Health & Physical Education

WAMS Health & Physical Education Philosophy:
Provide all students with the skills and knowledge to consistently practice behaviors that promote lifelong health and well-being and to promote the health of others, the community and environment.

7th-/8th-Grade Physical Education

Course Description: Students in seventh-and eighth-grade Physical Education will take part in a 30-day fitness experience two different times throughout the school year.  Students will practice proper hygiene by changing into school appropriate gym attire and wearing athletic shoes.  Daily class activities include: hockey, soccer, basketball, softball/whiffle ball, team handball, team building, badminton, volleyball, weight lifting, football, invasion games

Instructional Resources: SPARK Curriculum

Course Unit Topics: Team Sports, Individual Sports, Lifetime Fitness

7th-Grade Health Education

Drugs & Alcohol
Students will explore gateway drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana and the long and short-term effects of their use.  Emphasis will be placed on the tendency of gateway drugs to lead to the use of other drugs, often more dangerous and addictive.  Students will analyze influences, practice refusal skills, and practice decision making skills.

Human Sexuality
In this abstinence-based unit, students will be introduced to basic human reproductive anatomy and physiology.  The prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and pregnancy will be discussed with abstinence being the overlying theme.  The promotion of healthy relationships will be explored by practicing health behavior skills. (goal setting, decision making, analyzing influences)

Wellness (Focus on Mental Health)
Students will understand how the components of wellness contribute to their life outlook.  The content will discuss stress, emotions, anxiety, depression, suicide and decision making skills to navigate life.

8th-Grade Health Education

Human Sexuality
Students will continue to strengthen concepts and skills introduced in the seventh-grade course.  Reproductive health and the influence on the social issues, and decision making and goal setting will be explored and analyzed.  These social issues include, sexual harassment, sexual violence, reasons to postpone intercourse, STD risk, parenting, and contraceptives.  Student will also refine and practice their goal setting and refusal skills.

Personal Health
Decision making:  Students will utilize the decision-making model and analyze how it could be used in many health-related situations throughout their lives. 

  • Stress:  Students will discover how stress affects their individual health and well-being.  They will evaluate a variety of stress management techniques and decide which work best for them.
  • Communication:  Student will learn techniques to effectively communicate with others including conflict resolutions skills.
  • Safety:  Students will discuss and develop ways of dealing with the safety issues that often affect individuals their age and practice self-management skills.

Resources:

  • Brainpop.com
  • Healthteacher.com
  • Rutgers University (Sexetc.org/Answer)