Wellness

SCOPE AND SEQUENCE FOR GRADES 9-12

The Wellness Department offers four levels of comprehensive Wellness Education:

• 9th Grade Wellness (grade 9 centered around the dynamics of real-world Health Education and a collaborative and comprehensive experience in Physical Education)

• 10th Grade Wellness (grade 10 based in Exercise Science, Nutrition, CPR/First Aid, and the Pursuit of Personal Happiness and Well-being),

• 11th Grade Wellness (grade 11 provides a collective experience that targets all components of the Canton Wellness Wheel and prepares students to pursue Wellness throughout their life.) 

• 12 Grade Wellness (Grade 12 is a course framed around student development of leadership, personal core beliefs, values, and principles as well as a capstone project for students to convey their vision of their own personal wellness).

All students must pass each of the following courses:

• Grade 9 Wellness CP

• Grade 10 Wellness CP

• Grade 11 Wellness CP

• Grade 12 Wellness CP/H

Students may take elective courses in addition to the core requirements. Elective courses MAY fulfill graduation requirements for Wellness in Junior and Senior year OR MAY be taken as stand-alone electives

• Family and Child Studies - Honors

• Project Teammate - Honors

• Wellness Internship- Honors

Students may elect to take Wellness Internship as an elective course.  This DOES NOT fulfill graduation requirements for Wellness.

Course Descriptions 

Course Name: Wellness 9- 9th Grade Wellness

Course Number: 757

Level: CP

Grade Level: 09

Credits: 3

Course Description:

This is a semester-long introductory course comprised of both health education and physical education. Over the course of the semester, class time will be split between learning health-related topics in the classroom and movement-based activities in the gymnasium. Students will also be immersed in an introductory health education curriculum where they will be provided with the knowledge and skills necessary to be safe and successful in today’s fast-paced world. Students will work towards mastery of health skills such as empathizing with real-world health-related topics, analyzing influences, interpersonal communication, decision-making, health-enhancing behaviors, and advocating for personal, family, and community health. Students will practice accessing valid health information in relation to the following topics: mental health, addiction, suicide prevention, and violence prevention. Students will learn the fundamental basics of how to be physically active through fitness; communicating, collaborating, advocating in collaborative-based games; the basic rules and introductory skills to net sport games (pickleball, badminton, tennis, etc.); develop resiliency; have fun through active competitive games; and engage in life-long leisurely activities that they can engage in outside of school.

Student Expectations:

Students in this course will be expected to engage in physical activity involving fitness, competitive games, and moderate to vigorous physical exertion.  Students will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of basic fitness concepts, transferable life skills to be used beyond wellness class and high school, and leisurely physical activities that can be performed outside of class.  Students will also be expected to learn about empathy and how to apply it to real-world health-related situations.  Students will design, develop, and create a research project about a real-world health topic that focuses on solving a real-world problem.  In their project, students will be responsible for creating a presentation and a public product to solve their authentic problem.  Students will be expected to demonstrate healthy decision-making skills and comprehension of outcomes as a result of health-related choices.

Course Name: Wellness 10 - 10th Grade Wellness

Course Number: 758

Level: CP

Grade Level: 10

Credits: 3

Course Description:

This semester-long course is an expansion of concepts learned in Wellness 101. Sophomore students acquire basic knowledge and skills relevant to personal development, as it applies to individual mental and physical wellness. Students explore a variety of lifelong physical activities to promote engagement in physical movement, both at the individual and community level. Activities include, but are not limited to, introduction to golf, yoga basics, fundamentals of dance, safety and self-defense principles, etc. Students enrolled in the course participate in a series of discussions, related to identified areas of concern per the Canton High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) Results using data from the most recent year; these topics may include addiction, mental health concerns or conditions, etc. The course is designed to engage students in social-emotional skill development and breathing/mindfulness practices, paired with additional stress-management strategies. The course offers American Red Cross CPR/First Aid/AED training with a certified trainer to promote personal physical safety and community advocacy. Sophomore students will learn positive psychology practices, otherwise referred to as the science of well-being, in order to gain an evidence-based and global perspective as it relates to personal health goals. Students will also explore current character strengths and values and how it applies to future goal-setting, creating their own personal philosophy for a meaningful or mentally successful life. The course delves into nutritional practices as it relates to overall well-being (i.e., mood, strength training). The course allows students to identify qualities of a healthy relationship and provides evidence-based reproductive health information. 

Student Expectations:

Students will be expected to participate in fitness education and physical movement within a fitness space environment. Students will also be expected to learn basic nutrition principles and apply them to create their own healthy eating habits and practices. Students will learn CPR and First Aid and will demonstrate competency in physical skills pertaining to how to perform both elements. Students in wellness health education should be prepared to complete both individual and group projects and presentations in connection to course content. Students will identify and convey their own personal well-being philosophy from an individual, group, community, and global perspective. Students will participate in a series of discussions based on mental and physical health concerns impacting their age demographic. 

Course Name: Wellness 11 - 11th Grade Wellness

Course Number: 759

Level: CP

Grade Level: 11

Credits: 3

Course Description:

This semester-long course engages students in content to help prepare them to live a life of well-rounded health and wellness.  This course will provide students with the opportunity to experience a variety of wellness-driven content inclusive of life skills such as cooking, financial literacy, and personal care practices.  Students will have the chance to engage in various physical activities that will correspond to their life beyond high school and where they can explore their own personal physical, social, and emotional well-being in a way that they enjoy and feel benefits their life. Students will be provided the opportunity to focus on lifelong wellness pursuits through physical activities that promote physical, social, and emotional well-being and enhanced quality of life. These activities may include tennis, badminton, pickleball, frisbee, wiffle ball, backyard games, yoga and meditation, and walking for fitness.

