8th Grade Health

Unity Middle School 8th Grade Health

Students at Unity Middle School are required to take 7th and 8th grade health class. In fact, Unity School District allows students to meet health graduation requirements while in middle school by successfully passing a quarter of health in both seventh (7) and eighth (8) grades. Throughout the student experience in 8th grade health they will be presented with information and the knowledge to help them live healthy and they will be given the tools and techniques to help them do so. All of Unity Middle School health education classes follow the Wisconsin Health Education Academic Standards developed by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

During a student's 18 weeks in 8th grade health (class every other day), they can expect to learn about/study the following topics:

-Wellness: students will learn the seven (7) dimensions of wellness and how they are related to all of the information/content presented in this class.

-Self-Confidence/Goal-Setting: students will learn how to set goals using the SMART technique. Students will also be presented with information on self-esteem, body image, and how relaxation techniques are helpful.

-Violence and Injury Prevention: students will analyze the impact media has on our daily lives, specifically violence in the media.

-Responsibility/Decision-Making: students will become aware of their nutritional habits through the use of a food log. Also, students will analyze how responsibility and decision-making play a role in relationships.

-Disease: students will gather and organize information about a disease and convey their findings to their classmates through a presentation.

-Relationships/Communication: students will learn the impact of stress as it relates to diseases, relationships, eating habits, and work/grades. Also, students will learn the appropriate ways of handling stress and anger without the use of violence. Moreover, students will analyze how effective communication can improve their exisiting relationships.

-Substance Use/Abuse: students will compare facts about certain drugs to information from peers and how chemicals affect a healthy life. The class will utilize The Truth about Drugs curriculum and study 8 different drugs. While in this unit, a Deputy Sheriff from the Polk County Sheriff's Department will present information about what the drugs actually look like, local drug trends and how the drugs effect our daily lives.

Human Growth and Development: students will be presented with in-depth information to keep themselves healthy, as it pertains to their reproductive health. We will study HIV/AIDS and other STIs. We will talk in-depth about teenage pregnancy. A nurse from the Polk County Health Department will present information about contraception and how teenagers can access additional information and support. We will also take a look at the laws associated with human sexuality and sexual assault.

Suicide Prevention: students will be presented with a presentation by the Mental Health Task Force of Polk County. The presentation will focus on Q (question), P (persuade), R (refer) and the students will be trained as gatekeepers.

CPR: students will learn how to perform CPR. Although an introductory lesson, the students will learn hand placement, the correct procedures leading up to and after CPR, the use of AEDs and other important techniques to use in case of an emergency.