6 th Grade RHASE

 Respect what other people say; no put downs  Be sensitive to other people’s feelings  Respect other people’s differences  Keep discussion and questions away from a personal level  Keep confidential all comments made by other students  There are no “dumb” questions  Use CORRECT scientific terms rather than slang

 6 lessons  Choices about sexual behavior.  Discover why abstinence until marriage is the best way to prepare for your future.  Figure out ways to make healthy decisions, develop good character, and ways to say “NO” to unwanted sexual pressure.

 Watch Video Segment One: “Decisions, Decisions, Decisions”  Discussion Questions  What advice did these young people share about making decisions?  Why did so many of these teens suggest a person think before acting?

 STOP  Is this a chance to make a decision?  THINK  What are my CHOICES and resulting CONSEQUENCES?  ACT  Choose the best option with the best results (What to do this Summer activity)

 Something you desire for your future…and are willing to work toward.  Achievement Goals  Things you want to do.  Who am I activity  Character Goals  Describe who you want to be.  Who am I activity

 Unwavering firmness in character and action.  The power to make goals and stick with them in spite of conflicts or problems.  Read Herman Cortes scenario.

 Objectives  Determine the qualities of a good friend.  Learn the difference between a crush, an infatuation and love.  Discuss the character trait of respect.

 Video Discussion 1. What makes a good friend? 2. What tips did the teens give for choosing friends? 3. How do you choose your friends?

1. Friendly towards me 2. Respects my values 3. Interested in me 4. Encourages me 5. Never criticizes me to others 6. Dependable, can count on  Think of a person who is your good friend. Rate that person for each trait on the FRIEND scale (1-5).  How would your friend rate you on the same scale?

 A Crush- POP! (balloon activity)  Sudden attraction  Over quickly  Happens a lot  Infatuation- Inflated! (helium balloon)  Intense feelings  Possessive  Temporary  Love- Long-Lasting (basketball)  Intense caring  Committed to well-being of the other person  Grows over time

 Accepts others as valuable and important.  Treats each person with dignity.  Is both a way of thinking and a way of acting.  Do you show RESPECT Quiz? ▪ Do you listen to a person, even when you disagree? ▪ Do you tease others about their looks or the way they dress? ▪ Do you refuse to talk negatively about someone? ▪ Do you tell crude jokes about others?

 See It  How do you see yourself being a better friend than you are now?  State It  State one specific friendship goal you want to achieve by next year.  Start It  What first step can you take to start your goal?

 Interview a parent/guardian by asking the following questions: 1. What goals did you have when you were my age? 2. What steps helped you reach those goals? 3. What problems did you experience in trying to reach your goals? How did you overcome these challenges? 4. What do you remember about the god friends you had when you were my age? 5. What do you remember about your first crush? 6. How did you know when a relationship was just a crush or infatuation, and not real love?

 Objectives  Learn about unhealthy relationships as four teens tell their stories.  Learn how to prevent sexual abuse.  Discover ways to build self-esteem.  Discuss self-respect.

 Discussion  Ryan 1.Why did Ryan have sex? 1.Bored and curious 2.How did Ryan feel afterwards? 1.Nervous, felt bad, made relationship complicated  Robin 1.Why did Robin have sex? 1.Thought she was in love 2.How did Robin feel afterwards? Why? 1.Was a horrible experience, lost part of her identity.  Angela 1.How did Angela feel after she was a victim of date rape? 1.Guilty, thought it was her fault. Self-hate, depressed, started to drink. 2.Why did Angela continue to have sex with other guys? 1.Poor self-esteem, wanted to feel accepted and loved.  Liz 1.What did counseling help Liz understand? 1.She couldn’t control things in her life, the experience wasn’t her fault.

 Sexual abuse happens when one person uses another person to satisfy his/her sexual needs through any kind of touching or sexual activity in the underwear zone.  Sexual abuse is extremely destructive to young people. It leaves the victim feeling helpless. There is a sense of losing something very personal and a break of trust. The emotional effects can be devastating.  Emotional recovery takes time and requires help from counselors.

