Why I Do Not Teach a Health Triangle Unit

The Health Triangle

Since Health textbooks start out with the Concept of the Health Triangle (Physical, Mental, and Social Health), many health teachers begin health class teaching this concept. Most teachers have students read the chapter in the book, answer the questions and do an art activity involving the triangle. The art activity was meant to incorporate the concepts that each side of the triangle relates and affects other parts of the health triangle and that a healthy individual balances each side of the triangle.

By the time most health teachers are finishing the Health Triangle Unit, my class would have completed a Goals or Good Intentions Unit. They would begin a Personality Styles Unit next and they were totally engaged in the most important things of their lives — themselves.

The Health Triangle subject matter typically includes:

Physical Health:

Mental Health:

Social Health:

• Get along with family and friends
• Make and keep friends
• Work well in groups
• Disagree without fighting
• Give and get support when needed “””

I wanted my students to understand themselves better, before engaging them in the typical health science curriculum. My intent is to for people to be able to relate how health information is relative to their person.

For Example:

How does the pursuit of your future goals make you work on each of the Health Triangle areas?

When you do this, the Health Triangle isn’t an abstract, boring thing for an easy grade. It becomes a specific area to be evaluated and improved upon. It will not only make a student a healthier person, but it gives direction to the student’s hopes and dreams.