Content Area: Health and Physical Education

 

Index: 2.1F Grade 8 CPI 5

 

Standard: 2.1 - Wellness

 

Strand: F -  Social and Emotional Health 

 

Cumulative Progress Indicator: 5 - The student will debate the consequences of conflict and violence on the individual, the family, and the community.

 

Grade: 8

 

Sample Activities:

 

·    SEALED WITH STRENGTH - For this activity, you need two rubber playground balls. Draw a face on each. Put a small hole in one of the balls. Explain that the ball represents a young person. Allow both balls to drop to the floor; the ball with the leak will not bounce as high as the other. Explain that the “injured” ball represents a young person who has experienced violence. In order to be “sealed with strength,” the survivor of violence must participate in recovery. Some people experience what is now called post-traumatic stress syndrome. Describe this for the students. Place a seal over the puncture in the ball and as you mention the steps to recovery, pump a small amount of air into the ball. Bounce the ball again; it should bounce higher than before. Reinforce the five suggestions for recovery. The steps should include:

STEPS TO RECOVERY
-    Talk about what happened.
-    Get a complete medical examination.
-    Seek counseling.
-    Join a support group.
-    Learn and practice self-protection strategies.

 

      Variation: Invite a school or community counselor to speak about recovery and support groups.

Variation: Invite a panel that includes a victim of violence, a family member of a victim, a law enforcement officer, a counselor, and a physician to speak about the effects of violence. Presenters should emphasize helpful resources in the community.

Variation: Divide the class into small groups. Each group develops a list of 10 self-protection strategies. From the list, groups design a role-play and present it to the class. Discuss the appropriateness of the strategies.