Long before I teach the Human Growth and Development unit (Sex-Ed), I have the students write/explain: What LOVE is? What does love look like? How do you know someone loves you? How do you show love? The students talk about feelings. It’s rare when they initially talk about sacrificing for someone else. You sacrifice for what/who you love. This is… Read more »
The units taught before Sex Ed are The Difference Between Men and Women and What is Love. As a result of the sexual harassment events dominating the news lately and the resulting #MeToo movement, these topics need to be included in our curriculum to facilitate good decision making for our students. Boys and Girls are physically different. I’m talking body… Read more »
Human Growth and Development (Sex Ed) is the last unit of the quarter. Before I get there, I want my students to view this unit in context of their future hopes and dreams because ultimately that is where our emotions lie. I have never experienced a student who wrote down low, negative or horrible hopes and dreams. Their dreams are… Read more »
I read a great article, 17 Things People Who Were Raised Right Always Do. I thought what a great activity for our students. I’ve rewritten it by making it specific to each student in terms of “You do. . . . .” It gives each student an opportunity to determine if they meet the criteria. If they… Read more »
An important unit of study in the Health Curriculum is Human Growth and Development (AKA-Sex Ed). We neglect one very important aspect of Sex ED—the male sexual nature. Once upon a time people knew that the “Male Sexual Nature” was / is predatory. Let me define predatory — The male sexual nature is programmed to view women as sexual objects… Read more »
You Might Be a Redneck If … has been a comedic routine made famous by Jeff Foxworthy since 1992 and it still works today because “Being a Redneck is not a Southern thing”. There is a little bit of redneck in all of us because, if we haven’t done it, we thought of doing it or we know someone who… Read more »
When I interviewed for a Health teaching position, I was asked how I would teach Health. My reply was, I focus on one key thing, my student’s future hopes and dreams. The Principal pulled out our State Health Standards, tapped on the page and said what does hopes and dreams have to do with these Health Standards? My answer… Read more »
Here is an activity where you can pose this simple question to your students the first few minutes of Health Class. Project this on the board or give your students a copy. Ask your students to consider if they ever think these thoughts or have acted them out. Jealousy is a health issue. It leads to unhappy, depressed and… Read more »
It matters what children see and hear. They breathe it in like air and will model it before your eyes. Their models are their parents and family members — we know what we know from our families. We inadvertently do what they do without even knowing it until someone points it out. My daughter sent me a video of my… Read more »
Life is a Choice — Here is a selction of 5 minute activities where students copy the advice and compose two to three sentences why they agree or disagree (just pick a thought for the day). 1. No is a complicated word. “No” can mean “No”. Sometimes “No” means “Not yet”. Sometimes “No” means “Too soon”. Sometimes “No” means “Keep… Read more »