Health Education

Guiding Principles

The through lines of the health education curriculum are the understanding of and appreciation for physical, mental, and social/emotional health; responsibility; and well-informed decision-making. All classes are taught in a co-educational format unless indicated otherwise, by the school counselor and the grade-level science teacher.

In each grade, ground rules are discussed in the first class to create an atmosphere of trust and safety. Students are encouraged to bring up the general issues discussed in class with their families and with each other, but always remembering that what is said in class is confidential. Neither teachers nor students share the specific nature of class discussions with other students or teachers. Active and respectful listening is expected. Every child has the right to "pass" on an answer to a question; a child will not be forced to speak if he or she does not feel comfortable. A question box is used at the end of each class, which serves two purposes: as a vehicle for curriculum development, and as a way for children to ask questions anonymously.

Values In Teaching Sexuality Education

All people are sexual. Sexuality is a natural and healthy part of living, which includes physical, ethical, psychological, and emotional dimensions. In a pluralistic society like the United States, people's individual expression of their sexuality should be respected and our students can become ambassadors of this understanding.

Both individuals and society benefit when children are able to discuss sexuality with their parents and/or trusted adults. Young people explore their sexuality as a natural process of achieving sexual maturity.

Curriculum

Fourth Grade

Formal health education begins with five class sessions in the fourth grade.

• The themes of the first class are understanding physical/mental/emotional health, responsibility, and the decision-making process.
• The second class continues with the decision-making process and the different influences on students, especially their peers. The students make up skits based on age-appropriate concerns to illustrate positive/negative peer pressure. There is a brief discussion of alcohol/tobacco/drugs.
• Day three begins the discussion of puberty and their changing bodies.
• Day four continues with puberty and changes; we break into same-gender groups for further discussion.
• On day five we return to nutrition and when it goes awry, i.e., eating disorders.

Each session provides opportunities for the students to submit questions or comments to the question box, and each subsequent session begins with a review of their questions.

Fifth Grade

A closer examination of puberty and the biology of male and female reproductive systems is the focus of health education in fifth grade.

During four class periods, male and female anatomy is discussed using appropriate vocabulary, as well as a more in-depth understanding of reproductive functions, puberty, and emotional changes. The students discuss societal messages about being male/female and harassment/teasing about differences in development, etc. The topics of sexual orientation and sexually transmitted infections are introduced for discussion.

The fifth class is a single-gender forum to address questions in an informal discussion. The question box is available after each session.

Sixth Grade

The sixth grade health education curriculum addresses drug and alcohol use and abuse. The curriculum focuses on those chemical substances adolescents most typically use first and most widely: alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and inhalants, and the effects on their bodies.

In the six classes, the students talk and share their ideas as to why young people may choose to experiment with different substances. We explore peer resistance skills and ways of enjoying life that do not include substance use/abuse. Classes are supplemented with videos and interactive activities. The goal of the curriculum is to empower students to make informed, health-oriented decisions.

The question box is available after each session.

Seventh Grade

Five class sessions are devoted to health education in the seventh grade.

The students discuss body image, healthy self-esteem, and the impact of societal messages on them. To illustrate some of these points, students watch the video "Body Positive."

The students further discuss the biology of reproduction as well as sexual relationships. They discuss sexual orientation and preference in forming intimate relationships and sexual pressures people can experience. Students learn more about sexually transmitted infections and how easily STI's are transmitted. Students are led in a discussion to define a healthy relationship and the range of sexual activity. Safe sexual activity is emphasized, beginning with abstinence, and various birth control methods are discussed.

In the final class, students are grouped by gender to address concerns that may be more comfortable in this format. The question box is available after each session.

Eighth Grade

An outside expert works with the students for three classes. They learn facts about HIV/AIDS and address issues related to peer influence, making choices, building communication, and planning skills.

The science teacher and school counselor devote two science classes to a review of commonly used psychoactive drugs and alcohol and their short- and long-term effects. The students process possible scenarios related to chemical substances in high school and discuss healthy and unhealthy risk-taking behavior. Guiding principles are based upon empowering the students to make health-oriented decisions.

References and Resources

Reading List for Parents

Elkind, David.  All Grown Up and No Place to Go:  Teenagers in Crisis.  Reading,  MA:  Addison, 1984.

Gordon, Sol.  Raising a Child Conservatively in a Sexually Permissive World.  New York:  Simon & Schuster, 1983.

Haffner, D.  From Diapers to Dating:  A Parent’s Guide to Raising Sexually Healthy Children.  New York:  Newmarket Press, 1999.

Haffner, D.  Beyond Big Talk:  Every Parent’s Guide to Raising Sexually Healthy Teens, from Middle School to High School and Beyond.  New York:  Newmarket Press, 2001.

Owen Lara.  Her Blood is Gold:  Celebrating the Power of Menstruation.  San Francisco, CA:  Harper, 1993.

Pipher, Mary.  The Modern Woman’s Tragic Quest for Thinness.  New York:  Ballantine Books, 1997.

Pipher, Mary Bray.  Hunger Pains: the modern woman’s tragic quest for thinness.  New York:  Ballantine Books, 1997.

Pipher, Mary.  Reviving Ophelia:  Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls.  New York:  Ballantine Books, 1995.

