Standard of Learning

10.2 The student will analyze, synthesize, and evaluate the protective factors related to achieving and maintaining a sound mind and healthy body throughout life. Key concepts/skills include:

1. the empowerment and effectiveness of being assertive;
2. the impact of involvement in school and community activities;
3. the value of exercising self-control;
4. the merits of goal setting;
5. the influence of emotions and peer approval on personal decision-making;
6. the effects of an individual's environment;
7. family health habits and behaviors as they relate to the promotion of health and wellness;
8. the importance of support and encouragement from positive role models.

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Understanding the Standard

The student will identify and understand the positive benefits of assertiveness, goal setting, and exercising self-control.

Essential Knowledge and Skills

The student will:

• compare and contrast assertive and aggressive behavior. (assertive behavior is bold and confident behavior - speaks with conviction, leaving no doubt of feelings or intentions, while aggressive behavior attacks the situation in an overly forceful, hostile, bullying way)
• explain the power of assertiveness. (the ability to express thoughts, feelings, and beliefs in a direct, honest, and appropriate way - often the best way to deal with negative peer influence)
• compose a scenario providing exemplars of assertive and aggressive behavior.
• recommend ways to be assertive in a variety of situations.
• define self-control and explain how it is a protective factor. (the person's ability to choose responsible behavior rather than eliciting an impulsive emotional response)
• establish a health goal:
  • select a measurable, realistic health goal to work on - make sure the selected goal will not harm your health; (Note: Be very careful that the chosen goal does not offend parents, guardians, etc. The teacher may want to have parents sign the "goal sheet.")
  • list what you need to do to reach the goal;
  • identify sources of support;
  • set a reasonable time frame to reach your goal;
  • evaluate your progress; and
  • reward yourself after reaching the goal.

Sample Lessons

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

In the Mix: "What is Depression"
Grade(s): 9-12
In this lesson, students will examine teenage depression: what it's all about, how it feels, and ways to deal with it. This will be accomplished by small group discussions, recalling life events that trigger depressive episodes, self-reflection and topic research. Upon completion, students will have a better understanding of depression and how it relates to their own lives.
http://www.pbs.org/inthemix/educators/lessons/depression1/index.html
Free

Project Towards No Tobacco Use (TNT)
Grades 5-10
Model program to prevent or reduce tobacco use in youth. Ten core and 2 booster lessons. Includes effective refusal and coping skills; effects of media and advertisers; methods to build self-esteem; and strategies for advocating no tobacco use.
Sponsor: Department of Preventive Medicine, USC
Contact: http://www.etr.org
Cost

Samaritans: "Aggression and Bullying"
Grade(s): 8-10
In this lesson students will be able to appreciate the motivations behind aggressive behavior, and to discuss how to avoid a build up of frustration and an aggressive outburst.  These values will be taught by being able to put into practice ways of managing aggression, and dealing with people who bully.
http://www.samaritans.org/pdf/B5AggressionBullying.pdf
Free

Samaritans: "Communication and Listening Skills"
Grade(s): 8-10
This lesson focuses on students learning that to resolve conflicts and communicate they must understand good listening requires two-way communication. 
http://www.samaritans.org/PDF/A2Communication.pdf
Free

Samaritans: "Dealing with Conflict"
Grade(s): 8-10
This is the first of two lessons in citizenship on the theme of conflict. The focus here is on understanding conflict and responding assertively to it. This will prepare students for the next lesson which looks at personal and global conflict.
http://www.samaritans.org/pdf/C4DealingWithConflict.pdf
Free

Samaritans: "Sources of Support"
Grade(s): 8-10
This lesson is designed to challenge students' attitudes by getting students to realize that in certain situations it is important for them to ask for help.  Through this students will be able to know where to go to for help on a wide range of age-related topics.
http://www.samaritans.org/pdf/A4SourcesSupport.pdf
Free

Samaritans: "Stress Management and Problem Solving"
Grade(s): 8-10
In this lesson students will be able to understand the term stress and be able to describe how level of demand, control and support affect how much stress a person feels.  Through some of the exercises they will see how other people experience feelings differently, and to appreciate how stress is the result of differing reactions to situations.
http://www.samaritans.org/pdf/B4StressManagement.pdf
Free

Additional Instructional Resources

• Life Skills Programs
• PE Central - http://www.pecentral.org/lessonideas/health/healthlp.asp
• Powerful Written Goals - http://www.topachievement.com/goalsetting.html
• Self-Control - http://www.coping.org/control/selfcont.htm
• Ten Steps to Getting What You Want in Life with Goals - http://www.gems4friends.com/goals/

Assessment Ideas

The student will:

• create and implement an action plan to accomplish a health goal.
• describe how aggressiveness differs from assertiveness.
• develop an assertiveness tip sheet.
• role-play a situation in which exercising self-control was a protective factor.
• provide examples of assertive behavior and benefits of self-control.

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