Seventh Grade Family Life Education (FLE)

Grade Seven Instructional Objectives - Emotional And Social Health 

7.1 Students will identify physical, emotional, sexual, and social developmental changes that occur during the middle school years.

The new responsibilities related to changing classes, communication with more teachers, organization and homework, and other school-related changes are discussed, and resources for support are presented. Instruction will include that adolescence is a period of time when teens are growing and developing physically, socially, psychologically, and sexually. During this period of time they have a greater interest in sexuality than they had in their younger years.  Emphasis will be placed on recognizing that everyone is experiencing changes and the role of respectful, inclusive language in promoting an environment free of bias and discrimination.  Students will be provided definitions for sexual orientation terms heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality; and the gender identity term transgender.

7.2 Students will explore changes in peer relationships during adolescence

Emphasis is on the increasing importance of peer relationships and the effects of changing interests on friendships during adolescence.  Issues such as meeting new people, fitting in, maintaining friendships, dealing with peer pressure, and coping with changes and loss in friendships are explored.

7.3 Students will describe how adolescent development affects family relationships and practice effective strategies for communicating with family members.

Instruction includes the characteristics of strong families (commitment, time together, appreciation, communication, spiritual wellness, and coping with crisis) and explores students’ changing roles and responsibilities as they seek more independence and privileges. 

7.4 Students will explore safety issues related to the Internet. 

Instruction includes how predators can use the Internet to exploit young people, to include human (child/teen sex) trafficking; common techniques and lures used by Internet predators; and strategies for protecting personal information and seeking adult support in uncomfortable situations.

7.5 Students will explore the relationship among positive self-image, healthy development, and healthy decision making during the middle school years. 

Instruction includes identifying personal strengths and developing a plan for personal growth; understanding how supporting and helping others improves self-esteem; recognizing how involvement in school and community activities can positively impact emotional, social, and community health; and seeking support in coping with the many changes of the middle school years.

7.6 Students will identify appropriate and inappropriate personal and social use of technology.

Instruction includes the role that technology plays in education, relationships, and social interactions.  Potential long-term health, academic, career, and criminal consequences of engaging in sexually explicit communication will be emphasized. Sexually explicit communication including sexually explicit shared/posted images and videos of minors, whether or not consented to, may be considered child pornography. Strategies for responding to/dealing with inappropriate online communication will be included.

Grade Seven Media—Emotional and Social Health Education

Get a Winning Attitude, Sunburst Visual Media, 2003. (20 minutes) 

The video shows teenagers in scenarios that demonstrate the challenges of achieving goals and coping with changes in the middle school years (completing requirements for a yellow belt in martial arts, learning to play an instrument, failing a test, and being chosen to participate in a track meet). The program emphasizes keys to success: visualization, affirmations, develop a positive attitude, set realistic goals, don’t let failures keep you from pursuing goals, and success takes planning and hard work.

Tricked: Inside the World of Teen Sex Trafficking. Fairfax Network, 2014. (23 minutes)

Introduction:  Provides an overview of human trafficking, and teen sex trafficking, and who is at risk of being victimized.  Who are the traffickers?:  Provides information from law enforcement experts on the traffickers in Fairfax County.  Scouting Phase of Trafficking:  This segment focuses on the Scouting phase including places and locations where victims are “recruited” and what characteristics traffickers look for in a victim.

Grade Seven Instructional Objectives - Human Growth and Development 

7.1 (Gender Separate):  Students will examine the physical and emotional changes that occur during adolescence.

Students are briefly introduced to the changes that occur during adolescence, including emotional and social changes addressed in the Emotional and Social Health unit. Instruction includes a review of the changes that occur during puberty in both the male and female (growth spurt, pubic and underarm hair, mood swings, skin changes, hygiene-related changes); the changes that occur to males only (including erections, ejaculation, broadening of shoulders, muscle development, nocturnal emission); and the changes that occur to females only (breast development, broadening of hips, menstrual cycle). 

7.2 (Gender Separate):  Students will identify the components of the male and female reproductive systems and describe how their functioning changes during puberty.

In addition to identifying the internal and external parts of the male and female reproductive systems, the following topics will be discussed: ovulation, menstruation, erections, ejaculation, and nocturnal emissions. During instruction, menstruation, sexual intercourse, and fertilization will be reviewed and primary amenorrhea will be introduced. Primary amenorrhea is defined as not having the first menstrual period by age 16. Emphasis will be placed on there being a broad range of ages when it is normal for menstruation to begin.

7.3 (Gender Separate):  Students will list common sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and identify behaviors which eliminate an individual’s risk of contracting STIs.

Instruction will focus on the most common STIs. This includes categorizing STIs as curable (bacterial - chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis or parasitic pubic lice) and incurable (viral - genital herpes, human papilloma virus [HPV], HIV/AIDS) and a general overview of transmission, signs and symptoms, treatments, short- and long-term consequences, and prevention. Abstinence from both sexual contact (including oral sex) and intravenous drug use will be presented as the only way to eliminate the risk of contracting STIs.

7.4     (Gender Separate): Students will list and discuss the benefits of abstaining from sexual activity until marriage.

Instruction focuses on the reasons why sexual abstinence is a healthy choice, including its positive effects on relationships, academics, short- and long-term goals, and physical, emotional, social, financial, and spiritual health.