Seventh Grade Curriculum Resources
Standard of Learning
7.5 The student will work cooperatively with others to support and promote healthy schools, families, and communities. Key concepts/skills include:
- implementation of safe and healthy practices and behaviors;
- adocating for and using appropriate methods of expressing opinions on health issues;
- the benefits of community service.
Understanding the Standard
The student will implement appropriate health practices and behaviors, identify appropriate methods for expressing opinions on health issues, and understand the benefits of community service.
Essential Knowledge and Skills
The student will:
- describe appropriate health practices and behaviors.
- explain appropriate methods of expressing opinions on health issues.
- list the benefits of community service:
- promotes positive feelings;
- promotes feelings of confidence;
- promotes satisfying personal relationships; and
- provides an opportunity for career exploration.
Sample Lessons
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: "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
It's My Life: "The Dangers of Drug Abuse"
Grade(s): 4-7
Students this age should understand that they will be faced with a variety of decisions regarding their health, and that some of them might involve substances of abuse. Experimentation with drugs often begins in early adolescence.
http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/parents/lesson_plans/dangers_of_drug_abuse.html
Free
"Peer Pressure"
Grade(s): 6-8
At ages 12 to 14, youths are aware of drugs and may already have been offered or pressured to use drugs by older siblings and friends, or by their own peers. This lesson helps students recognize peer pressure and decide how to refuse drugs.
http://www.acde.org/educate/78plan2.htm
Free
Additional Instructional Resources
- American Museum of Natural History - http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/infection
- American Society for Microbiology - http://www.microbe.org/index.html and http://www.washup.org
- Center for Disease Control - http://www.cdc.gov
- Food and Drug Administration - http://www.fda.gov
- Food and Drug Administration - http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics
- Get Smart Virginia - http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epi/getsmart/index.asp
- National Institute of Health - http://www.nih.gov/icd
- National Service Learning Clearinghouse - http://www.servicelearning.org
- PBS Antibiotic Resistance - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/survival/clock/index.html and http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - http://www.epa.gov
- Virginia Department of Social Services - http://www.dss.state.va.us
- Virtual Museum of Bacteria - http://bacteriamuseum.org
Assessment Ideas
The student will:
- write a one-page paper explaining appropriate health practices and behaviors.
- role-play appropriate methods of expressing opinions on health issues.
- list the benefits of community service.
