Northside Independent School District Department of Curriculum & Instruction Health and Physical Education 8 th Grade Health Education

Choosing the Best PATH

Health-Risk Behaviors Among Young People Unintentional injuries and violence Tobacco use Alcohol and other drug use Sexual behaviors that contribute to unintentional pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases Unhealthy dietary behaviors Physical inactivity leading to health issues

Risks of Teenage Sexual Activity Unintended pregnancy Limitations in educational & employment opportunities Negative impact on the resulting child Sexually transmitted diseases Viral diseases that can be life-threatening, including HIV Viral diseases that can lead to cervical cancer, including HPV Bacterial diseases that can lead to infertility

Texas Department of Health Statistics  Bexar County is ranked #4 out of 254 counties in Texas for teenage pregnancy.  There were 2,590 Bexar County Births in 2013 to females ages 10-19, equating to nearly 50 teen births per week.

Northside ISD ranked #2 in Bexar County ISDs with 536 Births to Females 15 to 19 years (2013)

NORTHSIDE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT School Age Parenting Program Pregnancy Report: SY Total Students (reported) = 253* *includes students that are pregnant and parenting males and females

Choosing the Best PATH Emphasizes the benefits of delaying sex while also educating about contraception, always in the context that delaying sex (abstinence) is a teen’s best and healthiest choice. This occurs through a curriculum that offers: A medically accurate health model; Abstinence Focused message; Published research-based results; Parent involvement and education.

Choosing the Best PATH Learning areas include: Risks of teen sexual behavior Rewards of abstinence Relationship education Alcohol and sex Peer pressure and refusal skills Abstinence pledge Character education Building self-esteem Parent interviews

Lessons Include Exercises, Role Plays, and Group Discussions.

The Leader’s Guide Contains Detailed Lesson Plans in a “Wrap Around” Format.

A Brief Video Vignette Opens Each Lesson to Capture Students’ Attention. To view a sample video clip from Choosing the Best LIFE — Lesson #5, please visit: sample_video.html

Lesson #3 Growing Up Too Quickly Time to Watch video Time to Talk 1.Why did these couples think they wouldn’t get pregnant? 2. How did their lives change after they got pregnant? Time to Share 1.How would you define “safe or safer sex”? 2.Does using a condom eliminate the risk of getting pregnant? 3.Does using a condom eliminate the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD)? 4.What is the only way to totally eliminate the risk of pregnancy or contracting an sexually transmitted disease (STD)?

Lesson #7 Learning How to Say No Time to Watch Video Time to Talk 1.What words or “lines” have you heard people use to influence someone to have sex? 2.What would you say if you were on the receiving end of one of these lines? 3.Why is it hard to say “no” to someone you care about? Time to Share 1. As a teenager, were you ever pressured to do something you didn't want to do? 2.What helped you stand up for your beliefs against the pressure? 3.What advice would you give me to help me stand up for my own values?