1. It’s your body- and you ALWAYS have the right to say, “NO”! 2. If something feels wrong, then it probably is wrong. 3. You CAN tell someone in authority who will protect you. 4. It is NEVER your fault.

 Tell your parent(s) or guardian.  Tell your teacher or school counselor.  Tell a friend who will go with you to an adult you trust.

 Design a T-Shirt and include the following:  Think of something that stands for you– a song, a certain animal, a flower, a sport, etc. ▪ How does this represent you?  Everyone has one or more abilities. What do you do well?

 The Attitude and action of treating yourself as being valuable and having personal worth.  Increasing self-respect:  Build healthy relationships, self-confidence and self-acceptance.  List your 3 greatest strengths and 3 things that make you unique.

 Objectives  Discover facts about teen pregnancy  Consider emotional risks of teen sex  Learn about sexually transmitted diseases  Discuss the character trait of compassion

 Discussion: RISK #1: TEEN PREGNANCY  Athena  How did her life change? ▪ After getting pregnant had to put her education and dreams on hold.  Chris  “The first time having sex can ruin your whole life.” Why does he feel this way? ▪ He is a teen father and knows how life changes.  Kourtney  “He didn’t know what to do and broke up with me…it was hard to deal with by myself.”  Why did her boyfriend break up with her? ▪ Was pregnant  Why was it hard for her to deal with her pregnancy alone? ▪ Emotional and physical pain of being pregnant with twins; having a miscarriage and missing a month of school.

 Guilt  Disappointment  Worry  Depression  Regret  Loss of Self-Esteem

 What is an STD?  Catch from infected person through sexual activity.  Over 25 significant STDs  Approximately how many sexually active teenagers will contract an STD each year/  4 million

 Infects 3 million people in the U.S. each year. Many people have NO symptoms with chlamydia. If symptoms are present they may include abnormal discharge or a burning sensation when urinating.  While the disease can be cured with antibiotics, if left untreated it can have serious consequences. Chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women, which can lead to infertility (not being able to have a baby).

 Infects 650,000 people in the U.S. each year.  Although many may have NO symptoms at all, symptoms in men and women may include a burning sensation when urinating or abnormal discharges. In women symptoms may be mild and mistaken for a vaginal infection.  Gonorrhea can be cured with antibiotics, but untreated can cause permanent damage to organs and lead to infertility.

 5.5 million new infections each year and 20 million people currently infected in the U.S.  “high risk” strains can lead to cervical cancer in women. Nearly 4,000 women die of cervical cancer each year. Other “low risk” types of HPV cause genital warts small growths on the genital area. HPV can be spread by contact with the genital area of an infected partner.  There is NO medical cure for HPV. Most mild infections can be destroyed by the body’s immune system over time. If a “high risk” HPV infection is not cleared by the immune system, it can remain present for many years and turn abnormal cells into cancer over time.  A new vaccine against HPV is currently available for females and protects against the strains of HPV that are the most common causes of cervical cancer and genital warts. While the vaccine is expected to reduce rates of cervical cancer, it does not provide complete protection. So sexually active females are still at risk and should get regular Pap tests, which are important for detecting cervical cancer early, when it can be treated most effectively. Students should talk with their parents and doctors about this vaccine.

 In the U.S., there are 1 million new infections each year with 45 million people currently infected, involving nearly one in every four people 12 years and older.  Some people with genital herpes have symptoms, but most don’t. Typical symptoms of genital herpes are painful, recurring blisters or sores on or around the genitals or rectum.  People diagnosed with a first episode can expect to have 4 to 5 outbreaks within a year. Medications can help with outbreaks, but there is NO cure for genital herpes.

 HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, progressively destroys the body’s ability to fight infections and certain cancers. HIV is most often transmitted through sexual contact.  It may take years before symptoms of AIDS appear. However, an infected person can infect other sexual partners whether or not symptoms are present.  No cure  Contracted:  Sexual contact with an infected person  Mother  child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.  Sharing needles after an infected person.  Contaminated blood transfusion.

