Sixth Grade Family Life Education (FLE)
Year at a Glance
Grade Six Instructional Objectives—Emotional and Social Health Education
6.1 Students will demonstrate increased understanding of child abuse and neglect, including emotional and sexual abuse.
Descriptive Statement: Instruction will include defining types of abuse, importance of reporting, and identifying resources for the reporting and treatment of child abuse and family violence.
6.2 Students will explain that there are laws protecting children from inappropriate and abusive behavior of others.
Descriptive Statement: This includes defining sexual, emotional, and physical abuse and neglect; helping children understand what behavior should be expected from adults; and explaining ways to respond positively to family members and younger children in students’ care. Instruction will include defining and describing human (child/teen sex) trafficking.
6.3 Students will become aware of school and community health-care services and how to access these services.
Descriptive Statement: Instruction includes the availability of the following services: child abuse prevention; treatment of abuse victims; mental health counseling; substance abuse prevention and treatment and support groups; health care services, including the role of the primary care provider and local health department; police department, and other safety services. Additional resources for help will include trusted adults such as parents/guardians, school personnel, coaches, and clergy.
6.4 Students will examine the positive aspects and misuse of social media and text messaging.
Descriptive Statement: Instruction will include identifying the positive aspects of social media and text messaging; the misuse of social media and text messaging including the consequences of engaging in cyberbullying and sexually explicit communication (sexting); strategies for appropriate use of technology; and strategies for responding to/dealing with inappropriate online communication.
Grade Six Media—Emotional and Social Health Education
Tricked: Inside the World of Teen Sex Trafficking. FCPS Media Services (Fairfax Network) Introductory segment (1:28 - 6:02 only)
Grade Six Instructional Objectives—Human Growth and Development Education
6.1 (Gender Separate): Students will explore the physical, emotional, and social changes that occur during puberty and relate personal hygiene to these changes.
Descriptive Statement: This includes a review of physiological changes introduced in fifth grade and a brief examination of psychological and social changes, including mood swings, changing family and peer relationships, and increasing interest in romantic relationships. Ways to cope with these changes are addressed, including proper diet, exercise, and talking with a trusted adult such as an adult family member, teacher, counselor, or member of the clergy. The relationship among bodily changes, good personal hygiene and positive interactions with others is emphasized. Girls only review the use and proper disposal of personal hygiene products.
6.2 (Gender Separate): Students will review the structures and functions of the male and female reproductive systems and how these change during puberty.
Descriptive Statement: Instruction includes the structures and functions of the male and female reproductive organs systems. Instruction of the male reproductive system will include the penis, testicles, vas deferens, and scrotum. Instruction of the female reproductive system will include the urethra, uterus, ovaries, vagina, cervix, and fallopian tubes. The external female genitalia will be identified to include the vulva, labia, clitoris, and adjacent structures such as the urethra The reproductive organs are explained in relation to the total human anatomy.
6.3 (Gender Separate): Students will expand prior knowledge of the process of human reproduction.
Descriptive Statement: This includes review and extension of information about fertilization, prenatal development, fetal support structures, prenatal care, and birth. The concept that physical readiness to become a mother or father precedes the psychological, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, financial, and social maturity needed to make a commitment to marriage and raising a family is emphasized.
6.4 (Gender Separate): Students will study basic facts about sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Descriptive Statement: Viral (genital herpes, human papilloma virus [HPV], HIV/AIDS) and bacterial STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis) are reviewed, and consequences of STIs are presented. Prevention of STIs through sexual abstinence, fidelity within marriage, available vaccinations, and avoidance of needle sharing and intravenous drug use is stressed.
6.5 (Gender Separate): Students will identify reasons for avoiding premarital sexual intercourse.
Descriptive Statement: Instruction includes exploration of the physical, psychological, social, academic, spiritual, and financial consequences of premarital sexual intercourse. The benefits of sexual abstinence in supporting healthy adolescent development are emphasized and students review and practice using refusal skills in situations related to adolescent development.
Grade Six Media–Human Growth and Development Education
Straight Talk About Puberty for Boys, Marsh Media (2012), 17:30 minutes.
Note: Media title will be shown to boys only.
Companion to the program for girls, Straight Talk About Puberty For Boys will help answer many of those important, but often not asked, questions that maturing boys always have. Boys will learn about the male reproductive system; hygiene and good grooming; dangers of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs to growing bodies; emotional and physical changes of puberty; and importance of exercise and good nutrition.
Straight Talk About Puberty for Girls, Marsh Media (2012), 20 minutes.
Note: Companion media to boys’ title; will be shown to girls only
As an alternative to story-driven programs, this title is streamlined and trimmed down to “just the facts” – which makes it slightly shorter, and more to the point. Girls will learn about the female reproductive system; hygiene and good grooming; dangers of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs to growing bodies; emotional and physical changes of puberty; and importance of exercise and good nutrition.