Grade 7 and Grade 8 Health

Syllabus:

Unit 1 - Body Systems

Objectives:

• Describe the nervous system and its functions.
• Describe the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems and their functions.
• Describe the respiratory and urinary systems and their functions.
• Describe the digestive and endocrine systems and their functions.
• Describe the integumentary system and its functions.
• Describe the immune system and its purpose.

Lessons:

• Good Health and the Nervous System
• Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems
• Respiratory and Urinary Systems
• Digestive and Endocrine Systems
• Integumentary Systems
• Immune System

Unit 2 - Health Habits and Health Care

Objectives:

• Describe challenges to good health in each stage of life.
• Describe the importance and reasons for lifelong health education.
• Discuss the importance of developing positive health habits.
• Understand the role of preventive health measures in lowering the risk of illness.
• Describe the different types of preventive health measures.
• Know the difference between communicable and noncommunicable diseases.
• Describe risk factors for communicable disease.
• Understand community health resources and how they can be accessed.
• Describe how to support those with long-term physical health conditions.
• Understand the idea of wellness care.

Lessons:

• Personal Health Challenges
• Using Health Information
• Healthy Habits
• Infectious Illnesses
• Health Care Resources
• Wellness Care

Unit 3 – Nutrition

Objectives:

• Understand the body’s nutritional needs.
• Discuss the different nutrients needed by the body.
• Understand the different nutritional values used to describe healthy intakes of different nutrients.
• Define serving sizes.
• Learn how to read and interpret a food label.
• Develop an approach to eating healthy in different settings.
• Decide healthy portion sizes.
• Describe the short- and long-term effects of convenience foods and sugary beverages.
• Understand the cycle of hunger and satiety and how it is disrupted by sugary foods.

Lessons:

• Nutritional Needs
• Understanding Nutrients
• Making Food Choices
• Healthy Eating Strategies
• Measuring Food Portions
• Unhealthy Food and Beverage Choices

Unit 4 - Physical Activity

Objectives:

• Know the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for physical activity.
• Describe how to balance caloric intake with physical activity.
• Compute basal metabolic rate (BMR).
• Use an activity factor to figure daily caloric needs.
• Understand the mental, physical, and social benefits of proper nutrition and physical activity.
• Apply the CDC guidelines for physical activity to develop a physical fitness plan using appropriate technology.
• Develop and examine progress of short- and long-term goals toward achieving appropriate levels of physical activity, improving physical fitness, and making healthy food choices.
• Explain how media influences buying decisions regarding physical fitness equipment or nutritional products.
• Analyze risk factors that may lead to the development of chronic conditions.
• Analyze the impact of physical activity and healthy dietary practices in preventing chronic conditions, including obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

Lessons:

• Daily Physical Activity and Fitness
• Balance Caloric Intake and Physical Activity
• Benefits of Nutrition and Physical Activity
• Developing a Physical Activity Plan
• Fitness Goals
• Risk and Protective Factors

Unit 5 - Health Awareness and Safety

Objectives:

• Explain how to stay safe in various situations, including fire hazards and weapons hazards.
• Explain how to stay safe in various situations, including fall hazards and weather hazards.
• Demonstrate basic first aid procedures for injuries.
• Explain how to evaluate victims to determine necessary actions.
• Describe evaluating an unconscious victim.
• Describe recognition and treatment for seizures.
• Explain choking rescue.
• Describe treatment for shock.
• Identify possible hazards in the home.
• Identify factors that keep the home from feeling safe and secure.
• Describe the factors that affect individual and community health.
• Understand the efforts of government agencies to provide a healthy environment.
• Understand the contributions of city and county governments to provide a safe and healthy community.

Lessons:

• Safety Skills
• Other Hazards That Threaten Safety
• First Aid Procedures
• Evaluation and Treatment in Emergencies
• A Healthy and Safe Home
• Health and Safety in the Community

Unit 6 - Avoiding Danger

Objectives:

• Demonstrate techniques for becoming aware of risks.
• Explain how risks can be avoided to prevent injury.
• Describe the dangers associated with a variety of weapons.
• Apply strategies for avoiding the dangers of weapons and violence.
• Explain the importance of following rules prohibiting possession of drugs and weapons on the school
• campus or other public facilities.
• Describe the various dangers of social media.
• Identify strategies to resist inappropriate digital and online behavior.
• Recognize the various forms of bullying.
• Explain why bullying is so serious.
• Recognize strategies for combating bullying and cyberbullying.
• Explain why bullying should be reported.
• Define safe haven and identify designated safe haven locations in the community.

