1. What are the requirements for Comprehensive Health Education?

2. What are the state standards for Mississippi?

3. Can a regular classroom teacher teach health education in grades K-8?

4. Is HIV infection and AIDS the same thing?

5. Do you feel it when you are infected?

6. Can you tell by looking at a person that they are infected with HIV?

7. Can you catch HIV like you do a cold or flu?

8. Where can I find health activity ideas to use in my teaching?

1. What are the requirements for Comprehensive Health Education?
There is a ½ Carnegie unit requirement for graduation.

2. What are the state standards for Mississippi?
The 2006 Mississippi Comprehensive Health Framework contains competencies.  These are the bold statements, based on the Nation Standards for Health Education, that are required to be taught.

3. Can a regular classroom teacher teach health education in grades K-8?
Yes.

4. Is HIV infection and AIDS the same thing?
HIV infection and AIDS are two different things.  HIV attacks the immune system – the body's defense against disease.  AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection, when the body cannot defend itself against normally rare or mild illnesses.

5. Do you feel it when you are infected?
People may feel healthy for several years after being infected with HIV.  Once infected, your body begins to make HIV antibodies, but these antibodies can't keep up with HIV.  Scientists have estimated that about half the people who have HIV will develop AIDS within 10 years after becoming infected if they do not receive treatment.

6. Can you tell by looking at a person that they are infected with HIV?
There are people with HIV that look and feel fine.  Many people with HIV don't even know that they are infected and still pass HIV on to others.  The symptoms vary from person to person.  When they do appear, they can be like those of many common illnesses.  Only a test can tell if someone is infected with HIV. 

7. Can you catch HIV like you do a cold or flu?
No.  HIV is not spread through the air, nor is it spread through everyday contact.  You can not get HIV from handshakes, hugs, coughs, sneezes, mosquitoes, pets, swimming pools, bathrooms, toilet seats, phones, computers, straws, spoons, cups, drinking fountains or by eating food prepared by someone else.  Nor can a person get HIV by being around an infected person.

8. Where can I find health activity ideas to use in my teaching?
Visit Health in Action, an online database designed to provide teachers with health and physical education lesson plans that fulfill the requirements of the Mississippi Healthy Students Act. Developed by teachers for use by their fellow educators, the activities of the database cover a wide range of topics and teaching methods.