In this 10-week course, students are introduced to several skills they will need to be successful in Middle School and life. The main units in 6th Grade Health are:
Social/Emotional Health
Skills: Identifying and dealing with strong emotions; dealing with stress in healthy ways; communicating in assertive ways (I-statements, conflict resolution skill); asking for adult help; asking for and giving consent; respecting others' boundaries.
Functional Knowledge: Basic teen brain information/plasticity; how the brain works under strong emotions and stress; stress basics; benefits of mindfulness; tools for stress reduction; qualities of healthy friendships; how to be a healthy/positive friend; passive/assertive/aggressive communication styles; benefits of assertiveness; qualities of helpful adults; when to get adult help.
Safety
Skills: Review/application of the 5 Rules of Safety (from Elementary School/Erin’s Law mandate); practicing Internet Safety; understanding the rights & responsibilities of healthy Digital Citizens; being a courageous “Upstander;” responding to dangerous situations.
Functional Knowledge: 5 Safety Rules; School Safety procedures (Fire Drill, Shelter in Place, Lock-Out, Lock-Down); recognizing potentially dangerous situations in public and how to stay safe.
Alcohol, Nicotine (Vaping) and other Drugs (ANOD)
Skills: Using assertive refusal skills; analyzing influences on decisions regarding ANOD; making healthy decisions; discerning fact from fiction using online resources.
Functional Knowledge: dangers of alcohol, marijuana, nicotine; effects of drugs on the teen brain/life; 4 qualities of healthy decisions.
Your Changing Body
Skills: Recognizing influences on body image and how to develop a healthy body image; recognizing the normal developmental changes that occur with puberty; understanding that everyone’s journey through puberty is different.
Functional Knowledge: Body image; social, emotional, physical and cognitive changes of puberty; basic anatomy & physiology of human reproductive systems; menstruation basics; HIV information.
What can parents do?
Use teachable moments in everyday life to reinforce family values related to health topics.
Support healthy lifestyles by modeling them at home.
Encourage your child to teach you the skills they are learning in class.
Contact your child's teacher directly with any questions or concerns.
