We Insist on Natural Shapes Newsletters
Education Curricula, Grades 1-12
The Positive Body Image, Healthy Bodies curriculum is available in three age-appropriate levels: grade 1-2, grade 3-4, and grade 5-6. These levels cover basic topics, using age-appropriate language, concepts, and activities. Within each level, you will find five to six lessons, organized around the following topics:
Healthful Eating explains why our bodies need a variety of foods, introduces students to the Food Guide Pyramid, and emphasizes the importance of eating for physical, not emotional, reasons.
Physical Activity teaches why it's important for children to be physically active and suggests different ways for students to stay fit.
Self-esteem guides students towards an understanding of their own special qualities, and attempts to disassociate self-image from physical appearance.
Image vs. Reality looks at how the media influence our perception of what's possible and what's been modified to fit a fantasy.
Natural Body Shapes helps students realize that we all have different shapes and sizes that change as we grow, that there is no "ideal" body type and that our own body type is determined by our genes.
Grades 1 and 2: Lesson book, Teacher background information, Teacher video, Two Posters
Grades 3 and 4 Lesson book, Teacher background information, Teacher video, Student video, Two Posters
Grades 5 and 6 Lesson book, Teacher background information, Teacher video, Student video, Two Posters
Middle/Senior High Curriculum
You can help children to benefit from improved self-esteem and acceptance of their bodies when you give a copy of Happy Healthy Shape to a junior high, high school, library, scout troop, or church group.
In the video, Happy, Healthy Shapes: It's Not How You Look, It's How You Feel , a physician, a psychologist, and a dietitian talk candidly about eating disorders with a group of young adults. It is a great way to explore the subject of eating disorders in your school, club or at home. This 40-minute video focuses on the prevention of body image distortion and eating disorders, featuring:
The Problem: Exposes misconceptions about the appearance of a healthy body, and explores ways people have internalized unnatural body images. (Ann Gerhardt, M.D.).
Psychological Aspects: Discusses the negative emotional cycle leading to low self -esteem and eating disorders, and how to avoid it. (Robin McKnight, Ph.D.).
Nutrition: Teaches the concepts of the basic food groups and normal serving sizes and that a diet is for life. (Annette Dreith, M.S., R.D.).
Health and Exercise: Defines what is appropriate exercise to keep a person healthy and strong. (Ann Gerhardt, M.D.).
The Disease: Identifies the signs and symptoms of eating disorders. Teaches how to help a friend when you suspect she or he suffers from an eating disorder. (Ann Gerhardt, M.D.).
The full curriculum organizes the five sections of the video into daily lessons with student activities, discussion topics and homework. Extra visual materials are provided. It has been tested and validated with middle and high school students.