Health Rocks!
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4-H Health Rocks!™ is an engaging curriculum through which youth develop life skills, including decision-making skills that lead to healthy lifestyle choices, with special emphasis on youth smoking and tobacco use prevention. The program instills in youth the confidence and communication skills necessary to develop the internal strength to resist risky behaviors.
Activity topics include building healthy relationships, dealing with stress, and understanding the effects of peer pressure and media messages. Students learn about the behavioral effects and health consequences of tobacco, e-cigarette/vaping, alcohol, and drug use.
Main Goals
- Help youth stop or avoid vaping and substance use
- Teach youth how their choices affect their health
- Show youth that they can be a good influence on others
- Encourage youth to break unhealthy habits
Reach
4-H school enrichment programs have already made a difference in classrooms across the state. Check out the map below to see where we’ve partnered with schools. Explore the locations to learn more about our growing reach and commitment to hands-on learning.
Audience
Health Rocks!™ offers programming at both beginner and advanced levels.
- The beginner level is provided for grades 3-6.
- The advanced level is provided for grades 7-10.
Delivery
The Health Rocks!™ program can be delivered through multiple methods:
- WVU Extension professionals can lead the activities.
- Trained teens serving as 4-H Health Ambassadors in your county can lead the activities.
- WVU Extension can provide the teachers with the lesson plans and supply kit to implement in the classroom.
Time Commitment
Each student should receive at least 10 hours of engagement with Health Rocks!™ activities to complete the program.
Cost
- A supply kit will be provided to cover a classroom of approximately 20 students.
- Mini grants are offered to cover the cost of materials for more students.
Education Standards
National Health Education Standards
These standards were developed by the Joint Committee on National Health Education Standards, sponsored by the American Cancer Society. They provide program goals for all grade levels. Each activity in this curriculum identifies the health education standard being addressed.
Standard number and outcome
- Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health.
- Students will analyze the influence of family, peers, culture, media, technology, and other factors in health behaviors.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to access valid information and products and services to enhance health.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health and avoid or reduce health risks.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to use decision-making skills to enhance health.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to use goal-setting skills to enhance health.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce health risks.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to advocate for personal, family, and community health.
How do I get this program into my classroom?
Our programs offer hands-on learning experiences that complement classroom instruction and engage students in meaningful ways. Are you ready to bring engaging, hands-on learning activities to your students? Please fill out our short interest survey to start the process. We’ll follow up to discuss options and tailor the program to your school’s needs.
School Enrichment Interest FormContacts
Jenny Murray
Associate Program Leader for 4-H Youth Development & WVU Extension Specialist – Positive Youth Development