Grade 11

Grade 11

Unit: Critical Health Issues

The theme for the junior wellness curriculum is Understanding and Assessing Personal Risk and Consequences

Critical Health Issues is a traditional health education class that addresses a wide range of teenage health issues and challenges teens to consider the risks and consequences (to self and others) behind their decisions. Students reflect upon their role in creating healthy relationships (peer/collegial, friendships, family relationships, romantic relationships) and think about the importance of negotiating roles and responsibilities (regardless of gender). Students learn about the biology of sexual desire and explore appropriate ways to express themselves. Students also explore their values and beliefs about dating, intimacy, and sex and consider the consequences of introducing sexual behaviors into a dating relationship. They will learn about safe sexual practices and the consequences (physical, social, and emotional) of unsafe sexual behavior. Students are thoughtful about beliefs and lifestyles that are different from their own and explore strategies for dealing with sexual diversity. Finally, they learn the warning signs of unhealthy dating relationships and know how to get help.

Essential Questions

What are the risks and consequences of your behavior?

What are different roles and responsibilities in a healthy relationship?

How do you express your needs, wants, and limits?

How do you ensure your safety in social situations?

How do you recognize an abusive relationship?


1. Analyzing and understanding who you are
2. Applying your knowledge of self in a relationship
3. Understand others wants and needs in relation to your own
4. Evaluating how you interact with others
5. Creating a vision of how you'd like your relationships to be
6. Understanding how to keep oneself (and others) safe and aware in a social situation
7. Understanding signs and symptoms of an abusive relationship for self and others
8. Evaluating birth control methods and creating a plan for sexual well-being

Lesson 1: Risks and Consequences

A. Students will identify and reflect on their own risk tolerance

B. Students will be asked to explore different perspectives...stand in other's shoes

Lesson 2: My Beliefs and Values

A. Students will analyze their own beliefs and values

Lesson 3: Gender Roles Revisited

A. Students will debate the pros and cons of being male and being female
(pros/cons, likes/dislikes, stereotypes, neurobiology of gender)

Examples may include dress, behavior, communication, emotions, attitudes towards sex, use of sexual energy
What traits/characteristics do you appreciate/like about each gender (stereotypical)?
What traits/characteristics bother or annoy you about each gender (stereotypical)?

Lessons 4 & 5: Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships

A. Students will explore roles and responsibilities in a relationship. Topics include cheating, STI's, support, desire, emotional reactions, cultural and societal stereotypes

B. Students will consider the traits/behaviors they want in relationships

C. Students will explore the traits/behaviors they will bring to a relationship

D. Students will share and explore communication and behaviors for initiating relationships

E. Students will identify challenges and issues that prevent them from getting the relationship they want

F. Students will explore effective ways to express their needs, wants, and limits in a relationship, including how to end a relationship

Lesson 6: Sexuality in Relationships

A. Sharon Maxwell's 11 Steps of a Valued Relationship (self discipline vs desire)

B. Students will understand the biology of sexual desire (reward pathway, orgasm, sexual energy)

Lesson 7: Dating Violence and Disrespect in Relationships

A. Students will explore the topic of dating violence (Yellow Dress performance and debrief)
Signs and symptoms
Helpful bystander
Students will explore sexual harassment laws and the spirit of the law

Lesson 8: Sexual Diversity

A. Students will discuss sexual diversity (LGBTQ - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning)
Students will reflect on their belief system about sexual diversity (LGBTQ)
Students will reflect on their social/emotional reaction to sexual diversity (LGBTQ)

B. Students will explore strategies for dealing with sexual diversity
What if they discovered that their best friend/college room mate was LGBTQ

Lesson 9:  Sex, Sexuality and the Media

A. Dateline News Piece: How did we Get to this Point
Discussion on influences and assumptions learned through media
