Content Area: Health and Physical Education

 

Index: 2.1F Grade 8 CPI 7

 

Standard: 2.1 - Wellness

 

Strand: F -  Social and Emotional Health 

 

Cumulative Progress Indicator: 7 - The student will analyze how culture influences the ways families and groups cope with crisis and change.

 

Grade: 8

 

Sample Activities:

 

·        FAMILY SUPPORT - Divide the class into small groups, and give each group a situation that reflects a crisis (e.g., loss of parent, job loss, illness, fire). Each group discusses their situation and lists ways students and their families can cope when these problems occur. Groups identify community resources available to help when such situations arise and present their findings to the class. Variation: Invite speakers from the community to discuss services available for individuals and families in crisis.

 

·        BELIEFS ABOUT DEATH - Invite representatives from the predominant religious faiths of the community to discuss their beliefs about death. Prior to the panel, students generate a list of questions for the panelists.

 

      Variation: Students watch a television show that is likely to have a death scene (e.g., medical show, police drama). After viewing the show, students discuss the following questions:
-        Was a death portrayed on the show? How many?
-        How old was the person who died?
-        What was the cause of death (e.g., illness, accident, shooting)?
-        What attitudes about death were presented?
-        What kind of ceremony was portrayed?

      -        How did family and friends deal with the death?
-        Was the portrayal of death realistic? Why or why not?

 

·        DEALING WITH DEATH AND LOSS - Students develop a role-play for each of the situations listed below. After each presentation, discuss the type of loss experienced, the grief process, and the strategies used to cope with the loss. After the skits are completed, students complete a journal entry describing their thoughts as a participant in the role-play.

SAMPLE SCENARIOS: DEATH AND LOSS:
-        Johnny’s grandfather died. He lived far away and Johnny hasn’t seen him for a long time. Johnny is not sure he wants to go to the funeral. Johnny and his family talk about the problem.
-        Same as above but Johnny wants to go to the funeral and his parents do not think he should.
-        Three small children are talking about a dead bird.
-        An elderly person is explaining what he/she believes about funerals to a young child.
-       The Morgan’s house was destroyed in a fire. The family discusses what they will do next.