Drum roll, please! It’s that time of year again when we reflect on the highlights from the blog. As always, these posts resonated with readers for a variety of reasons—some were the most-read, others sparked thoughtful conversations, and a few are timeless classics that just keep inspiring. Whether you’re revisiting old favorites or discovering them for the first time, here are the top 5 blog posts of 2024 that deserve your attention.
Most Popular Post of 2024: Creating a Scavenger Hunt with Google Forms and QR Codes by Andy Milne
Wow, did this blog post blow up this year?! If you’re looking for a fresh, interactive way to engage your students, this blog post breaks down how to create an educational scavenger hunt using Google Forms and QR codes. From defining learning objectives to setting up clue locations and crafting questions, you’ll get step-by-step guidance to design a fun and meaningful activity that students will enjoy, and remember. Perfect for reinforcing content, fostering collaboration, and energizing your classroom, this activity is applicable across all teaching disciplines. If you’re ready to make learning active and memorable, this post is a must-read—and a must-share!
Most Popular Microblog of 2024: Using Dice in the Health Classroom by Jessica Matheson
Launched in 2020, slowchathealth has now hosted FIVE annual #microblog events. Lasting a whole month and featuring voices from across the globe, educators from around the globe share bite-sized blog posts of approximately 500 words. There have been submissions from experienced bloggers, first-time writers, authors, teachers, and some students eager to share their passion for health and physical education. THIS microblog post from the awesome Jessica Matheson, continues to be hugely popular, and for good reason.
Jessica shares five creative benefits of using dice to add fun and variety to health classes. From boosting engagement and incorporating randomness to building decision-making and social skills, dice-based activities can energize your classroom while reinforcing important concepts. Jessica highlights examples like refusal skills games, decision-making activities, and even dice-based exit tickets, showing how versatile this tool can be. Whether you use foam or acrylic dice, her tips ensure you’ll keep your students motivated and learning in fresh, interactive ways. Ready to roll? Check out her ideas!
Most Popular Guest Blog Post of 2024: STI Dice Game by Andy Horne
Dice again? This an oldie but a goodie from my co-worker, friend and Scholarly Rapper, Andy Horne. His STI Dice Game remains a classic in the #HealthEd world, blending interactive learning with real-world consequences. Originally adapted from National Teacher Hall of Famer Deb Tackmann, this simulation helps students understand the risks of unprotected sex while reinforcing decision-making, peer pressure, and the importance of reliable contraception or abstinence.
With printable rules and an alternate activity link for added flexibility, here’s why this activity continues to resonate:
🎲 Hands-on Engagement: Students roll dice to simulate risk-taking behaviors, making the lesson memorable.
🎲 Visualizing Risks: The odds of pregnancy and STIs are demonstrated in real time, bringing statistics to life.
🎲 Peer Pressure Awareness: A candy incentive challenges students to confront the social pressures tied to risky decisions.
🎲 Emotional Reflection: Students discuss both physical and emotional consequences, adding depth to their understanding.
Most Popular Physical Education Blog Post of 2024: Teaching Physical Education with Purpose: Embracing the Meaningful PE Approach by Andy Milne
It was my love of physical education that led me to becoming a teacher, and although for the longest time I have been seen as a health teacher, I’ve kept my love for teaching PE, and it was the Meaningful PE approach that has allowed me to share that love through my blog posts.
In my first blog post (of an ongoing series) about Meaningful PE, I reflect on the time in my physical education class where my students were so immersed in their learning that they didn’t notice the lesson had overrun. By intentionally focusing on features like social interaction, challenge, and personal relevance, I created lessons that engaged and inspired students of all abilities and witnessed how a student-centered approach could foster joy, inclusion, and meaningful reflection. This post kick-started my journey with Meaningful PE and has opened doors to exciting collaborations and opportunities to share my evolving practice – perhaps you’ll see me present on this topic at #SHAPEBaltimore?
The Blog Post With the Best Music Playlist of 2024: Creating Classroom Playlists by Andy Milne
I love music, and am never without a personal soundtrack accompanying whatever I am doing. In this blog post I share how and why I encourage students to contribute songs to a shared playlist, fostering connection and leaving a class legacy. I explain how themes like “Feel Good” or “Chill Out” guide the playlists, with students briefly sharing why they chose their songs. The final Spotify playlists are used during class and celebrated as a diverse reflection of my students’ identities and cultures. This activity not only enhances classroom culture but also builds lasting memories, as the music becomes a shared experience that resonates beyond the classroom. If you aren’t already doing this with your students, I highly encourage you to do so.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the continued success of the slowchathealth blog site. If you read, shared, or wrote a blog post, you have played a role in keeping this site going. If you ever have a desire to share your thoughts, a popular resource, or a reflection on something that worked with your students, please do not hesitate to get in touch! Also, if you are following me on social media, make sure that you are following my work over on BlueSky, a fresher, less toxic place for educators to share their thoughts. Health and PE teachers should also check out the new space for HPE teachers over on the HPE Collective.
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