School Curriculum: Integrated Skills

This page is designed to enable parents to understand what their child should be learning, when they should be learning it, and what degree of mastery the child should have attained (at a median level) by a certain grade level. For Homeschoolers, we hope that this page will serve as a valuable asset in establishing a baseline curriculum. For parents whose children attend public or private schools (or for the inquisitive student) this page should give some guidance as to whether or not the school curriculum and methods are providing students with an adequate standard of education. 

What is meant by "Integrated Skills," why is it important, and how is it approached ? Below is a description of the core discipline and its components, and the answers to why-how-when these components are taught.  Integrated Skills components have median level goals to be attained by the end of Grade 2, by the end of Grade 4, by the end of Grade 6, by the end of Grade 8, and by the end of Grade 12.

This page does not contain articles for education in this discipline.
For educational articles, go to: Integrated Skills A. Communication, B. Decision Making, C. Planning and Goal Setting, D. Character Development, E. Leadership, Advocacy, and Service, F. Health Services and Careers

Descriptive Statement: This standard seeks to foster responsible health behaviors through the enhancement of critical thinking, decision making, problem solving, and communication skills used in situations impacting personal, family, and community health. It enables students to locate and evaluate health information and resources and to develop character, leadership, and advocacy skills so they can become more active participants in the promotion of wellness. Competency in these skills enables and empowers students to resist destructive behaviors and seek out positive opportunities for growth and learning. These skills may be cross-disciplinary and should be integrated into each Comprehensive Health and Physical Education Standard.

STANDARD 2.2 (INTEGRATED SKILLS) ALL STUDENTS WILL USE HEALTH-ENHANCING PERSONAL, INTERPERSONAL, AND LIFE SKILLS TO SUPPORT A HEALTHY, ACTIVE LIFESTYLE.

Strands and Cumulative Progress Indicators

By the end of Grade 2, students will:

A. Communication

1. Identify sources of health information.

2. Express ideas and opinions about wellness issues.

3. Explain when and how to use refusal skills in health and safety situations.

4. Demonstrate effective communication and listening skills.

B. Decision Making

1. Explain the steps to making an effective health decision.

2. Discuss how parents, peers, and the media influence health decisions.

C. Planning and Goal Setting

1. Develop a wellness goal and explain why setting a goal is important.

D. Character Development

1. Explain that a person’s character and values are reflected in the way the person thinks, feels, and acts.

E. Leadership, Advocacy, and Service

1. Act as a leader and a follower.

2. Identify factors that lead to group success and help solve group problems.

3. Motivate group members to work together and provide constructive feedback.

4. Demonstrate respect for varying ideas and opinions.

5. Participate in a class or school service activity and explain how volunteering enhances self-esteem.

F. Health Services and Careers

1. Discuss how community helpers and healthcare workers contribute to personal and community wellness.

2. Explain when and how to seek help when feeling ill, scared, sad, lonely, or bullied.

Building upon knowledge and skills gained in preceding grades, by the end of Grade 4, students will:

A. Communication

1. Explain how to determine the validity and reliability of a health resource.

2. Present health information, orally and in writing, to peers.

3. Describe and demonstrate the effective use of communication skills, including refusal, negotiation, and assertiveness.

4. Identify and employ ways to improve listening skills.

5. Explain how to identify a health problem or issue for possible research.

B. Decision Making

1. Outline the steps to making an effective decision.

2. Discuss how parents, peers, and the media influence health decisions and behaviors.

3. Describe situations that might require a decision about health and safety.

C. Planning and Goal Setting

1. Develop a personal health goal and track progress.

2. Describe ways to support the achievement of health goals.

D. Character Development

1. Describe character traits and core ethical values such as trustworthiness, responsibility, respect, caring, justice, fairness, civic virtue, and citizenship.

2. Discuss how an individual’s character positively impacts individual and group goals and success.

E. Leadership, Advocacy, and Service

1. Describe and demonstrate the characteristics of an effective leader.

2. Acknowledge the contributions of group members and choose appropriate ways to motivate them and celebrate their accomplishments.

3. Demonstrate respect for the opinions and abilities of group members.

4. Develop and articulate group goals.

5. Develop a position on a wellness issue.

6. Discuss laws and regulations created to enhance wellness.

7. Organize and participate in a school or community service activity and discuss how helping others impacts personal and community wellness.

F. Health Services and Careers

1. Describe health and fitness services provided in the school and community.

2. Describe and demonstrate how to seek help for a variety of health and fitness concerns.

3. Discuss wellness and fitness careers.

Building upon knowledge and skills gained in preceding grades, by the end of Grade 6, students will:

A. Communication

1. Summarize health information from a variety of valid and reliable health resources.

2. Present health information using a multimedia approach, adapting the wording and delivery method for the topic and audience.

3. Demonstrate and evaluate the effective use of communication skills, including refusal, negotiation, and assertiveness.

4. Describe and demonstrate active and reflective listening.

5. Compare and contrast the economic and social purposes of health messages presented in the media.

B. Decision Making

1. Demonstrate effective decision making in health and safety situations.

2. Analyze the influence of family, peers, and the media on health decisions and investigate how conflicting interests may influence decisions and choices.

3. Analyze significant health decisions and discuss how the outcome(s) might have been different if a different decision had been made.

