5th grade boys and girls view all four (4) films; however boys and girls view the following films separately: Always Changing and Growing Up Girls / Always Changing and Growing Up Boys.
6th grade boys and girls view all four(4) films together.
What curriculum is used in 5th and 6th Grade Human Growth and Development (HG&D) classes? What is the format of instruction? Both fifth and sixth grade use a series of videos (see above) to teach HG&D. Following the viewing of the videos, students write down any questions they have and submit them to the teacher. The teacher then selects appropriate questions to answer and discuss with the class. There is no student book or workbook and only the topics raised in the videos are discussed in class. Typically, the entire sequence of videos is covered over the course of a week.
What topics are covered in 5th and 6th grade HG&D classes? 5th and 6th grade HG&D largely deals with students maturing and experiencing puberty. The videos talk about changes in the body (hair, sweat, voice, etc.). There are also videos about HIV/AIDS and the immune system. In 6th grade, students watch "The Miracle of Life" which details the development and birth of a baby. The HG&D program does not talk about the act of sex with students nor is this a topic that is addressed by teachers. All instructional videos are linked above and can be previewed by parents.
Do boys and girls view the videos together? 5th grade boys and girls view all four films; however, boys and girls view the following films separately: Always Changing and Growing Up Girls / Always Changing and Growing Up Boys. 6th grade boys and girls view all four films together.
What does the teacher do if sensitive topics arise during student questions or class discussion? The teacher screens all student questions before selecting which ones to respond to. Questions about sensitive topics (including the act of sex) will not be addressed in class. Teachers will often state "That is a good question for you to discuss with your parents" when sensitive topics arise during class discussion.
Does my child have to participate in the RUSD HG&D program? No, California Education Code requires that parents "opt in" for this program via a written permission slip. Parents have the choice of whether or not their students participate in the HG&D program.
If my child does not participate, where will they go and what will they do during the time when HG&D is being taught? Typically, students who do not participate in HG&D will be sent to an alternate location such as another classroom or the office. They will be given a independent health or science related topic to work on during the time their class is conducting HG&D. Most parents do choose to have their students participate in the program.
If you have additional questions, please use this form to submit them. The RUSD team will respond via email or phone within a short time frame.