Middle School Curriculum Overview

The Arlington Public Schools utilizes SPARK as it's baseline physical education curriculum. The middle school Physical Education/Wellness Program is an activity based learning experience.  The goal of the program is for students to develop knowledge, skills, and appreciation in a variety of activities with the hope that the child will develop healthy lifestyles that include lifelong physical activity.  Lifelong participation in any form of physical activity contributes to good health and wellness.  Students will experience a variety of activities at the middle school level to help them understand the enjoyment and satisfaction that good physical fitness can bring. 

The Arlington Public Schools currently uses the HealthSmart Curriculum as it's baseline health education curriculum. Topics fall under the categories of Emotional & Mental Health, Nutrition, Tobacco, Alcohol & Other Drug Prevention, Violence & Injury Prevention, Abstinence, Puberty & Personal Health and HIV, STI & Pregnancy Prevention. Other resources are also utilized when developing lesson plans for the various topics introduced for each grade level. 

The Grade 6 Health curriculum focuses on skills for life outside of the classroom.  Students will learn and develop emotional regulation, communication skills, self advocacy, tolerance, and stress management techniques.  Students will also learn decision making skills, especially in regards to new risks like drugs, tobacco, and alcohol as well as online communication.  Students will attend their Health class everyday for one quarter of the school year.

The Grade 7 Health curriculum at Ottoson helps students acquire functional health knowledge, strengthens attitudes, beliefs, and practice skills needed to adopt and maintain healthy behaviors throughout their lives. Students will attend their Grade 7 health classes for approximately 14-16 classes during the school year.

The Grade 8 Health curriculum at Ottoson builds upon the units taught in Grade 7 and continues to help adolescents acquire functional health knowledge, strengthens attitudes, beliefs, and practice skills needed to adopt and maintain healthy behaviors throughout their lives. Students will attend their Grade 8 health classes for approximately 14-16 classes during the school year.

The FACS program teaches students basic health and daily living concepts. FACS also challenges students to solve problems, make connections between academics and real life application, and to use critical thinking skills in their everyday lives. The emphasis is on healthy life skills, school-to-work skills, and helping students discover how academics connect to real life. There is a focus on project based learning, experiential learning, safety skills, and opportunities for both independent and group work. Students will attend their grade 7 and 8 FACS classes 2-3 days per week for one quarter of the school year.