Content Area: Health and Physical Education

 

Index: 2.1F Grade 12 CPI 5

 

Standard: 2.1 - Wellness

 

Strand: F -  Social and Emotional Health 

 

Cumulative Progress Indicator: 5 - The student will predict how a family might cope with crisis or change and suggest ways to restore family balance and function.

 

Grade: 12

 

Sample Activities:

 

·        DEALING WITH DEATH - Many people approach death by denying it will ever happen. Explain that all families are confronted with death at some point and family members need to be prepared to deal with it. Brainstorm ways people can prepare for death and discuss individuals who can provide help and support. Divide the class into small groups. Each group discusses the following scenario and recommends strategies for the character to deal with loss.

CASEY'S DAD
Casey’s dad had a sudden heart attack and died. It was totally unexpected and Casey couldn’t believe it happened. Casey has a large family of aunts, uncles, and cousins to provide support. People from the church helped out and there was so much going on, Casey hardly had the time to think. A week after the funeral, everyone had gone home and the house seemed very quiet and empty. Casey’s mom just sat and stared out the window. Casey’s little brother has become quite impossible—he was always a pest—but now he is worse than ever, having temper tantrums. Casey has lost it with him more than once. Everything just seems to be falling apart.

Variation: Extend the scenario to include other family changes and crises, such as a fire that leaves the family homeless, a move to an unfamiliar place in the middle of senior year, the loss of a friend, a divorce or remarriage, or the break-up of a long term relationship.

Variation: Keeping the focus on death, students research the preparation required for a funeral. Students investigate the differences based on culture, religion, or ethnic origin.

Variation: Invite a counselor, religious leader, and mortician to speak to the class about coping with death.

 

·        DISCUSSING DEATH AND LOSS - Present a number of quotations, similar to the ones below, for interpretation and discussion. Students may also use the quotes as the basis for an essay on perceptions of death and loss.

-        There is no cure for birth or death save to enjoy the interlude. — George Santayana
-        Expect an early death - it will keep you busier. — Martin Fischer
-        Life is the leading cause of death. — Anonymous
-        No man enjoys the true taste of life but he who is willing and ready to quit it. — Seneca

 

·        NEGOTIATING FOR LIFE - Write a number of health and safety situations on slips of paper and place in a hat. Each student selects one situation, reads it to the class, and without further preparation, describes how he/she would handle the situation. The class votes, thumbs up or down , on the choice of skills proposed by the “performer”. Allow one thumbs-down participant to challenge and offer an alternative strategy. Encourage students to be creative in the use of the skills.