Review by Polly Conway, Common Sense Education | Updated November 2013

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GirlsHealth.gov

Name: GirlsHealth.gov
Item: GirlsHealth.gov
Rating: 3
Author: Polly Conway

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Covers teen health basics but could do so much more

Subjects & skills

Grades This grade range is a recommendation by Common Sense Education and not the developer/publisher.

5–12

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Design is bright and will appeal to many teen girls.

A diverse group of girls appears on the site, which is important.

Information is presented in a straightforward, nonjudgmental manner.

Even tattoo care is addressed under the health banner.

Quizzes test users' knowledge after they read a section.

Pros: Solid information clearly presented for girls of all ages.

Cons: More interactive, multimedia options would better grab the attention of skeptical teens.

Bottom Line: Best for preteens, GirlsHealth.gov offers excellent guidance; it just needs some adjustments to truly engage its audience.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

This site is big enough that you can pick and choose the resources that best suit your students' needs. You can work it into a standard health curriculum, a PE class, or even an AVID class. It has lots of great factual information about developing bodies and those sorts of subjects, but it really shines when it addresses the emotional aspects of growing up. You can create discussions around a section like "Community Relationships," which talks about people with strong characters and their lives, or teach kids of any gender how to use "I Statements" during a conflict.

What Is It?

GirlsHealth.gov is a website for young girls that offers information about women's health and female-specific issues. There's no log-in; users can just scour the site's pages for resources. Main tabs include Fitness; Nutrition; Illness and Disability; Drugs, Alcohol, and Smoking; Your Feelings; Relationships; Bullying; Safety; Your Future; and Environmental Health. Click on any of these tabs and drill down to more detailed information on the subject; for example, within the Your Feelings tab, you can learn more about feeling sad, happy, stressed, or suicidal and find links to sites about therapy and running away.

The mission of GirlsHealth.gov, developed by the Office on Women's Health, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is to promote healthy, positive behaviors in girls between the ages of 10 and 16.

Is It Good for Learning?

In terms of offering helpful, healthy information, GirlsHealth.gov is at the top of the list. The only problem is that it feels like the information is coming from a government agency (which it is). While its voice is fairly warm and easy to read, the site needs something more to reach its desired audience. Teens are savvy these days -- really savvy -- and this kind of material must be framed in a particular way to reach them. Based on the way it addresses its audience and the content it covers, GirlsHealth.gov is probably best for preteens or girls in junior high. There are a few disappointments: For example, the only interview, which is about saying no to drugs, is by a teenage boy.

On the plus side, the site does address important issues and is updated with detailed discussions on growing teen problems like self-harm and cutting, bullying, and eating well. There are also some neat features that do more than just offer advice. A quiz called "Are you a bully?" has a clickable icon that shows a diverse group of girls considering whether they're exhibiting bully behavior. "Examples of Teen Conflict" is a comic book-style illustration of the various conflicts girls might face: a boyfriend that always wants to watch his TV shows, a friend going through someone else's locker, etc. A community section where girls could ask anonymous questions would be an awesome addition, but it could present some complications in terms of site moderation.

Rating Details

Overall Rating

Engagement Is the product stimulating, entertaining, and engrossing? Will kids want to return?

Design is "girly" but ultimately not that exciting. An update would help. However, the info is presented in a totally straightforward way that teens should appreciate.

Pedagogy Is learning content seamlessly baked-in, and do kids build conceptual understanding? Is the product adaptable and empowering? Will skills transfer?

There's a lot of reading and a couple of quizzes; to amp up accessibility, some more interactivity would be helpful. A diverse group of girls populates the site; a social aspect might add depth and a way to communicate their own issues.

Support Does the product take into account learners of varying abilities, skill levels, and learning styles? Does it address both struggling and advanced students?

Lots and lots of links to other resources within the site exist as further support for girls. There's no real help section, but the site is easy to navigate and users shouldn't need a ton of assistance figuring it out.

Common Sense Reviewer

Polly Conway Classroom teacher

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Featured review by
Kristin L. , Technology coordinator

Technology coordinator

Girls Only! Get the 4-1-1 on all things girl related to be you! happy - healthy - beautiful!!

I really like the web design of this site. It is easy to navigate and lends itself to further exploration. The text is easy to understand. As a teaching tool I find it to be helpful - not only to give tips to students and to aid their self-discovery but also to use as a resource for students to guide their understanding of adolescence. At this point I do not have any critiques although an interactive web-chat would be a neat feature to add or some sort of monitored blog in which girls can share experiences or stories.

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