Science Teaching Series

Internet Resources

I. Developing Scientific Literacy

II. Developing Scientific Reasoning

III. Developing Scientific Understanding

IV. Developing Scientific Problem Solving

V. Developing Scientific Research Skills

VI. Resources for Teaching Science

Health Science Standards

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Home

Standard 6

The student will understand the variety of physical, mental, emotional, and social changes that occur throughout life.

Middle School | High School | Heath Standards Home

Middle School

Students in middle school who meet this standard will be able to:

  • Students in middle school who meet this standard will be able to:Identify the changes associated with puberty.
  • Understand the function of the male and female reproductive systems.
  • Understand and describe how choices made during pregnancy directly affect the health of the mother and the fetus.
  • Identify strategies for coping with physical changes and emotional changes, including isolation and depression.

The following tasks and assignments might be used to determine whether the student is meeting the standard:

  • Students will draw a pictorial time line or select pictures from magazines that depict normal physical changes during growth and development.
  • Students will draw a traditional time line with significant “rites of passage” and projected changes in their lives.
  • Students will create a chart to compare changes in males and females that occur during puberty.
  • Students will research and write about the importance of appropriate (amount and pattern) weight gain during pregnancy.

High School

Students in high school who meet this standard will be able to:

  • Identify the changes that occur during the various stages of life, including pregnancy, infancy, childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, middle age, and older adulthood.
  • Describe fetal development from conception through pregnancy to birth.
  • Analyze the effect that nutrition, prenatal care, and harmful substances such as alcohol or environmental hazards have on the health of the mother and developing fetus.
  • Evaluate the rate of growth, maturity, and development of individuals.
  • Analyze how skills such as the ability to cope, adjust, make decisions, communicate feelings, make and keep friends, care for others, and show concern for the community influence individuals through the various stages of life.
  • Explain death and dying as a part of the life cycle (grieving process).

The following tasks and assignments might be used to determine whether the student is meeting the standard:

  • Students will map out the journey of the egg and sperm within the reproductive system, making sure that features and functions are explained.
  • Students will construct parallel descriptors of the changes that take place in males and females during puberty.
  • Students will describe the grieving process as it relates to a real-life situation or experience.
  • Students will interview a retired person and ask him or her how life has changed since retirement, including physical, psychological. financial, emotional, and social changes.