Best Practices for Curriculum development

Grades 6-8

1. Unintentional Injury
Resource: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center
for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Unintentional Injury
Prevention, Unintentional Drowning: Get the Facts, April, 28 2016
Problem: One out of every 5 drowning victims is under the age of 14
Application: Drowning is one of the most common causes of
unintentional injury for 6-8th graders Though it does not always result
in death it can lead to many brain issues for a student who suffers from
it. Water safety should be a major part of any curriculum. This resource
shows us just how dangerous water can be for any one in middle
school. This should be a major part of any health curriculum in 6-8th
grade.
2. Tobacco Use
Resource: Everett Jones, S., & Caraballo, R. S. (2014). Usual Source of
Cigarettes and Alcohol Among US High School Students. Journal Of
School Health, 84(8), 493-501.
Problem: 44.7% of High school students have tried a cigarette
Application: If 44.7% of high school students have tried cigarettes then
we need to teach students in middle school about the dangers of
cigarettes in their health classes. The curriculum should show the
students ways in which to use refusal skills if they are offered a
cigarette.
3. Unhealthy Diets
Resource: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017)
Childhood Nutrition Facts.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
Problem: 10% of a 6-8th graders daily choleric intake is from sugared
drinks.
Application: Students should be aware of the dangers that sugar can
cause on the body. The curriculum should have a strong base of
 learning to read food labels and finding out just what you are putting in
your body.

4. Alcohol and Drug Use

Resource: State of Connecticut. Department of Public Health. 2015
Connecticut School Health Survey Report. N.p.: Connecticut
Department of Public Health, 2015. Print.
Problem: 3 out of 10 high school students engaged in binge drinking in
the past 30 days
Application: Students in middle school should be learning the dangers
of alcohol before they get to high school because they need to know
how to refuse it and the harmful effect that it has on their body before
they are mature enough to drink it. This Curriculum should focus on
refusal skills as well as showing the dangers that alcohol and other
drugs do to the body.
5. Inadequate Physical Activity
Resource: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015). Physical
Activity Facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
Problem: Only half our High school student attend physical education
class on a weekly basis.
Application: Being physically active is a major health factor in your life
if you are inactive you are at higher risk for chronic disease as well as
having other major health issues. This curriculum should be focused
around showing students the benefits of staying active for as long as
they can. Also showing them fun ways to be active instead of just
running on a treadmill.
6. Risky Sexual Behaviors
Resource: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). STDs in
Adolescents and Young Adults. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
Problem: One in four sexually active teens has an STD
Application: This is a major problem. Students should know the
dangers of having unsafe sex as well as the dangers of having sex at a
 young age. This curriculum should be based around students learning
that abstinence is the only way to prevent yourself from getting an STD
as well as making sure that they dont have an unplanned Pregnancy.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury
Prevention and Control, Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention,
Unintentional Drowning: Get the Facts, April, 28 2016

2. Everett Jones, S., & Caraballo, R. S. (2014). Usual Source of Cigarettes and
Alcohol Among US High School Students. Journal Of School Health, 84(8),
493-501.

3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017) Childhood Nutrition

Facts.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention

4. State of Connecticut. Department of Public Health. 2015 Connecticut

School Health Survey Report. N.p.: Connecticut Department of Public Health,
2015. Print.

5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015). Physical Activity Facts.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.

6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). STDs in Adolescents

and Young Adults. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.