Lessons:

• Safety Thinking
• Weapon Safety
• Cyber Safety
• Bullying
• Prevention and Protection from Bullying
• Safe Haven

Unit 7 - Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Use

Objectives:

• Describe the three categories of prescription drugs.
• Describe the purpose of over-the-counter drugs.
• Analyze the effects of misusing prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
• Explain the consequences of misusing and abusing drugs.
• Understand the dangers of alcohol use, including alcohol use disorders.
• Understand the short- and long-term consequences of alcohol addiction.
• Explain the short- and long-term effects of tobacco use.
• Describe the harm created by secondhand smoke.
• Recognize the signs and symptoms of drug use.
• Describe what to do when drug use is suspected.
• Analyze addiction and its consequences and treatment.

Lessons:

• Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs
• Misuse of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs
• Alcohol Misuse and Abuse
• Tobacco Use
• Signs and Symptoms of Drug Use
• Addiction

Unit 8 - Dangers and Treatment of Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Use

Objectives:

• Describe the influences that affect drug, alcohol, and tobacco use.
• Recognize strategies for avoiding peer pressure to use drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
• Demonstrate avoidance strategies and refusal skills regarding drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
• Understand issues and dangers with alcohol, drugs, and tobacco.
• Describe the legal consequences of drug, alcohol, and tobacco misuse and abuse.
• Describe support systems for people with addictions.
• Describe methods for reporting suspected abuse to authorities.
• Analyze the importance of alternative activities to drug, alcohol, and substance use and misuse on mental and social health.

Lessons:

• Influences on Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Use
• Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Avoidance
• Issues and Dangers
• Legal Consequences
• Support for People with Addictions
• Prevention Strategies and Alternative Activities

Unit 9 - Mental Health and Wellness

Objectives:

• Identify attributes of positive mental health and well-being.
• Evaluate the influence of social groups on mental health.
• Describe the importance of relationships and personal communication.
• Examine ways to influence peers positively.
• Describe the difference between stress and anxiety.
• Describe anxiety disorders.
• Describe signs and symptoms of depression.
• Know the warning signs of suicide.
• Recall the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
• Describe the application of effective coping skills.
• Describe methods of communicating emotions.
• Identify and describe types of eating disorders.
• Describe the consequences of disordered eating and eating disorders.

Lessons:

• Defining Mental Health and Well-Being
• Social Influences on Mental Health
• Stress and Anxiety Disorders
• Depression and Suicide
• Coping with Stress
• Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders

Unit 10 - Reproductive and Sexual Health

Objectives:

• Compare and contrast friendship, dating/romantic relationships, and marriage.
• Describe the difference between infatuation and real love.
• Describe healthy ways to express friendship, affection, and love.
• Relate the importance of a healthy sense of self and its connection to setting personal boundaries.
• Describe methods of communicating emotions in romantic relationships and marriage.
• Understand and evaluate the importance of dignity, respect, and support in romantic relationships and marriage.
• Describe the benefits of marriage.
• Recognize the dangers of unwanted sexual activity and create strategies for avoiding it.
• Describe and demonstrate refusal skills that reinforce personal boundaries.
• Recount strategies to avoid unwanted sexual advances or pressure.
• Analyze the consequences of early sexual activity.
• Describe the physical symptoms of STDs/STIs.
• Understand the legal consequences of different types of sexual activity.
• Describe, compare, and contrast the physical, hormonal, and emotional changes in males and females during puberty and adolescence.
• Describe how the process of fertilization occurs.
• Describe emotional changes that are related to pregnancy and childbirth.
• Set life goals and create a plan for reaching them.
• Consider behaviors that will sabotage your life goals.
• Achieve life goals to positively affect mental health.

Lessons:

• Defining Relationships: Friendships, Dating, and Marriage
• Healthy Relationships in Dating and Marriage
• Sexual Harassment and Abuse
• Consequences of Early Sexual Activity
• Reproduction
• Setting Long-term Goals