Content Area: Health and Physical Education

 

Index: 2.4A Grade 8 CPI 4

 

Standard: 2.4 - Human Relationships & Sexuality

 

Strand: A - Relationship

 

Cumulative Progress Indicator:  4 - The student will discuss factors that enhance and sustain loving, healthy relationships.

 

Grade: 8

 

Sample Activities:

 

·        WELL-ADJUSTED AND HEALTHY - Brainstorm what constitutes a well-adjusted and healthy marriage. List all the responses on the board. In a healthy relationship, partners:
-        Agree on critical issues
-        Share common interests
-        Show affection and shared confidence
-        Have few complaints
-        Are not lonely or irritable

Divide the class into small groups. Provide each group with a description of an imaginary couple. Each group discusses whether the couple has a chance at a healthy relationship. Case studies should include couples with religious, economic, and educational issues. Be sure to include ethnic, racial, and cultural factors in the case studies. After discussing the imaginary couple, each group rates the potential for a healthy marriage on a scale of 1 to 10 (1= unlikely, 10= highly likely). Each group defends their position based on the information provided.

Variation: Divide the class into groups of four, preferably mixed gender groups. Provide each group with a different magazine article that focuses on finding the perfect mate or having the perfect marriage or relationship. After reading the article, each group considers the following questions: “Do the
readers agree with the article? Is the information accurate? Does the article speak to the issues or was the title of the article misleading? Do the male readers look at the article the same way as the female readers?” After discussion, each group selects a spokesperson to summarize the article and present the viewpoints of the group.

 

·        MATURITY AND COMMITMENT - People entering into a long-term, committed relationship must display certain actions in order for the relationship to be healthy. Divide the class into small groups, and assign each group one of the following factors that contribute towards a healthy marriage or relationship. Each group discusses the factor and then develops examples of how that factor contributes to a healthy relationship. Each group develops several examples of the factor within the context of the relationship and then presents their ideas to the class. Use the ideas to develop a graphic organizer that can be used to generate further discussion. Participants in a healthy marriage/relationship must be able to:
-        Give and receive.
-        Compromise.
-        Be flexible.
-        Be responsible for his/her own feelings.
-        Use all their abilities and skills to establish and maintain the relationship.
-        Remain stable.
-        Establish and meet goals and plans.
-        Articulate his/her values.
-        Meet his/her emotional needs in healthy ways.

 

·        FRIENDSHIP COUNTS - Students write a short story about friendship using the following statement as a trigger: Friendship is born at the moment when one person says to another, “What, you too? I thought I was the only one.” The story should emphasize factors that sustain friendships and clearly illustrate situations that support the relationship. Students share their stories, vote on the best original story, and develop a screenplay for videotaping or dramatic presentation.