10th Grade Seminar: Health and Human Sexuality

Instructo
rs

Ivette Velez Bohlen

Wendy-Nia Griffin

Phone

202-537-6340
202-537-5276

Office

Upper School Counselors Office &

Diversity Educator/Counselors Office

E-mail

ibohlen@cathedral.org
wgriffin@cathedral.org

Office
Hours

Drop-in or by appointment

Text, Materials, and Resources:

Materials are provided in class and include excerpts from texts, articles, news media,
and audiovisual media. Guest lecturers may be utilized where appropriate.

Course Purpose and Description:

Adolescents are in the process of acquiring information and forming attitudes, beliefs and
values related to topics such as identity, relationships, and intimacy. The goal of the 10 th grade
health and human sexuality course is to promote adolescent health in these areas. The course
will offer students opportunities to increase their knowledge of health and sexuality, clarify
their values, and develop key communication and decision-making skills.
Enduring Understandings (*):

Healthy adolescent development is characterized by the interrelationship of physical,

emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual growth.

Adolescents require specific knowledge and skills to deal with the challenges of this

period of development.
Relationships play a central role throughout our lives.
Sexual health requires the development and use of specific knowledge and skills.
Sexuality is an essential part of identity development and individuals express their

sexuality in a variety of ways.

Social and cultural environments shape the way individuals learn about and express
their sexuality.

(*Based on SIECUS Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education, 3 rd Edition)

Essential Questions:

How does my body work?

What do I need to do take care of myself and make decisions that are healthy?
How can I learn to understand and appreciate the differences in peoples cultures and
values?

Course Requirements:
The 10th grade Health and Human Sexuality class meets once per cycle throughout the school
year. With approximately 20 class periods, the course seeks to cover a great deal of material in
a short period of time. Students are expected to collect all course materials in a folder or
notebook. Homework is assigned periodically, but will be very light in nature. Students do not
receive a letter grade for this course, but are expected to participate fully and at their comfort
level. The class functions as a discussion-based seminar.

Learning Objectives:

Page 1

Students will be able to distinguish between behaviors that promote physical and

emotional health and those that are harmful to self and others.
Students will be able to make informed choices about relationships and sexual

behavior.
Students will be able to assess the impact of family, cultural, media and societal

messages on ones values, attitudes, and behaviors related to heath and sexuality.
Students will be able seek appropriate help and support when confronted with
relationship or personal challenges.

Evaluation and Assessment:

Though students do not receive a letter grade for this course, students are assessed informally
through class activities, discussions, short homework assignments, written reflections, and
group work.
Tentative Unit Plan
Type of Unit

Unit

Topic

Human Development

Sexual Identity Formation/Framework

(3 classes)

Anatomy/Physiology/Reproduction

Assessments
Class activities and
assignments

Communication Skills
Personal Skills

Decision Making Skills

Class activities and

(2 classes)

Identifying Values

assignments

Coping with Peer Pressure

Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships
Relationships

Managing Friendships

Class activities and

(4 classes)

Attraction and Love

assignments

Dangerous Relationships

Intimacy
Sexual Behavior

Sexual Decision Making

(6 classes)

Pregnancy and Contraception

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Class activities and

assignments

Principles of Adolescent Health

Health and Wellness

Body Image

Class activities and

(3 classes)

Balance and Stress Management

assignments

Culture and Society

(2 classes)

Constructions of Gender and

Sexuality
Self Advocacy/Resource Identification

Page 2

Class activities and

assignments