he or she something new, as well as decreases any content repetition between schools and grades.

Students in grades 5-9 are required to take a health class each year.

The district Physical Education and Health Department also will bring in community businesses and groups to assist teachers in the classroom, similar to what the district will be implementing in physical education classes.