Health Syllabi

Health

Coach Bynum-Isler

I.          Course Description

Health Education is a graduation requirement.  Health will focus on total wellness of the individual with emphasis on mental/emotional and social health.  All units will emphasize making decisions and practicing behaviors based upon sound health knowledge and healthful attitudes.  Through this course we hope to develop internationally minded people who exemplify the traits found in the Learner Profile.  The units that are studied in Ninth and Tenth Grade Physical Education support the three fundamental concepts of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program:

Holistic learning – students discover ways in which Physical Education is related to all other subjects.  They also learn that the strategies they develop using decision making skills and practicing behaviors based upon sound health knowledge and healthful attitudes are those that will be used throughout their lives.

Intercultural awareness – through their study of Physical Education, students discover the importance of total health or wellness of the individual with emphasis on physical, mental/emotional, and social health. They gain an understanding and appreciation for the many cultures that have contributed to the body of knowledge which they study.

Communication – students will be encouraged to be active learners who can communicate their knowledge to others. They will utilize both movement and verbal forms of communication through multiple modes of activity.

Each teacher examines their unit designs, classroom practices, assessment policies & practices, and management & leadership activities to assure that their attention is focused on the processes and outcomes of their students’ learning.

II.          

GENERAL HEALTH

Unit 5- The Healthy Individual

                Unit Question- What is health and why is it important to be health literate?

                Global Context – Identities and Relationships

                Assessment Criteria- Social Skills and Personal Engagement

Significant Concept- Health is a combination of physical, mental/emotional, and social well being.   Students will apply the three aspects of health and develop prevention skills which will promote a long and zestful life. 

Unit 6- Safety and Violence Prevention

Unit Question- How does one use decision-making skills to identify, apply, and maintain health-enhancing behaviors?

                Global Context – Fairness and Development

                Assessment Criteria- Use of Knowledge, Social Skills and Personal Engagement

                Significant Concept- In this unit, students will engage in safe behaviors to avoid dangerous situations       and to prevent injuries at home, school, and in the community.

Unit 7 – Tobacco, Alcohol, and Other Drug Use (ADAP)

Unit Question- Why is it important to understand the dangers of alcohol and drug use and abuse?

Global Context – Identities and Relationships

                Assessment Criteria- Use of Knowledge

Significant Concept- Students will learn and discuss the consequences of smoking, drinking, and the use of other drugs.  The Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program (ADAP) will satisfy the requirements of the Georgia law to obtain a Georgia’s driver’s license.

Unit 8- Family Living and Human Sexuality

Unit Question- How can decisions you make regarding human sexuality affect you now and in the future?

Global Context – Personal and Cultural Expression

Assessment Criteria- Social Skills and Personal Engagement

Significant Concept- There are specific required objectives that are covered in this unit.  The objectives address many issues; among them are human physiology and puberty, how we perceive ourselves and our roles, recognizing and communication our feelings, making decisions, sexually transmitted diseases and their prevention including HIV/AIDS, birth control, the changing family, child-birth, teen pregnancy, and parenting.

III.           Texts and resources

              *ADAP Workbook

                 Choosing the Best Life Workbook

                Online access to Health book: 1) In an Internet web browser type www.connected.mcgraw-hill.com. 2) Click "Create new account"

3) Enter the following redemption code: 7R5P-ZTLE-7TVQ

IV.          Methodology- Students will work individually or as a member of a group.  They will receive direct instruction or will have to research and report on their learning.  They will read, participate in projects, formulate creative solutions, and write and reflect on their work depending on the unit.

V.            Methods of assessment- A wide variety of assessments are used to gauge the success of Riverwood students. These assessments can be formative or summative. At Riverwood, assessment is viewed as a continuous process that allows students, parents and teachers to have the best and most accurate information about student achievement. In this class, teachers utilize formative forms of assessment to determine student understanding. These assessments occur often during each unit. At the end of each unit a summative assessment is utilized to gauge student understanding. The summative assessment is a test, an essay, or a project assessed against the MYP criteria which allows the student, parents, and teacher to better understand student progress throughout the program. 

                General Health letter grades will be calculated using the following percentages: 

                - 50% Tests & Quizzes (4-10 of each)       

                - 25% Classwork (1 per unit), Articles (4 plus 1 presentation)

                - 15% Projects (2)

                - 10% Final Exam 

VI.          Grading policy including the use of MYP criteria – Riverwood adheres to the Fulton County grading policy. Traditional grade reports are sent home every 6 weeks. As an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program candidate school, RICS will use the program’s assessment criteria to report student progress. The students will be assessed at least once per semester against each of the three criteria. Reports of these scores will be sent at the end of each semester.

VII.         CLASS EXPECTATIONS:

You will be asked to approach this class with an open mind and a positive, cooperative attitude.

You should be on time to class, prepared for participation, and cooperation.
Good group participation demands that you be a good listener, as each member has a right to be heard.

You will be expected to keep a notebook for the class. All handouts, homework and class work will be placed in this notebook. 
You will have notebook checks periodically for a grade.

You will need to bring your notebook and writing materials every day even though much of what goes on in class will be discussions. Also, all films will be followed by a quiz or written assignment on the material in the film.

You will be allowed to make up work only for excused absences. No late work will be accepted. It’s the student’s responsibility to make-up all written and skill-based assignments within one week of his/her excused absence. Absences including field trips, visitations, sickness, pre-arranged meetings need to be made up to receive credit. Refer to the Make-up Policy in the Student Handbook.

The final exam will be comprehensive and will cover all material received during the class.

Cell phones, I-pods, or any other electronic devices are not to be exposed or used during class time. Having any of these items out during testing will result in an automatic grade of 0.

Any time an electronic device is seen or heard during the school day disciplinary actions noted in the student handbook will be followed. Refer to page 26 of the student handbook.

**All students will be expected to follow the posted RICS policies. Refer to Riverwood Student Expectation Handbook.**