1. Lessons 1-3 Pg. 27-45 C HAPTER 2 – B UILDING H EALTH S KILLS AND C HARACTER

2. L ESSON 1 – B UILDING H EALTH S KILLS  Lesson Objectives  Demonstrate communication skills in building and maintaining healthy relationships.  Demonstrate refusal strategies and conflict resolution skills.  Apply self-management strategies.  Analyze influences on behavior.  Develop evaluation criteria for health information.

3. H EALTH S KILLS  Health skills, or life skills, are specific tools and strategies that help you maintain, protect, and improve all aspects of your health.  Taking responsibility for your health begins with a commitment to take charge of your actions and behaviors in a way that reduces risks and promotes wellness.

4. I NTERPERSONAL S KILLS  One of the traits of a health-literate individual is having effective communication skills.  Effective communication involves not only making yourself heard but also being a good listener.  Interpersonal communication is the exchange of thoughts, feeling, and beliefs between two or more people.  Effective communication skills for building and maintaining healthy relationships include:  Clearly say what you mean.  Pay attention to how you say something.  Be a good listener.

5. R EFUSAL S KILLS  Refusal skills are communication strategies that can help you say no when you are urged to take part in behaviors that are unsafe or unhealthful, or that go against your values.  Examples of refusal skills are:  Say no in a firm voice.  Explain why.  Suggest alternatives.  Use appropriate body language.  Leave if necessary.

6. C ONFLICT R ESOLUTION S KILLS  In addition to practicing effective refusal skills, it is important to develop and apply strategies for dealing with conflicts or disagreements and avoiding violence.  Conflict resolution is the process of ending a conflict through cooperation and problem solving.  The key to effective conflict resolution is respecting others’ rights as well as your own.  Willingness to compromise will also help achieve a resolution that satisfies everyone.  When dealing with a conflict:  Be calm and think through the situation.  Speak calmly and listen attentively.  Use a polite tone, brainstorm solutions, and work to resolve the conflict peacefully.

7. S ELF -M ANAGEMENT S KILLS  Practicing self-management allows you to take responsibility for your health and act in ways that promote your wellness.  Practicing healthful behaviors and managing stress are two self-management skills that will help provide you with a foundation of good health.

8. P RACTICING H EALTHFUL B EHAVIORS  The choices you make today will affect your health in the future.  Choosing healthful behaviors (such as choosing the right foods, getting regular medical check- ups, and abstaining from drugs and alcohol) will help you maintain and strengthen your overall health.  Practicing healthful behaviors also involves expressing your feelings in healthy ways, building your self-esteem, and maintaining healthy relationships.

9. M ANAGING S TRESS  Stress, the body’s and mind’s reactions to everyday demands, is a natural part of life.  What are some things that cause you stress?  Learning stress management, or ways to deal with or overcome the negative effects of stress, is vital for maintaining your health.  Strategies for managing stress include:  Physical activity  Listening to music  Reading What stress management strategies do you use?

10. A NALYZING I NFLUENCES  Many factors influence your health.  Internal Influences – include your knowledge, values, likes, dislikes, and desires; based on your experiences and perspective on life.  You have much control over internal influences.  External Influences – come from outside sources and include your family, friends and peers, environment, culture, laws, and media.

11. A SSESSING I NFORMATION  Learning how to find and recognize trustworthy information will help you be better prepared to make healthful decisions.  Reliable sources of information include:  Parents, guardians, and other trusted adults  Library resources and nonfiction books  Reliable internet sites (government and educational institutions)  Government agencies, health care providers, and health organizations

12. A DVOCACY  Advocacy – taking action to influence other to address a health-related concern or to support a health-related belief.  This skill enables you to positively influence the health of those around you by helping them become more informed as well as allowing you to support health causes that concern or interest you.

13. L ESSON 2 – M AKING R ESPONSIBLE D ECISIONS AND S ETTING GOALS  Lesson Objectives  Identify decision-making skills that promote individual, family, and community health.  Summarize the advantages of seeking advice and feedback regarding decision-making skills.  Identify the processes involved in choosing and achieving goals.

14. T HE D ECISION -M AKING P ROCESS  Decision-making skills are steps that enable you to make a healthful decision.  There are six basic steps designed to help you make decisions that protect your rights and health while respecting the health and rights of other. 1. State the situation. 2. List the options. 3. Weigh the possible outcomes. 4. Consider the values. 5. Make a decision and act on it. 6. Evaluate the decision.

15. S ETTING P ERSONAL H EALTH G OALS  A goal is something you aim for that takes planning and work.  Goal setting is also an effective way to build self-confidence, increase your self-esteem, and improve you overall health.  Two types of goals:  Short-term goal – a goal you can reach in a short period of time; oftentimes is a step in achieving a long-term goal. (ie. Run a mile)  Long-term goal – a goal you plan to reach over an extended period of time; may take months or years to accomplish. (ie. Run a marathon) Can you think of any more examples?

16. A CHIEVING Y OUR G OALS  To reach your goals, you need to establish an action plan, or a multistep strategy to identify and achieve your goals. 1. Set a specific, realistic goal, and write it down. 2. List the steps you will take to reach your goal. 3. Identify sources of help and support. 4. Set a reasonable time frame for reaching your goal. 5. Evaluate your progress by establishing checkpoints. 6. Reward yourself for achieving your goal.

17. L ESSON 3 – B UILDING C HARACTER  Lesson Objectives:  Discuss the importance of good character for self, others, and community.  Apply communication skills and practice behaviors that demonstrate consideration and respect for self, family, and others.  Identify ways to demonstrate good character.

18. W HAT IS G OOD C HARACTER ?  Character – the distinctive qualities that describe how a person thinks, feels, and behaves.  Good character is an outward expression of inner values meaning.  This simply means that someone with good character is going to demonstrate the ethical values of responsibility, honesty, integrity, and respect.

19. C HARACTER AND H EALTH  Because your character plays a significant role in your decisions, actions, and behavior, it impacts all aspects of your health.  Good character enhances all aspects of your health triangle.

20. T RAITS OF G OOD C HARACTER  There are several different traits that contribute to good character. Developing and strengthening these traits will assist you in becoming the best person you can be.  Your book identifies six primary character traits: 1. Trustworthiness 2. Respect 3. Responsibility 4. Fairness 5. Caring 6. Citizenship

21. D EVELOPING Y OUR C HARACTER  Character and core ethical values are learned when you are young and developed throughout your life.  To take a more active role in your character development:  Stand up for your beliefs.  Learn from people who demonstrate good character traits.  Join volunteer groups in your school or community.

22. P OSITIVE R OLE M ODELS  A role model is someone whose success or behavior serves as an example for others.  Having positive role models is important in developing and strengthening good character traits.  Your positive role models will hopefully inspire you to show the same traits in your daily actions and then, you too may inspire others to act in kind, responsible ways.  Who are some of your role models?

23. D EMONSTRATING C HARACTER  By demonstrating good character, you practice behaviors that have a positive effect on both yourself and others at home, at school, and in your community.  What are examples of demonstrating good character at home? School? Community?