Seventh Grade Curriculum Resources
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:
- alternatives to gang-related behaviors and acts of violence;
- recognition of harmful and risky behaviors;
- the benefits of stress management and stress reduction techniques;
- the development of strategies for coping with disappointment;
- factors that affect school success;
- the impact of difficult family situations;
- development of healthy interpersonal relationships.
Understanding the Standard
The student will understand how difficult family situations affect individual family members.
Essential Knowledge and Skills
The student will:
- define family relationship. (connection a person has with family members)
- provide examples of difficult family situations. (abusive behavior, financial problems, separation or divorce, illness, injury or death, loss of job, family has to move, birth of a baby, remarriage, etc.)
- explain how these difficult family situations may affect individual family members. (may feel angry, confused, afraid, sad, insecure, stress, etc.)
-
explore ways to adjust to these difficult changes:
- talk to your parents or a trusted adult about negative emotions such as sadness, fear, or anger;
- avoid blaming or criticizing;
- look for opportunities to help with family expenses or with chores;
- recognize grief is a natural process and may last a long time; and
- record feelings and experiences in a journal.
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
"Cycle of Addiction"
Grade(s): 6-8
Students will examine the cycle of addiction to drugs and what can be done to prevent it. At the same time they will learn how families and peers influence their decision making.
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/addiction/
Free
Family Sculpture Demonstration
Grades: 7-12
In an average class of 25 students, between 4 and 6 are Children of Alcoholics (COAs). There will also be children from homes disrupted by other family dysfunctions who have much in common with COAs. In these families, members tend to adjust their behaviors and take on certain roles to cope with the family problem. These survival roles frequently become compulsive, self-destructive and without choices.
Sponsor: Ask Eric
Contact: http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans – health – family life)
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: "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
Talking About Family Changes
Grades: 5-7
Students coming from single-parent and divorced families ,and even students who live in traditional families, face major changes in the family. Divorce, illness, death, birth and remarriage can cause stress and confusing feelings. Encouraging children to talk to trusted adults and friends about feelings and worries can help assuage fears and work out problems. This activity shows students how hard it can be to accomplish a common goal (such as a healthy family) without communication.
Sponsor: Ask Eric
Contact: http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans – health – family life)
Free
"With a little help from my friends?"
Grade(s): 7-8
To learn that having friends is an important part of growing up, but being in charge of the friendship rather than allowing it to control you is also important. In this lesson students learn to not get caught up in peer pressure.
http://www.acde.org/educate/78plan1.htm
Free
Additional Instructional Resources
- Adolescence: Peer Influence – http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty
- Dealing With Problems in Your Family – http://www.shef.ac.uk/counselling/advice/relationships/family.html
- Impact of Family Atmospheres on Children - http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/hstein/atmosph.htm
- School Guidance Counselors
Assessment Ideas
The student will:
- create a scenario in which a family is experiencing a difficult situation.
- describe the affect the difficult situation is having on each family member, and suggest ways each family member may cope with the situation.
