Health: Influences on Health Behaviors

Pre-K-5 Standard 2: Students will analyze the influence of family, peers, culture, media, technology and other factors on health behaviors.

• 2.2.1 and 2.5.1 Identify how the family influences personal health practices and behaviors.

Source: National Health Education Standards

Science: Life Science

• As a result of activities in grades K-4, all students should develop an understanding of the life cycles of organisms.

Source:National Science Education Standards

Social Studies: Individual development and identity

Pre-K-12: Standard 4

• Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of individual development and identity. Central to this development are the exploration, identification and analysis of how individuals relate to others.

National Council for the Social Studies, Expectations of Excellence: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (Washington, D.C.: NCSS, 1994). This book may be purchased by calling 800-683-0812. Electronic copies of it are not available.

Source: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies

Celebrate students and build self awareness through personalized placemats. Encourage students to share three to five special qualities about themselves to incorporate into their artwork. Customize projects with die-cuts, photographs and illustrations. Laminate the projects for practical use and consider displaying them for Back-to-School or Open House. These placemats are great ice breakers for the beginning of the year, as students and teachers learn about each other and the special talents of individuals in the classroom community. The projects can also be created as special gifts year-round. As an end-of-the-year celebration, consider highlighting favorite things students have learned in class.

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

Supplies Used: Adhesive Numbers, Cardstock, Crayons, Glue, Pen, Photo, Poster Board, Scissors, Tape, Tape (Double-Sided)

The teacher will die-cut the materials for student use prior to the lesson.

1. Cut an 11" x 15" piece of cardstock, poster board or construction paper for each child.
2. Each student should bring in a photo of themselves. Mat the photo on a coordinating piece of cardstock or construction paper using glue, tape or other adhesive. Adhere the photo in the top left corner of the place mat (see Main Photo).
3. Using the AllStar 1 1/2" Uppercase Alphabet, die-cut the letters for each student's name.
4. Die-cut an AllStar House for each student from a neutral color.
5. Each child will arrange their name with the House below it and adhere their name and House to the place mat, leaving room to draw his or her family.
6. Using crayons, students should draw their families, including pets, if desired.
7. Die-cut an AllStar Birthday Cake & Candles for each student from a variety of cake, frosting and candle colors (Figure A). Additional Candles will need to be cut depending on the age of the student.
8. Die-cut the flame area of the Candles from yellow construction paper for each student with enough flames for each candle. Students will cut the flame from the yellow Candles and adhere it over the various colored Candles (Figure B).
9. Leave one Cake whole. Cut along the perforated lines on a frosting-colored Cake. Be sure to cut both the top and the middle of the Cake (Figure C). Attach the frosting to the whole Cake. Add the correct number of Candles. Adhere the decorated Cake to the place mat.
10. Students may write their birth dates on the Cake or use adhesive letters.
11. Laminate the completed place mat for easy cleanup (see Main Photo).