4. Explain how personal ethics influence decision making.

C. Planning and Goal Setting

1. Use health data and information to formulate health goals.

2. Develop strategies to support the achievement of short- and long-term health goals.

D. Character Development

1. Describe actions and situations that show evidence of good character.

2. Discuss the characteristics of a role model and how role models influence the personal goals and ethical standards of others.

E. Leadership, Advocacy, and Service

1. Compare various forms of leadership and implement appropriate leadership strategies when serving in a leadership role.

2. Evaluate personal and group contributions towards the achievement of a goal or task, analyze a group’s ability to improve its performance, and provide appropriate feedback.

3. Develop and articulate a group’s goals and vision.

4. Compare the use of cooperative and competitive strategies to achieve a group goal and recommend strategies to keep a group on target and free from conflict.

5. Discuss how individuals can make a difference by helping others, investigate opportunities for volunteer service, and participate in activities through school or community-based health or service organizations.

6. Formulate and express a position on health issues and educate peers about the health issue or cause.

7. Discuss local and state laws that impact personal, family, and community wellness and formulate ways that individuals and groups can work together to improve wellness.

F. Health Services and Careers

1. Categorize health and fitness services available in the school and community and demonstrate how to access them.

2. Investigate health and fitness career opportunities.

Building upon knowledge and skills gained in preceding grades, by the end of Grade 8, students will:

A. Communication

1. Analyze health ideas, opinions, and issues from a variety of valid and reliable health sources.

2. Present health information using a multimedia approach, adapting the wording and delivery method for various topics and audiences.

3. Assess the use of refusal, negotiation, and assertiveness skills and recommend strategies for improvement.

4. Assess the use of active and reflective listening.

5. Analyze the economic and political purposes and impacts of health messages found in the media.

B. Decision Making

1. Demonstrate and assess the use of decision-making skills in health and safety situations.

2. Compare and contrast the influence of peers, family, the media, and past experiences on the use of decision-making skills and predict how these influences may change or conflict as one ages.

3. Predict social situations and conditions that may require adolescents and young adults to use decision making skills.

4. Discuss how ethical decision making requires careful thought and action.

5. Critique significant health decisions and discuss how the outcome(s) might have changed if the appropriate communication and decision-making skills had been employed.

C. Planning and Goal Setting

1. Analyze factors that support or hinder the achievement of personal health goals.

D. Character Development

1. Analyze how character development can be enhanced and supported by individual, group, and team activities.

2. Compare and contrast the characteristics of various role models and the core ethical values they represent.

3. Explain how community and public service supports the development of core ethical values.

4. Analyze personal and group adherence to student codes of conduct.

E. Leadership, Advocacy, and Service

1. Demonstrate the ability to function effectively in both leadership and supportive roles.

2. Discuss motivational techniques used to improve personal and group achievement and develop rewards and sanctions for group accomplishments.

3. Develop and articulate a group’s goals, shared values, and vision.

4. Plan and implement volunteer activities to benefit a health organization or cause.

5. Develop and defend a position or opinion on a health issue or problem and educate students and parents about the health issue or cause.

F. Health Services and Careers

1. Compare and contrast health and fitness services available in the school and community, demonstrate how to access them, and evaluate each comparing benefits and costs.

2. Compare and contrast preparation and job requirements for health and fitness careers.

Building upon knowledge and skills gained in preceding grades, by the end of Grade 12, students will:

A. Communication

1. Use appropriate research methodology to investigate a health problem or issue.

2. Develop, present, and evaluate a multimedia health presentation and adapt it to address the needs and interests of varying audiences.

3. Teach others how to use communication skills, including refusal, negotiation, and assertiveness.

4. Employ strategies to improve communication and listening skills and assess their effectiveness.

5. Evaluate the economic, political, social, and aesthetic impacts of health messages found in literature, art, music, theater, and television.

B. Decision Making

1. Demonstrate and evaluate the use of decision making skills.

2. Evaluate factors that influence major health decisions and predict how those factors will change or conflict at various life stages.

3. Use reliable and valid health information to assess social situations and conditions that impact health and safety.

4. Analyze the use of ethics and personal values when making decisions.

5. Critique significant health decisions and debate the choices made.

C. Planning and Goal Setting

1. Appraise individual and family needs in order to achieve and maintain wellness and design a plan for lifelong wellness.

2. Evaluate how family, peers, healthcare providers, and the community support or hinder the achievement of a wellness plan.

D. Character Development

1. Demonstrate character based on core ethical values.

2. Analyze how role models, and the core ethical values they represent, influence society.

3. Analyze the impact of community or public service on individual and community core ethical values.

E. Leadership. Advocacy, and Service

1. Assess personal and group contributions and strengths that lead to the achievement of goals and tasks.

2. Evaluate personal participation as both a leader and follower.

3. Discuss factors that influence intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and employ motivational techniques to enhance group productivity.

4. Evaluate a group’s ability to be respectful, supportive, and adherent to codes of conduct.

5. Develop and articulate the group’s goals, shared values, vision, and work plan.

6. Plan, implement, and evaluate activities to benefit a health organization, cause, or issue.

7. Assess community awareness and understanding about a local, state, national, or international health issue.

F. Health Services and Careers

1. Access health and fitness services, programs, and resources and evaluate them for cost, availability, accessibility, benefits, and accreditation.

2. Analyze the preparation, licensing, and responsibilities of wellness and fitness professionals.

3. Compare and contrast health insurance and reimbursement plans.

 

 

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