Student Expectations:

Students should expect to be physically active in this course as well as prepared to explore life skills such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, and financial literacy.  Students will develop and demonstrate comprehension and acquisition of critical and valuable life skills that help them actively pursue a life of physical, social, emotional, financial, environmental, intellectual, and community wellness. 

Course Name: Wellness 12 - 12th Grade Wellness

Course Number: 760/761

Level: CP/H

Grade Level: 12

Credits: 3

Course Description:

This semester-long course is designed to help seniors explore personal development and leadership through a combination of theory, self-discovery, and hands-on experiences. Students will have the option to enroll in either the College Prep or Honors version of the course, with each level offering a unique approach to learning.

The course covers key leadership principles, emphasizing self-awareness, the dynamics of leading and following, and experiential learning. Through a comprehensive exploration of personal values and philosophy, students will develop their own leadership styles and apply them to creating a personalized wellness plan. Students will engage in cross-curricular learning to understand various aspects of leadership and wellness, gaining insights that empower them to reflect on their principles and pursue a path toward holistic well-being. Throughout the course, students will have opportunities to engage in physical wellness activities, exploring different ways to enhance their personal health.

College Prep Level:
Students in the College Prep level will focus on understanding core leadership concepts, self-awareness, and wellness practices through guided activities and group discussions. The course will emphasize personal reflection and practical application of leadership principles in everyday life. Students will engage in physical wellness practices and complete projects that encourage the integration of leadership and wellness into their daily routines.

Honors Level:
Honors students will be held to higher academic and personal expectations. In addition to the core curriculum, they will be required to engage in more rigorous assignments, including the development of a detailed authentic self & personal values paper, and a comprehensive capstone project. These students will delve deeper into leadership theories and their applications, where they will explore, create, and inspire. Honors students will also have opportunities for more advanced field leadership experiences, allowing them to demonstrate a higher level of initiative and leadership in both individual and group settings.

Student Expectations (Both Levels):
All students will be expected to reflect on their wellness journey throughout high school and develop a personal philosophy of wellness. They will gain a deep understanding of how to apply the Canton Wellness Wheel in their daily lives and demonstrate how each dimension of wellness contributes to their overall well-being. Personal development, self-reflection, and field-based leadership experiences will be integral to shaping their personal growth and wellness goals.

Wellness Electives (these courses are not designed to replace the required courses or meet the graduation requirements)

Course Name: Family and Child Studies 

Course Number: 736  

Level: H   

Grade Level: 11-12

Credits: 3

This course is designed to assist students in developing an understanding of the role and responsibilities of families and the process of human development. Emphasis is given to the development of skills and competencies related to parenting readiness, decision-making, pregnancy and childbirth, child growth and development, rights and responsibilities of families, providing nurturance and guidance techniques for promoting positive behavior, prevention of child abuse and neglect, and promotion of health and safety of children. This course includes the use of an infant simulator for individual and co-parenting experiences. This course partners with the Rodman Early Education program for child observations and experiential learning opportunities. In addition, students enrolled in the course will participate in a financial literacy program and complete the Red Cross Babysitter Training course with a certified instructor, including Infant/Child/Adult CPR and AED training (with certification option). 

Student Expectations:

Students enrolling in Family and Child Studies should be prepared to complete both individual and group projects and public (CHS community) presentations in connection to course content. Students will experience hands-on training with infant care, providing weekend and weekday care (5 consecutive days) of an artificial infant during the course. All students will participate in CPR and AED training regardless of certification option.

Course Name: Wellness Internship

Course Number: 733

Level: H

Grade Level: 11-12

Credits: 3

This opportunity to explore leadership skills is a unique offering. Juniors and seniors who have the desire to learn how to be dynamic and skilled leaders should speak to the K-12 Wellness Coordinator regarding this opportunity. This class is an elective and does not release the requirement of other wellness classes. This is an excellent course for students who want to move into any wellness-related field that requires them to display leadership skills.

Note: Enrollment in this course requires permission from the Wellness Coordinator.

Student Expectations:

Students will help with all aspects of the Wellness Department, ranging from being a teacher’s assistant to the various day-to-day work that happens within the Wellness office. 

Course Name: Project Teammate   

Course Number: 749

Level: H   

Grade Level: 9-12

Credits: 3

Project Teammate is a collaboration between regular and special education staff, which creates a special learning opportunity for students with and without disabilities. Students with special needs and their “teammates” work together in the physical education, vocational, academic, and social skills domains. In the physical education class, activities are developed which teach the importance of physical fitness, develop each student’s stamina, endurance, and flexibility, prepare for the Special Olympics, develop fine and gross motor skills, improve mobility, and model behavior and social skills. In the vocational skills class, the “teammates'' reinforce appropriate work behavior and social skills within a vocational setting with jobs in the school. Students may also work with postgraduate students in the area of transition skills from school to independent living. The coursework includes completion of a weekly journal, assigned readings and case studies, and a final paper on a specific disability.

Note: Students entering this class must receive approval from the Wellness Coordinator and the Special Education Team Chair.