Ponton, Lynn.  The Romance of Risk:  Why Teenagers Do the Things They Do.  New York:  Basic Books, 1997.

Ponton, Lynn.  The Sex Lives of Teenagers:  Revealing the Secret World of Adolescent Boys and Girls.  New York:  Penguin Books, 2000.

Roffman, D.  but how did I get here in the first place?:  talking to your young child about sex.  MA:  Perseus Publishing, 2002.

Roffman, D.  Sex & Sensibility:  The Thinking Parent’s Guide to Talking About Sex.  MA:  Perseus Publishing, 2001.

Schwartz, P. & Cappello, D.  Ten Talks Parents Must Have with Their Children about Sex and Character.  New York:  Hyperion, 2000.

Taylor, Dena.  Red Flower:  Rethinking Menstruation.  Freedom, CA:  Crossing Press.  1988.

Nutrition

Brown,  Laurie Krasney.  Dinosaurs Alive and Well:  a guide to good health.

Boston:  Little 1990. 

Fisher, Enid.  Food and Health.  Milwaukee:  Garth Stevens Pub. 1998.

Kalbacken, Joan.  The Food Pyramid.  New York:  Children’s Press 1998.

Rockwell, Lizzy.  Good Enough to Eat:  a kid’s guide to food and nutrition.  New York:  Harper Collins Pub.  1999.

Royston, Angela.  Eat Well.  Des Plaines:  Heinemann Library, 2000.

Silverstein, Alvin.  Eat Your Vegetables!  Drink Your Milk!  New York:  F. Watts, 2000.

Puberty and Sex Education grades 4-6

Brown, L. and Brown, M.  What’s the Big Secret?  Talking about Sex with Girls and Boys.  New York:  Little, Brown and Company, 1997.

Cole, Babette.  Hair in Funny Places:  A Book about Puberty.  New York:  Hyperion Books for Children, 2000.

Cole, Babette.  Mommy Laid an Egg or Where Do Babies Come From?   California:  Chronicle Books, 1993.

Cole, Joanna.  Asking about Sex and Growing Up.  New York:  Morrow, 1988.

Gordon, Sol.  Girls are Girls and Boys are Boys.  New York:  Prometheus Books, 1991.

Gravelle, Karen.  What’s Going on Down There?  Answers to Questions Boys Find Hard to Ask.  New York:  Walker and Co., 1998.

Gruenberg, Sidonie Matsner.  The Wonderful Story of How You Were Born. New York:  Doubleday, 1970.

Harris, R.  It’s Perfectly Normal:  Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex and Sexual Health.  MA:  Candlewick Press, 1994.

Harris, R.  It’s So Amazing:  A Book About Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies and Families.  MA:  Candlewick Press, 1999.

Jukes, M.  Growing Up:  It’s a Girl Thing:  Stright Talk About First Bras, First Periods and Your Changing Body.  New York:  Random House, 1998.

Mayle, Peter.  What’s Happening to Me?  New York:  Kensington Pub., 1975.

Schaefer, Valerie Lee & Bendell, Norm.  The Care and Keeping of You:  The Body Book for Girls.  Pleasant Company Publications, 1998.

Sheffield, Margaret.  Where Do Babies Come From?  New York:  Knopf, 1973.

Puberty and Sex Education grades 6-8

Dillon, Mary.  Flowering Woman:  Moontime for Kory.  Sedona,  AZ:  Sunlight Productions, 1988.

Gardner- Louian, JoAnn.  Period.  San Francisco:  Volcano Press, 1979.

Grahn, Judy.  Blood, Bread and Roses:  How Menstruation Created the World.  Boston:  Beacon Press, 1993.

Gravelle, K.  The Period Book:  Everything You Don’t Want to Ask (But Need to Knoe).   New York:  Walker and Co., 1966.

Gurian, M.  From Boys to Men:  All About Adolescence and You.   New York:  Penguin Books, 1999.

Jukes, M.  Growing Up:  It’s a Girl Thing.  NewYork:  Random House, 1998.

Jukes, M.  The Guy Book:  An Owner’s Manual for Teens, Safety, Maintenance amd Operating Instructions for Teens.  New York:  Crown Books, 2002.

Johnson, Eric W.  Love and Sex and Growing Up.  New York:  Bantam, 1990.

McLoone, Margo.  Information Please Girls’ Almanac:  Your Body, Things You Should Know.  New York:  Houghton Mifflin Company, 1995.

Madaras, Lynda & Madaras, Area.  My Body, My Self for Boys:  A “What’s Happening to my Body?” Quizbook and Journal, 2nd Edition.  New York:  Newmarket Press, 2000.

Madaras, Lynda & Madaras, Area.  My Body, My Self for Girls:  The What’s Happening to my Body Workbook for Girls.  New York:  Newmarket Press, 1993.

Madaras, Lynda.  The What’s Happening to my Body?  Book for Boys, A Growing Up Guide for Parents and Sons.  New York:  Newmarket Press, 1984.

Madaras, Lynda.  The What’s Happening to my Body?  Book for Girls, A Growing Up Guide for Parents and Daughters.  New York:  Newmarket Press, 1988.