 Thinking and acting in ways that show you care about someone in a difficult situation.  How could you show compassion to someone like Athena, Chris, and Kourtney who face a difficult life as a teen parent?  How could you show compassion to someone who is hurting?

Interview parent/guardian 1. What happened at the times when you didn’t feel good about yourself? How did you get over those times? 2. What positive traits do you see in me that I can build on? 3. Did you know anyone who was pregnant when you were in school? How did you feel about that person? 4. Why don’t people talk about the emotional damage that sexual activity can cause? 5. What do you know about sexually transmitted diseases?

 Objectives  Discover why abstinence is the best WAY  Find out facts about “safe sex”  Discuss the character trait of making healthy choices

 Discussion  Lila ▪ How will being abstinent help Lila pursue her dreams? ▪ How does being abstinent help Lila, “protect her heart”?  Andrew ▪ What does Andrew mean by wanting to “live a life of no regrets”?  Josh ▪ What does Josh mean by sex being something special?

 Students stand by a number 1-7 displayed throughout the room.  If your number is rolled on the die than you must sit down because you have an STD.  Choose a different number to stand beside  Roll die again, that number has an STD.  Choose a different number to stand beside.  WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE NUMBER 7?  7 represents the decision to remain sexually abstinent. All the other numbers represent the risks you take when you have sex outside of marriage.

AA  Abstinence BB  Best preparation for your (future, life, marriage) by CC  Choosing not to engage in at-risk sexual behaviors such as: ▪ Vaginal intercourse; anal intercourse; oral sex; touching in underwear area.

 The Myth  If you use a condom, you will be completely protected from getting an STD or becoming pregnant.  The Facts  Condoms cannot protect you against a broken heart and the other possible emotional results of having sex before marriage  Condoms are made of rubber. They can slip off and break. (happen 1-4% of the time)  Typical couples who use condoms to avoid a pregnancy experience a first year failure rate of 15 %.

 Objectives  Learn how to set personal boundaries  Discover how to be assertive  Discuss the character trait of courage

 Discussion  How is standing up to peer pressure like playing a musical instrument? ▪ More you practice the better you get  Why is it helpful to set boundaries up front in a relationship?  What kinds of “compromising” situations could lead to having sex?

1. Consumed in excess, alcohol is poisonous to human systems and considered a drug. 1. True 2. Alcohol is a stimulant and makes you feel better. 1. False 3. Alcohol speeds up brain development to make a young person think more like an adult. 1. False 4. Drinking large amounts of alcohol at one time can lead to death. 1. True 5. Teens 15 and older who drink alcohol are 7 times likelier to have sex than those who don’t drink. 1. True 6. Alcohol helps you think more clearly. 1. False 7. There is more alcohol in a shot of liquor than in a can of beer or a glass of wine. 1. False 8. Young drinkers do not develop an addiction, or dependence. 1. False 9. While effective treatments are available, there is no cure for alcoholism. 1. True 10. Alcohol helps social development so you become more friendly and fun. 1. False

 SET IT  The need for boundaries  SAY IT  The need to speak up  SHOW IT  The need to be assertive

 When someone tries to change your boundaries by giving you a line, use a linebacker to help you say “NO”.  First  Give a positive message ▪ I really like spending time with you  Second  Give a negative message ▪ But, I don’t trust myself to be alone with you.  Third  Give a positive message ▪ Let’s go and grab a soda.

 Head  Where you make decisions about your goals and boundaries  Heart  Care about yourself and others.  Mouth  The way you say “NO” in a firm, strong voice.  Body Language  The way you hold your body  Feet  Show your assertiveness by walking away if the pressure gets too intense.

 Sticking with your boundaries and beliefs when faced with difficulties, ridicule, and pressure.  Complete courage situations from manual

1. What do you think are the benefits of being abstinent until marriage? 2. If I choose to sign an abstinence pledge, how can you help me keep it? 3. What helped you stand up for your beliefs and values under pressure? 4. What advice would you give me to help me stand up for what I believe in?