The Vaccination Talks Toolkit is a free online resource that integrates health literacy, digital media literacy and inquiry into discussions about vaccines as part of healthy living. This resource is intended to support children and youth in developing their health literacy related to vaccinations.
The Vaccination Talks Toolkit includes:
- Background information about the importance of helping students develop their health literacy and digital media literacy skills to support their capacity to integrate this learning into discussions related to vaccinations as part of healthy living.
- Information to support an integrated approach to learning by making connections to The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1–8: Health and Physical Education (2019), The Ontario Curriculum, Grade 9-12: Health and Physical Education (2015), and The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1–8: Language (2023).
- Evidence-informed, practical teaching and learning strategies for consideration when talking about vaccines with students to equip them to make informed decisions about their health. Educator and student-facing inquiry-based learning tools and resources to foster inquiry skills when addressing questions or concerns about vaccinations or any health topic.
- Activity ideas and Lesson Plans: connected to the overall expectations for Healthy Living and Social-Emotional Learning skills in The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1–8: Health and Physical Education (2019),and overall expectations for Literacy Connections and Applications, Comprehension: Understanding and Responding to Texts, and Composition, Expressing Ideas and Creating Texts strands in The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1 to 8: Language (2023), and the overall expectations for Healthy Living and Living skills in The Ontario Curriculum, Grade 9-12: Health and Physical Education (2015).
- Educational/Informational Videos: These videos have been designed and tailored for three audiences: educators, administrators, and parents/caregivers. The overall goal of the videos is to provide an overview of the intent of the Vaccination Talks Toolkit and how it may be used in the classroom and school settings to support inquiry and learning related to vaccinations.
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Discussion Guides and posters: aim to promote an open and respectful dialogue within the school community to foster a whole-school approach and shared responsibility when addressing questions and concerns about vaccinations.
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Resource Database: a compilation of evidence-based resources that provides educators and administrators with the tools to assist students in developing their knowledge and skills to participate in and make informed decisions about vaccinations.
- Additional resources to support educators in building their capacity to integrate discussion about vaccines to develop their students' health literacy.
The Vaccination Talks Toolkit was developed with funding support from the Public Health Agency of Canada.