Grade 8 Health Education
San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) requires that all 6th, 7th, and 8th graders receive a minimum of 30 periods of health education each year.
Resources by Category
Mental / Emotional
Curriculum
8th Grade SECOND STEP
8th Grade SECOND STEP curriculum helps students learn the protective skills to make good choices and stay engaged in school despite the pitfalls of substance abuse, bullying, cyber bullying, and peer pressure.
Recommended Lessons
- Lesson 1: Empathy and Communication: Working in Groups
- Lesson 2: Empathy and Communication: Leaders and Allies
- Lesson 3: Empathy and Communication: Handling a Grievance
- Lesson 4: Empathy and Communication: Negotiating and Compromising
- Lesson 5: Bullying Prevention: Bullying in Friendships
- Lesson 6: Bullying Prevention: Labels, Stereotypes, and Prejudice
Growth and Development
Growing Bodies Active Consent Lessons | Sexual Harassment/Violence Lessons
Curriculum
San Francisco Unified School District’s
Healthy Me. Healthy Us.
Healthy Me. Healthy Us. is SFUSD’s comprehensive relationship and sexuality curriculum for 7th and 8th grade students. It is:
- Science informed
- Skill – based
- LGBTQ-inclusive
- Designed to meet the California Health Education Content Standards
- Designed to meet AB 329: CA Healthy Youth Act
The content of these lessons was created by School Health Programs with the support of community based organizations and classroom teachers. Some lessons were adapted from Advocates for Youth’s – Rights, Respect, Responsibility curriculum.
Substance Use
Curriculum
Health Smart Middle School: Tobacco Alcohol & other Drug Prevention.
Recommended Lessons
- Lesson 2: Alcohol: What’s the Truth?
- Lesson 3: Tobacco: What’s the Truth?
- Lesson 4: Marijuana: What’s the Truth?
- Lesson 7: Consequences of Drugs Use: How Bad Could it Be?
- Lesson 12: Tobacco Companies are they Targeting Youth?
- Lesson 14: Tobacco and Alcohol Ads: What are they Really Saying
Additional Resources
Edible Marijuana: Is it safe?
In this 18 min. DVD, viewers learn how consuming marijuana in edible form affects the body and brain differently than smoking it. This film gives an overview of the types of edibles and how using edible marijuana can lead to addiction and impact different aspects of a user’s life.
Nutrition and Activity
Curriculum
Health Smart Middle School: Nutrition & Physical Activity
ETR’s Health Smart program gives children and youth the knowledge and skills to make healthy choices and establish life-long healthy behaviors.
Recommended Lessons
- Lesson 7: Eating Healthy at Fast-Food Restaurants
- Lesson 8: Keeping Food Safe to Eat
- Lesson 9: What influences My Food Choices?
- Lesson 11: Body Image Basics
- Lesson 14: Eating Disorders
- Lesson 18: Tracking My Progress
Safety
Secondary Violence Lessons, Sexual Harassment Lessons Violence, Gun Violence Lessons
Curriculum
Health Smart Middle School: Violence & Injury Prevention
ETR’s Health Smart program gives children and youth the knowledge and skills to make healthy choices and establish life-long healthy behaviors.
Recommended Lessons
- Lesson 8: Understanding Violence
- Lesson 9: Causes of Violence
- Lesson 14: Feelings and Fights
- Lesson 15: Skills to Resolve Conflict
- Lesson 16: Conflict Resolution Roleplays
LGBTQ Diversity
Curriculum
Be Ready!
Is SFUSDs 7th grade comprehensive sexuality curriculum
Recommended Lessons
- Lesson 7: Being an Ally
A Place in the Middle
A Place in the Middle is the true story of a young girl in Hawaiʻi who dreams of leading the boys-only hula group at her school, and a teacher who empowers her through traditional culture. This kid-friendly educational film is a great way to get students thinking and talking about the values of diversity and inclusion, the power of knowing your heritage, and how to prevent bullying by creating a school climate of aloha – from their own point of view! Free video and guide.
Recommended Lessons
Additional
Open the Door and Get Out and Explore | Get Out and Explore Flyer
Curriculum
Let’s Get Real
Let’s Get Real examines issues that lead to taunting and bullying, including racial differences, perceived sexual orientation, learning disabilities, religious differences, and sexual harassment.
Recommended Lessons
- Chapter 5 – Sexual Harassment & Standing up as a group (Pg. 44 – 45)
- Activity, Flirting or Hurting (Pg. 76-78)
Common Sense Media’s Digital Life
Common Sense Media’s Digital Life series asks “What is the place of digital media in our lives?” Students are introduced to the 24/7, social nature of digital media and technologies, and gain basic vocabulary and knowledge for discussing the media landscape.
Recommended Lessons
- Online Safety, Digital Life 101
Students watch the video “Digital Life 101”, which shows the 24/7, social nature of digital media — a change from the media consumption culture of the past. They then make similes about their digital lives and learn that because media connects us in more social and interactive ways than ever before, it is important to carry out online relationships responsibly. This lesson also serves as an assessment baseline for teachers to gain a better understanding of their students’ familiarity with digital media and vocabulary associated with digital life.
Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media asks “What are gender stereotypes, and can they shape our experiences online? Students are introduced to the concept of gender stereotypes, in both an online and offline context.
Recommended Lessons
- Gender Stereotypes online
Students first discuss stereotypes about boys and girls: where they come from, how we learn them, and why they can be restrictive. Students then identify and discuss gender stereotypes in the “Dress Up Your Avatar” feature of a virtual world for kids.