Standard of Learning

7.1 The student will use knowledge of health concepts to make decisions related to personal safety and wellness. Key concepts/skills include:

1. alternatives to gang-related behaviors and acts of violence;
2. recognition of harmful and risky behaviors;
3. the benefits of stress management and stress reduction techniques;
4. the development of strategies for coping with disappointment;
5. factors that affect school success;
6. the impact of difficult family situations;
7. development of healthy interpersonal relationships.

<< Back to Index

Understanding the Standard

The student will discuss the factors that contribute to or detract from success in school.

Essential Knowledge and Skills

The student will:

• identify positive and negative factors that affect academic performance. (mental and physical health, adequate sleep, home environment, homework habits, proper nutrition, self-image and self-esteem, school safety, organizational skills, note taking skills, study skills and habits, test taking strategies, motivation, etc.)
• identify factors over which one has control that affect school success.
• identify factors over which one has no control that affect school success.

Sample Lessons

All Stars
Grades 6-8
Designed to delay and prevent high-risk behaviors including substance use, violence, & premature sexual activity by fostering positive personal characteristics (positive ideals and future aspirations; positive norms; strong personal commitments; school connectedness; positive parental attentiveness). Includes 9-13 lessons in first year plus booster lessons.
Sponsor: Tanglewood Research Inc.
Contact: http://tanglewood.net
Cost

Character Education Lesson Plan: Compassion
Grade(s): 6-8
Lesson designed to help middle school children to understand the virtues caring and kindness.
http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/nccep/lp/lp99v.html
Free

Discovery Education: Reality Matters, Big Decisions
Grade(s): 6-8
As the lesson goes on students will learn about influences of health, choices, and risk taking.  The middle-schoolers will be able to gain this knowledge by role-playing and answering questions amongst one another.
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/bigDecisions/
Free

In the Mix: "9-11: Looking Back...Moving Forward"
Grade(s): 7-12
This lesson is designed for students in middle school up through high school.  In this lesson students will learn how things have changed since that day and stereotypes that have come from that day.
http://www.pbs.org/inthemix/educators/9-11_guide.html
Free

In the Mix: "Dealing with Death"
Grade(s): 7-12
In this lesson questions are provided to be used to open up more analytical discussion about related concepts. Also included are in-class activities and longer-term projects that are presented in bold type. It is also suggested to show the entire program to all the students as a whole and then running individual segments followed by discussion.
http://www.pbs.org/inthemix/educators/deathguide.html
Free

In the Mix: "Living with…"
Grade(s): 7-12
This lesson is designated for middle and high school students.  The program shows other students who live with diseases and shows that it is manageable and that there others going through the same problems.
http://www.pbs.org/inthemix/educators/lessons/LivingWithGuide.pdf
Free

In the Mix: "Opening Your Heart to Your Grieving Teen"
Grade(s): 6-12
This lesson is designed to help both the grieving teen and the adult there to help them.  Although the adult helping throughout the process cannot bring back the loved one that has passed on, but they can help the teenager realize they have support through this difficult time.
http://www.pbs.org/inthemix/educators/lessons/death1/index.html
Free

In the Mix: "Suicide Prevention"
Grade(s): 7-12
This lesson plan is designed for students in middle school and all the way up through high school.  Students will use cards to sort and understand a large quantity of information regarding suicidal teens, then apply what they learn to analyses of case studies.
http://www.pbs.org/inthemix/educators/lessons/depression2/index.html
Free

Lions-Quest Skills for Adolescence
Grades 6-8
Positive youth development program focusing on social and emotional competencies; good citizenship skills; strong, positive character; drug-free lifestyle; and service to others.
Sponsor: Lions Quest
Contact: http://www.lions-quest.org
Cost

Additional Instructional Resources

• Achieving Academic Success - http://www.ucalgary.ca/~dmjacobs/study_skills_sites.html
• Adolescence: Peer Influence – http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty
• Health Textbooks
• Obstacles to Academic Success - http://caps.unc.edu/ObsAca.html
• School Guidance Counselors
• Ten Top Tips for Academic Success - http://www.sdc.uwo.ca/learning/tentt.html

Assessment Ideas

The student will:

• record, for a one-week period, situations which cause stress.
• record, for a one-week period, the amount of time spent doing homework, studying, sleeping, exercising, etc.
• record, for a one-week period, meals and snacks eaten on a daily basis.
• explore the relationship between behaviors and times of stress.

TOP...