Middle School Health Education: 

Grade 6:
Health is a condition of well-being that is required for the development of each individual and for society as a whole.  Health results from interaction among physical factors, mental and emotional reactions and social context.  It is influences by the understandings, values, attitudes, beliefs, skills, culture and behaviors of the individual, his or her family, the community and the world.  Health instruction at Farnsworth Middle School works to promote the health and well-being of our students.  The health education program works in partnership with the home, school and community.  To support this partnership with the family, prior to instruction on each topic, a letter is sent home with students so that families can discuss the topics at home.  Additionally, a list of videos that may be used with a short description of the curricular connection is provided for parent information at the beginning of the year. 

The sixth grade health program is taught by a certified health teacher daily for a ten-week period.  Instruction builds on prior learning and is integrated with other content areas.  The instructional focus is on providing accurate, age-appropriate information to support students’ abilities to make informed decisions, to solve problems, to be safe and to achieve a high level of wellness.

Goals:

• Provide students with the understandings and skills required to set goals, make informed decisions and solve health problems.

• Develop awareness of the role of health in the lives of individuals, families and the community.

• Nurture the development of attitudes that place a high value on optimal health.

• Foster the development of self-awareness and self-esteem.

• Enable students to deal effectively with change and take increasing responsibility for health

Topics:
Mental Wellness:
     Decision-making, problem solving, goal setting, respect

Death/Dying:
     Stages of grief, strategies and sources of help

Personal Safety:
     Sexual abuse, abduction prevention – strategies for being safe

Substance Abuse Prevention:
     Alcohol, tobacco and drugs

AIDS:
     Nature of the disease, transmission and prevention

Grade 7:
Health is a condition of well-being that is required for the development of each individual and for society as a whole.  Health results from interaction among physical factors, mental and emotional reactions and social context.  It is influences by the understandings, values, attitudes, beliefs, skills, culture and behaviors of the individual, his or her family, the community and the world.  Health instruction at Farnsworth Middle School works to promote the health and well-being of our students.  The health education program works in partnership with the home, school and community.  To support this partnership with the family, prior to instruction on each topic, a letter is sent home with students so that families can discuss the topics at home.  Additionally, a list of videos that may be used with a short description of the curricular connection is provided for parent information at the beginning of the year. 

The seventh grade health program is taught by a health educator for ten weeks and builds on prior learning.  The instructional focus is on providing accurate, age-appropriate information to support students’ abilities to make informed decisions, to solve problems, to be safe and to achieve a high level of wellness. 

Goals: 

• Provide students with the understandings and skills required to set goals, make informed decisions and solve health problems.

• Develop awareness of the role of health in the lives of individuals, families and the community

• Nurture the development of attitudes that place a high value on optimal health

• Foster the development of self-awareness and self-esteem

• Enable students to deal effectively with change and take increasing responsibility for health

Topics:
Mental Wellness:
     Decision-making, problem solving, sources of help

Safety:
     Abduction prevention

 Substance Abuse Prevention:
     Alcohol, tobacco and marijuana

 Human Sexuality:
     Characteristics and changes in adolescence, male and female anatomy

 HIV Infection and AIDS:
     Nature of the disease, transmission and prevention

 Control Over Me:
     Peer relationships, harassment

Grade 8:

Health is a condition of well-being that is required for the development of each individual and for society as a whole.  Health results from interaction among physical factors, mental and emotional reactions and social context.  It is influences by the understandings, values, attitudes, beliefs, skills, culture and behaviors of the individual, his or her family, the community and the world.  Health instruction at Farnsworth Middle School works to promote the health and well-being of our students.  The health education program works in partnership with the home, school and community.  To support this partnership with the family, prior to instruction on each topic, a letter is sent home with students so that families can discuss the topics at home.  Additionally, a list of videos that may be used with a short description of the curricular connection is provided for parent information at the beginning of the year. 

The eighth grade health program is taught by a certified health teacher for a total of ten weeks.  Instruction builds on prior learning and is integrated with other content areas.  The instructional focus is on providing accurate, age-appropriate information to support students’ abilities to make informed decisions, to solve problems, to be safe and to achieve a high level of wellness.

Goals:

• Provide students with the understandings and skills required to set goals, make informed decisions and solve health problems

• Develop awareness of the role of health in the lives of individuals, families, and the community

• Nurture the development of attitudes that place a high value on optimal health

• Foster the development of self-awareness and self-esteem

• Enable students to deal effectively with change and take increasing responsibility for health