1. - A relationship can be fun and scary at the same time. Myths and Facts about Dating

2. Lesson Objectives Students will recognize the nature of adolescent romances and this knowledge will help them through the ups and downs of these relationships. Students will recognize and understand their physical attractions and sexual feelings and be prepared to make responsible decisions that have lasting effects. Students will explore the dynamics of dating and understand the purposes and importance of socialization as it applies to dating.

3. Rules of the Activity Each correct answer is worth 5 points, while each incorrect answer costs you 5 points. Using your “Dating” card will double correct/incorrect point values. You may only use your “Dating” card 5 times. Any questions? Good luck and choose wisely!

4. Statement #1 If you don’t date, you’re weird. “Myth” or “Fact”

5. Some people would rather spend time with their friends or alone than spend time with a romantic partner. Just like any other activity, some people date and some people don’t. “Myth” Statement #1 - Answer

6. Statement #2 Teen pregnancy has increased 10% since the early 1990s. “Myth” or “Fact”

7. Statement #2 - Answer Teen pregnancy has decreased 28% since the early 1990s. “Myth”

8. Statement #3 You burn twenty-six calories in a one-minute kiss. “Myth” or “Fact”

9. Statement #3 - Answer Kissing is a physical activity and therefore burns calories Kissing is a physical activity and therefore burns calories “Fact”

10. Statement #4 You and your partner should discuss the possibility of pregnancy and disease before having sex. “Myth” or “Fact”

11. Statement #4 - Answer If you are too uncomfortable or embarrassed to discuss pregnancy or disease, how will you deal with it when it happens? And, if you are not mature enough to discuss sex, then you are not mature enough to have it. “Fact”

12. Statement #5 One in one hundred American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape, and 5 percent of sexual assault victims are men. “Myth” or “Fact”

13. Statement #5 - Answer One in six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape, and 10 percent of sexual assault victims are men. “Myth”

14. Statement #6 Since 1993, rape and sexual assaults have decreased by over 64 percent. “Myth” or “Fact”

15. Statement #6 - Answer The good news: Since 1993 rape and sexual assault has decreased. The bad news: Young women ages 16 to 24 still experience the highest rates of rape and sexual assault. “Fact”

16. Statement #7 Many STDs can be “silent,” causing no noticeable symptoms in men or women. “Myth” or “Fact”

17. Statement #7 - Answer An estimated one in five Americans have a genital herpes infection, and up to 90% of them don’t know about it. One out of every four sexually active teens has an STD, and one in two sexually active youth will contract an STD by age 25. “Fact”

18. Statement #8 Between forty thousand and fifty thousand Americans become infected with HIV every year. “Myth” or “Fact”

19. Statement #8 - Answer Unfortunately, half of them are between the ages of thirteen and twenty-four. That means at least two teenagers and young adults in this country are infected with HIV every half hour of every day. “Fact”

20. Statement #9 Each year one million new cases of STDs occur among young people aged fifteen to twenty-four. “Myth” or “Fact”

21. Statement #9 - Answer Each year nine million new cases of STDs occur among young people aged fifteen to twenty-four. Sexually active youth have the highest STD rates of any age group in the country. “Myth”

22. Statement #10 Almost two-thirds of all rape victims are committed by someone known to the victim. “Myth” or “Fact”

23. Statement #10 - Answer 67 percent of sexual assaults are committed by non-strangers: 47 percent of perpetrators are friends or acquaintances of the victim; 17 percent are intimates; and 3 percent are relatives. “Fact”

24. Statement #11 Fewer than half of high school students have had sex. “Myth” or “Fact”

25. Statement #11 - Answer Although it may seem like everyone is having sex, fewer than half of high school students have had sex. “Fact”

26. Statement #12 Condoms are the best method of birth control and disease prevention. “Myth” or “Fact”

27. Statement #12 - Answer While spermicides seem like a good alternative to condoms for preventing pregnancy, they can actually irritate the skin, making it easier to transmit disease. “Fact”

28. Statement #13 First dates should include going to the movies or out to eat. “Myth” or “Fact”

29. Statement #13 - Answer A date can be whatever you and your date like to do. You could have a picnic, go for a hike, go to a sporting event, or visit an art gallery. “Myth”

30. Statement #14 According to Sperling’s Best Places, Austin, Texas, is the top rated city for dating. “Myth” or “Fact”

31. Statement #14 - Answer Other highly rated cities include Colorado Springs, San Diego, Raleigh/Durham, and Seattle. The worst city for dating is Kansas City. Bensalem was not mentioned. “Fact”

32. Statement #15 Your kissing partner is twice as likely to turn his or her head to the right rather than to the left for smooching. “Myth” or “Fact”

33. Statement #15 - Answer Onur Gunturkun, a psychology professor at the Ruhr-University of Bochum, Germany, came to this conclusion after spying on 224 kissing couples in airports, railway stations, parks, and benches in the United States, Germany, and Turkey. “Fact”

34. Score? How did you score? A total of 100 points is a perfect score. To earn this score, you must have answered all the questions correctly and “Dated” correctly on five of those questions.

35. Results 90-100 points: You are an EXCELLENT candidate for dating. You are aware of the pro’s and con’s of dating and understand the responsibility necessary for mature relationships. 80-89 points: You are a GOOD candidate for dating but you might want to think about your actions and words. Be very careful when you choose whom you want to date and what you do on the date!

36. Results 70-79 points: Okay, I know you think you might be ready to date, but you still have much to think about before you do. Do you really know the safe limits and responsibility of dating. Remember, you don’t want to hurt anyone and of course you don’t want to be hurt either.

37. Results 69 and below: STOP THE MADDNESS! You clearly are not ready to begin dating yet! While dating should be fun, interesting, and a great way to get to know someone, you do not possess the personal development skills to date responsibly. This, of course, is only a temporary state. All you need to do is pay attention to Mrs. Bowler, think responsibly, and act maturely. Then you too can pass the Dating Game test!

38. Tips to Improve Your Dating Experiences Communication In a healthy relationship, couples talk openly with each other. Individuality It is important to be comfortable with who you are. Honesty and Trust Couples need to be truthful and up front with each other. Respect Respect Respect means that you value the opinions, beliefs, and ideas of others.