Dental health care
As we approach the long holiday break and various festivities, it would be wise to remind students of the importance of good dental health care. Tooth decay commonly occurs in places where the toothbrush
cannot reach, such as between the teeth and inside grooves on the tooth surfaces. Tooth decay is the most common and costly food-related community disease. As stated on the ABC Health Matters program, in order to prevent tooth and gum disease students need to:
- brush teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
- reduce snacking on sugary foods and drinks between meals
- drink fluoridated tap water (bottled drinking water is not fluoridated)
- floss teeth daily with dental floss (it reduces the possibility of dental decay between teeth surfaces).
Here are a couple of websites that provide helpful resources:
Supertooth
(Supertooth and the Good Food Friends is a school, home
and community science-based project to help teachers, parents and
professionals promote and develop health and personal tooth care skills that prevent dental disease.)
Colgate Professional
(Colgate's Bright Smiles, Bright Futures (BSBF) Oral Heath Education Program.)
Greenhouse gas emissions
If you want a good read on the worldwide issue of greenhouse gas
emissions download a copy of Meeting Australia’s greatest challenge: a national five point plan to tackle Australia’s rising greenhouse gas emissions from The Climate Institute by following the link below.
The Climate Institute Australia
Meeting Australia’s greatest challenge (PDF)
What of our (native) animals?
While the dangers of climate change to human populations is being extensively discussed in the community, spare a thought for the effects that global warming would have upon Australia’s native animals.
Up to 74% of birds located in north-east Australia’s rainforests might be threatened by a local warming of just three degrees Celsius.
Ask students to focus on these birds or any other Australian animal under threat by global warming. Students could create a list such animals, which would include the following species:
- bilby
- mallee fowl
- green ringtail possum
- mountain pygmy possum
- green and golden bell frog
- green turtle
- hairy-nosed wombat
- yellow-footed rock wallaby
- golden bower bird.
Students could be asked to research where these animals are found, their essential habitats and how climate change would affect their existence. The website of WWF Australia will assist students in this exercise. The website of WWF Australia may be reached using the link below.
WWF Australia
A whodunit with sentences
Recently in the media, articles have appeared concerning people’s written English skills. Lynne Truss, author of: Eats, Shoots & Leaves:
The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation; Eats, Shoots & Leaves:
Why, Commas Really Do Make a Difference! and Talk to the Hand makes for some interesting reading on the topic of written English skills. In this age of fast and (some might say) convenient methods of written communication, it is imperative that students grasp the essential English skills. Truss’s titles are worth a look.
Lynne Truss books
Food Challenges
Looking at a range of different situations and occasions calling for food choices and actions, this new nutrition resource for teachers of upper primary and junior secondary school students, produced by Sanitarium Nutrition Services, takes a fresh, fun and engaging look at food. With the focus on practical food skills, the cultural and social significance of food and the health benefits of nutritious foods, Food Challenges has been written by experienced teachers with an understanding of curriculum requirements across Australia. To view further information about Food Challenges including a sample chapter from the resource visit Sanitarium Nutrition Resources using the link below.
Sanitarium Nutrition Resources
The Green Directory
The Green Directory is Australia's favourite online green business directory The Green Directory lists a comprehensive range of Australian and international products and services which are eco-friendly and promote sustainable living. This is a great one-stop website packed full of resources for schools and homes. Click on the ‘Education’ button to find some great ideas and activities for children and young people.
The Green Directory
Heard recently
Getting towards the end of the school year, we thought we would share with you some ‘interesting’ recent news items:
- A recent survey found that two-thirds of bosses would let their
staff take a twenty minute ‘power nap’ in order to
increase productivity (female bosses were even greater supporters
of the idea). Would school authorities permit such an initiative?
- With the ‘season of giving’ approaching it might
be worth noting that Australians spend more on chocolate than on helping poor countries. On a world scale, Australia ranked seventh in expenditure on chocolate products behind The Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and New Zealand. Australian households spent $573 billion on chocolate last year but gave less than one five-hundredth
of this (less than $1.2 billion) to organisations helping the world’s poorest people.
Christmas and end of year ideas and activities
There are many websites providing resources, ideas and activities for use inside and outside the classroom. Below are a few good ones that we found. There is something for everyone, but you be the judge!
Christmas and End Of Year Ideas and Activities—search results
Christmas
Resources via Edna
Festivals of Light Around the World
As 2006 winds down
As we enter the month of December we at Teachers’ Toolkit would
like to wish you, your colleagues, partners, families and friends a joyful festive
season, a happy and safe holiday and a satisfying New Year. Best wishes for good
health, happiness, and prosperity in the coming year. Thank you for your support
throughout 2006—we look forward to being of further service to you in 2007.
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