Curriculum Support and Resources

Jump Ropes

All grades

Skipping can be a positive way to enrich a student’s ability to develop strength, coordination and stamina. Kit comes with 15 long and 15 short ropes as well as a description on how to do simple skipping games. 

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Physical Activity Dice Game

All grades

Kids love these super-sized, soft activity dice. One die is labelled with numbers, the other with simple activities like touch your toes, or do a push up. The children throw both dice in the air and complete the number and type of activity dictated by the dice. 

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Rubber chickens

All grades

Great physical activity tool to use in a variety of games or in class teaching aid/prop. Comes with an outline on various rubber chicken games.

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Parachute

Grades JK-6

This parachute encourages cooperative play while building upper-body strength and helps in create perceptual and cognitive skills.

Sizes available: 12 ft, 20 ft, 30 ft.

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Tug-O-War

Grades 1 to 12

This 4-way Tug-o-war is an effective team builder. Being physically active and developing communication skills by working as a team to develop a strategy is the ultimate goal of this game. It can accommodate a large or small group. 

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Omnikin Ball

Grades 4 to 12

This gigantic ball comes with set-up instructions as well as an electric pump.

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Speed Stackers

Grades 4 to 12

Speed Stackers can be used as a fun activity to help students develop hand-eye coordination as well as brain development, sequencing and patterning. Students stack and un-stack 12 specially designed cups in predetermined sequences.  

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Hacky Sacks

Grades 4 to 12

A fun, energetic, flexible moving game that encourages cooperation.

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Active Transportation Wheel

Grades 7 to 12 and parents

This interactive game for youth and parents educates and increases the awareness around the importance of active transportation in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Participants spin the wheel and answer questions related to physical activity, pedestrian safety, helmet safety, the environment, cycling safety and associated myths. Includes separate question and answers cards for youth and parents. Ideal for events/health fairs.

This activity must be staffed by a Public Health Nurse.

Injury Prevention

Sun Safety Kit

Kindergarten to grade 8

This Sun Safety Kit contains an activity guide (JK to grade 4), UV Frisbee activity, DVD and factsheets. It also includes The Sun Game, a fun, kinesthetic floor game to reinforce UV and Sun Safety messages. The object of the game is to be the first student or team to arrive at the beach, having correctly answered the sun safety questions and then having collected all the items needed to be protected from the sun.  Contents of the kit are bilingual.

Sun Safety Mini Kit

This Sun Safety Mini Kit contains an activity guide, UV Frisbee activity, DVD and factsheets. Contents of the kit are bilingual.

Active Transportation Bingo

The goal of this game is to help students recognize road safety signs while teaching them road safety. This kit includes laminated road sign illustrations, a riddle activity to help reinforce learning, 30 different Bingo cards as well as Bingo card markers. Contents of this resource are bilingual.

Cool 2 Be Safe Program

This is a curriculum-based program for schools. It is evidence-based and has been shown to reduce children's intentions to do fall-risk behaviors on playgrounds. This interactive program is designed to be flexible so that teachers can implement lessons whenever it suits their classroom schedule. 

Contact your Public Health Nurse for more information.

Helmet Safety Bin

The Helmet Safety bin is used to educate students on helmet safety and head injury prevention. The bin contains a teaching manual with various lesson plans and activities, a bicycle helmet and mannequin head for a helmet fitting demonstration, photos of different types of helmets, photos of the brain lobes, an egg helmet, a gelatin brain mould, a trivia game and a DVD. 

Helmet Safety Presentation

This 50-minute presentation covers multiple areas related to helmet safety and head injury prevention. The presentation includes the anatomy of the brain, the importance of protecting your brain, matching different types of helmets with different activities and ensuring the proper fit of a bicycle helmet. A trivia game completes the presentation to reinforcing learning. 

Bicycle Safety Presentation

This 40-minute presentation covers multiple areas related to bicycle safety such as helmet safety, rules of the road, and bicycle riding skills. A trivia game completes the presentation to reinforcing learning.

Multi Helmet Bin

This Multi helmet bin is used to support any activity or event by teaching about head injury prevention among youth. The bin includes a mini egg helmet, a head model and 4 helmets (bicycle, skateboarding, ski and hockey).

