Content Area: Health and Physical Education

 

Index: 2.4B Grade 8 CPI 1

 

Standard: 2.4 - Human Relationships & Sexuality

 

Strand: B - Sexuality

 

Cumulative Progress Indicator:  1 - The student will discuss the influence of hormones, heredity, nutrition, and the environment on the physical, social, and emotional changes that occur at puberty.

 

Grade: 8

 

Sample Activities:

 

·        WHY DO I FEEL THIS WAY? - Students research the impact of hormones on sexual feelings during adolescence and relate the emergence of these feelings to the physiological changes that are occurring. Small groups develop strategies to deal with these new sexual thoughts and images and to enhance their ability to make safe and appropriate choices regarding sexual feelings. Groups share examples of the strategies and rank them for potential effectiveness.

 

·        EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW - Students write a letter to an imaginary sibling about to enter puberty. In the letter, students explain the process and offer tips to better prepare for the changes.

 

      Variation: Students generate anonymous questions about puberty and place them in a question box. Students select a question from the box and answer the question, in letter format, to an imaginary young person. Students share the responses in small groups.