Content Area: Health and Physical Education

 

Index: 2.1F Grade 8 CPI 2

 

Standard: 2.1 - Wellness

 

Strand: F -  Social and Emotional Health 

 

Cumulative Progress Indicator: 2 - The student will discuss the developmental tasks of adolescence, including the development of mature relationships, gender identification, a healthy body image, emotional independence, and life skills.

 

Grade: 8

 

Sample Activities:

 

·        MOVING TOWARDS ADOLESCENCE - Write the word adolescence on the chalkboard. Use a whip-around, pass-option activity to elicit words related to adolescence. Develop a web using the students’ suggestions. Explain that the word adolescence is based on the Latin root esso which means “becoming.” (Write the Latin word on the board.) Use a transparency or chart to display the three stages of adolescence (early, middle, and late adolescence which ends between ages 19 and 21). Write three categories on the chalkboard: “Physical,” “Social,” and “Emotional.” Divide the class into three groups and assign each group one of the categories. Each group develops a time line outlining the changes that occur during each of the three phases of adolescence. Allow each group to present their time line. Conclude by having each student write a brief journal entry entitled “I Am Becoming...”

 

·        BRIDGING THE GENERATION GAP - Students interview two adult family members or admired adults. The interviewees must be the same
gender as the student. Students develop a written profile of the two subjects and share their impressions with classmates. Sample interview questions might include the following:
-        Do you think males and females are raised differently? If yes, in what ways?
-        Do you think you were treated differently because you were a male/female? How?
-        How will my life be different than yours?
-        If you could relive your life, what would you do differently?
-        Which roles are most important in your life?
-        What is one piece of advice you have for me?

Variation: Students write an essay describing the person(s) who have most influenced their development as a person and as a male or female.