Happy Tooth Costume

Children up to age 10

Adult-sized costumes complete with Velcro cavities, tears and smile – which we can turn down to make a frown. This costume is appropriate for use in the classroom, at a health fair, or at a community event.

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Sexuality Kit

Grades 7 to 12

This activity kit includes samples of the different methods of contraception and sexually transmitted infection prevention as well as the Condom Game and the Objections to Condom Game. The games are interactive activities and talking points for students. The Condom Game includes the steps for correctly putting on a condom which students need to place in the correct order. The Objections to Condom Game comprises 12 cards with excuses/objections to using a condom and 12 rebuttals for why a condom should be used. Youth need to match up the excuse/objection with the appropriate rebuttal. A list of recommended websites for youths and educators is also included. 

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Sexuality Wheel

Grades 7 to 12

This display is ideal for a health fair setting as an interactive, educational tool when teaching students about sexual health. Students spin the wheel, land on a category and a Public Health Nurse asks them a question corresponding to the chosen category. There is an option to hide categories on the wheel with a blank pie piece if the category is not appropriate for the setting where the wheel is being used.

A Public Health Nurse must accompany this display.

Healthy Eating Toolkit 

Grades 1 to 6

This toolkit contains various food models for students to create a healthy breakfast & lunch. 

*This resource is currently being updated and is currently not available. 

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Nutrition Mini Kit 

Grades 2 to 6

This nutrition mini kit is a tool to help teach students the importance of healthy nutrition. The kit consists of these topics: 

• Lunch
• Snacks
• Vegetable and fruit
• Canada’s Food Guide (2019)

The kit includes background information for teachers, food pictures, activities and factsheets. 

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I ♥ 2 Cook

Grades 5 to 8

This bin consists of kitchen equipment such as dishes, utensils and sets of pots and pans. It also comes with a teacher’s manual which includes six lesson plans, recipes, and factsheets for students. Schools need to purchase ingredients with their own budget.  

This activity can be borrowed to use in your school for a 6 weeks period. 

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Complimentary resources:

• I Love to Cook and Play Program
• I Love to Garden Program

Virtual Grocery Tour 

Grades 6 to 12

This 60-minute PowerPoint presentation prepared by Ottawa Public Health can be sent to teachers to deliver as part of their lessons. This presentation covers multiple areas related to healthy grocery shopping. It includes insight to the grocery store layout, comparing nutrition labels and tips for making healthy choices.

*This presentation is currently being updated.

Contact your Public Health Nurse for more information. 

Hygiene Kit

Grades 4 to 6

The kit contains hygiene information cards, classroom activities, labelled product samples and fact sheets to teach students about personal hygiene. 

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Stress Busters Display

Grades 5 to 8

An interactive display that addresses ways youth can deal with stress. The display consists of 11 photos and accompanying tips on how youth can deal in a healthy way with the stressors in their lives. 

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Healthy Transitions

Grade 6

Healthy Transitions is a mental health promotion program for young adolescents, their parents and teachers. The program was developed by the Child and Youth Health Network for Eastern Ontario and facilitated through the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). During the program, students will learn about bouncing back from setbacks, talking to parents, friends and teachers, coping/handling feelings, worries and stress and how and where to get help if needed. The Healthy Transitions program is designed to be used during class time and meets expectations from The Ontario Curriculum. The program includes group activities and discussions about handling everyday struggles and positive ways to express oneself.

A Public Health Nurse from Ottawa Public Health can support teacher in the delivery of the program.

Mental Health GAB

Grades 7 to 12

This game is based on the game MAD GAB. The object of the game is to get the most points while learning resiliency strategies, reducing mental health stigma and promoting health and well being. The puzzles contain small words that, when heard together, make a different word or phrase. For example, "Yore Luke Ink Hood" when pronounced quickly sounds like "You're Looking Good." Each puzzle comes with a clue that can be read by the facilitator if needed and key messages to reinforce learning.

Contact your Public Health Nurse for more information.

