Unit Overview (for Teachers)

Health Quest: Walking and Biking to School

Walking and Biking to School is an interdisciplinary and interactive curriculum unit that engages grades 5-8 students in action research. It is designed to teach students about the health, environmental, and safety issues involved in walking and biking to school.  It uses a problem based action research design which engages students in the use of interdisciplinary skills to arrive at an action plan for your school. It addresses Vermont Standards in Health, Math, Reading, and Writing

Time Frame

This unit includes three Learning Tasks and a Final Activity.  The entire unit will likely take one month to complete, or can be implemented on a schedule designed by the teacher.

Unit Outcome

This unit will enable middle school students to assess and explain the health and safety advantages and disadvantages of walking and bicycling to school in the U.S., Vermont, and their community, and to  develop an Action Plan regarding walking and biking to school presentable to their School or Town Select Boards.

Teacher Expectations

Administer three learning tasks that are designed to prepare students for the Final Activity.  Administer the Final Activity in which students will interpret data, write an Action Plan based on the data, and present the Action Plan to members of the community.  All tools for this project are provided.

Please note that the Pre- and Post-Test results should be submitted to:

Center for Health & Learning
28 Vernon Street Suite 319
Brattleboro, VT 05301