A comprehensive health education program stressing the development of sound health habits should be offered to all students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Such programs could help to prevent the development of cardiovascular disease by educating students of current practices that add to the risk of disease. (CJ)

The rationale for health education rests on the premise that the educated individual will make appropriate life-style decisions which will be beneficial to his/her health. (CJ)

A comprehensive educational program in cardiovascular disease is needed for elementary and secondary school students. These programs should teach students to make responsible decisions about health and their life-styles. (CJ)

The American Heart Association has developed materials to be used in teaching elementary and secondary school students about the heart. The learning modules and other materials are described. (CJ)

The roles of the school, health education programs, and health education research in decreasing the risk of cardiovascular and heart disease are discussed. (CJ)

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a federal biomedical research agency, contributes to school health education by means of information dissemination and cooperation with schools and other agencies to apply research findings to health education programs. (CJ)

Educators must work with students to be sure that instruction in health does influence students' choices for healthier behaviors and life styles. (CJ)

The current status of school health eductaion in the public schools is the result of political, economic, and social forces at the state and national levels. Policy recommendations are listed for state education agencies for a brighter future for school health education programs. (CJ)

Activities for sixth grade students that are part of the School Health Curriculum Project, "Our Health and Our Hearts," are described. Major concepts and instructional objectives for each activity are detailed. (CJ)

Demonstration activities that can be developed by teachers and presented at health fairs to increase student awareness of cardiovascular disease risk factors include: (1) blood pressure measurement; (2) exercise and heart action; and (3) healthy snacks. (CJ)

An instructional activity in which students discuss the nutritive and health aspects of selected food items is described. After student discussion, groups plan menus consisting of food items found to be healthy for the heart. (CJ)

The purpose of a physical fitness unit within the health education curriculum is to help students understand the importance of physical fitness. Four physical activities for fourth to sixth grade students are described. (CJ)

Type A behavior, also known as coronary prone behavior, should be identified in children as its lack of treatment could lead to coronary disease and death if the child continues the behavior into adulthood. (CJ)

The right of the individual to make personal choices in health matters without undue pressure from health educators is discussed. (JD)

Suggestions are made for developing a code of ethics for health educators. (JD)