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haveTHATtalk Youth Activity Guide

Grades 9 to 12

The haveTHATtalk videos and HaveTHATtalk Youth Activity Guide use short whiteboard video clips and interactive activities to assist youth to:

• Be more comfortable talking about mental health
• Learn ways to improve mental health
• Know where to get help and resources for mental health

Videos and activities can be completed in sequence, individually or as appropriate for the needs of the group.  To access this resource, go to haveTHATTalk.ca

Mental Health Block Game

Grades 9 to 12

An interactive block game used to engage students about mental health.

Questions are asked with the goal of starting a dialogue about reducing stigma, building resiliency, talking about mental health and building social connections. Students then move one of the blocks while attempting to keep the structure balanced.

This activity must be staffed by a Public Health Nurse.

Pig's Lungs Presentation

Grade 4 

The inflatable pig’s lungs provide an excellent opportunity to teach students about the deadly effects of smoking. The display includes one healthy lung, a dried cross-section of a lung, a jar of “tar” and one diseased lung, which simulates the effects of smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years. Vaping is also discussed in this presentation.

This activity must be staffed by a Public Health Nurse.

Substance Misuse Prevention Games kit

Grades 5 to 8

A kit of interactive games related to alcohol and cannabis. Instructions as well as all the materials needed to play the games are included.  

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Cannabis Presentation

Grade 6

This is a 50-minute interactive presentation. This presentation covers multiple areas related to marijuana and its use including how it affects the body and its potential negative effects. 

This activity must be staffed by a Public Health Nurse.

Substance Presentation

Grades 7 to 8

This is a 60-minute interactive presentation. This presentation covers multiple areas related to legal and illegal substances including the difference between prescription and illicit drugs. Substances covered in this presentation include examples of prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs and illicit drugs with an emphasis on tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis. Refusal skills are also discussed.

This activity must be staffed by a Public Health Nurse.

Substance Block Game

Grades 7 to 12

An interactive block game used to engage students about cannabis and vaping.

Questions are asked with the goal of starting a dialogue about the health effects, legalities, and impacts of cannabis and vaping use. Students then move one of the blocks while attempting to keep the structure balanced.

This activity must be staffed by a Public Health Nurse.

Substance Wheel

Grades 7 to 12

This interactive display is ideal for a health fair or as an educational tool for youth regarding substance use. Students spin the wheel, land on a category and a Public Health Nurse asks them a question corresponding to the chosen category. Grade dependent, categories include alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, opioids, vaping as well as refusal skills, ways to party smart and prescription versus non-prescription drugs.  Includes separate sets of bilingual questions and answers for grades 7 and 8 and for grades 9 to 12.

A Public Health Nurse must accompany this display.

Vaping Myths Educator Guide

Grades 7 to 12

This guide can be used to engage youth in meaningful discussion about the harmful effects of vaping. Topics include health effects, social influences and other important facts. 

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Substance Presentation

Grades 9 to 12

This is a 65-minute interactive presentation. This presentation covers multiple areas related to legal and illegal substances. Substances covered in this presentation include alcohol, vaping, cannabis, ecstasy, and opioids including fentanyl.

This activity must be staffed by a Public Health Nurse.

Opioid Misuse Prevention Presentation

Grades 9 to 12

This 30-minute presentation covers multiple areas related to opioids including fentanyl. The effects on the body including overdose signs & symptoms and what to do in case of an opioid overdose such as naloxone information and access are also presented.

This activity must be staffed by a Public Health Nurse.

Plasma Car Activity

Grades 9 to 12

This activity focuses on driving safety as it relates to impaired and distracted driving. It simulates driving while safely introducing a feeling of impairment (visual impairment goggles) or distraction (text messaging). Please see instructions for weight restrictions.

A Public Health Nurse must accompany this display.

Prom Safety Presentation

Grades 10 to 12

This 20-minute presentation is ideal for any student who might be attending prom activities.  The PowerPoint presentation highlights OPH’s prom campaign as well as important “party safe” messaging such as looking out for each other while at prom. Consultation was done with Safe School principals from all school boards to develop this year’s campaign. Substances that are included in the health curriculum are covered during this presentation, including signs and symptoms of intoxication and overdose, and when and where to get help if needed.

The presentation can be delivered by a Public Health Nurse or in collaboration with teachers, SRO’s and/or students through a peer-to-peer approach. 

This activity must be staffed by a Public Health Nurse.