MADISON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
HEALTH
WELLNESS
Authored by: Leigh R. McKean
Reviewed by: Sean Dowling
Supervisor of PE/Health and Athletics
Adopted by the Board: August 27, 2013
Members of the Board of Education: Lisa Ellis, President
Patrick Rowe, Vice-President
David Arthur
Kevin Blair
Shade Grahling
Linda Gilbert
Thomas Haralampoudis James Novotny
Superintendent: Dr. Michael Rossi
Madison Public Schools
359 Woodland Road, Madison, NJ 07940
www.madisonpublicschools.org
I. OVERVIEW
The Wellness Health Curriculum is a one semester course offered at Madison High School as part of the
Grade 9 Health and Physical Education curriculum. Three major areas of health will be addressed; Mental
Health, Lifestyle Diseases, and Drug and Alcohol Education. The course is designed to cover areas not
previously covered in the other areas of the health curriculum. In this course a great deal of emphasis placed
on promoting healthy behaviors and lifestyles that the students can use during their time at MHS and in the
future. The materials will be presented through lectures, PowerPoint presentations, DVD’s and supplemented
through the use of the textbook Health: A Guide to Wellness.
II. RATIONALE
The three areas covered in the Wellness Health Curriculum, Mental Health, Lifestyle Diseases, and Drug and
Alcohol Education, are all vitally important health issues for teens. Nearly one in four young adults will
suffer a depressive episode by age 24 (APA2005). Suicide is the third leading cause of death in those aged 1524, and the second leading cause of death on college campuses (APA2005). Lifestyle diseases, especially
those related to obesity in children and adults, like cardiovascular disease, type 2 Diabetes, and high blood
pressure, now effect about 30% of youth between the ages of 6-19 (CDC2006). Drug and alcohol statistics
among teens continue to rise, especially in the area of binge drinking where an estimated 15% of students
aged 12-20 consumed five or more drinks in a row for males, and four or more drinks in a row for females in
the previous month (DHHS1998).
III. STUDENT OUTCOMES (Linked to the N.J. Core Curriculum Standards listed below)
A.
B.
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D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
L.
M.
N.
Students will understand the definition of stress and its causes.(2.1)
Students should understand positive and negative ways of dealing with stress.(2.1)
Students will understand the long-term emotional and physical affects of stress.(2.1)
Students will understand the signs and symptoms of clinical depression.(2.1)
Students will explore the connection between depression and the risk of suicide.(2.1)
Students will develop an understanding of the psychological and pharmacological treatments for
mental illness (2.2).
Students will understand the definition and symptoms of a lifestyle disease (2.1).
Students will understand the connection between lifestyle choices, such as nutrition and exercise and
the development of a lifestyle disease.(2.2)
Students will appreciate the risks of acquiring HIV from certain sexual and drug behaviors.(2.3)
Students will explore the treatment options for lifestyle diseases.(2.1)
Students will explore how peer pressure may influence the decision making process when it comes to
drug and alcohol use. (2.2)
Students will understand the negative effects that drugs and alcohol can have on their health and
quality of life.(2.3)
Students will appreciate the legal ramifications of drug and alcohol use.(2.2)
Students will understand the treatment options available for drug and alcohol use.(2.3)
NJ Core Curriculum Standards for Physical Education and Health
2.1 Wellness: All students will learn and apply health promotion concepts and skills to support a healthy,
active lifestyle
2.1.12.A.Personal Growth and Development
Developing and maintaining wellness requires ongoing evaluation of factors impacting health and modifying lifestyle
behaviors accordingly.
2.1.12.A.1Anaylze the role personal responsibility in maintaining and enhancing personal, family, community and global
wellness.
2.1.12.A.2 Debate the social and ethical implications of the availability and use of technology and medical advances to support
wellness.
B Nutrition
Applying basic nutritional and fitness concepts to lifestyle behaviors impacts wellness.
2.1.12.B.1 Determine the relationship of nutrition and physical activity to weight loss, weight gain and weight maintenance.
2.1.12.B.2 Compare and contrast the dietary trends and eating habits of adolescents and young adults in the United States and
other countries.
2.1.12.B.3 Analyze the unique contributions of each nutrient class (fats, carbohydrates, protein, water, vitamins, and minerals)
to ones health.
C. Diseases and Health Conditions
Personal health is impacted by family, community, national and international efforts to prevent and control diseases and health
conditions.
2.12.1.C.1 Predict diseases and health conditions that may occur during one’s lifespan and speculate on potential prevention
and treatment strategies.
2.12.1.C.2 Develop strategies that will effect local, state, national and international public health efforts to prevent and control
diseases and health conditions.
2.12.1.C.3 Determine the emotional, social and financial impact of mental illness on the family, community and state.
2.12.1.C.4 Relate advances in medicine and technology to the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.
2.2.12 INTEGRATED SKILLS
A. Interpersonal Communication
Effective interpersonal communication encompasses respect and acceptance for individuals regardless of gender, sexual
orientation, disability, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, religion an/or culture.
2.2.12.A.1 Employ skills to communicate with family, peers and people from other backgrounds and cultures that may impact
the health of oneself and others.
Effective communication is the basis for strengthening interpersonal interactions and relationships and resolving conflicts.
2.2.12.A.2 Demonstrate strategies to prevent, manage, or resolve interpersonal conflicts.
Technology increases the capacity of individuals to communicate in multiple and diverse ways.
2.2.12.A.3 Analyze the impact of technology on interpersonal communication, in supporting wellness and a healthy lifestyle.
B. Decision making and Goal Setting
Developing and implementing and effective personal wellness plan contributes to healthy decision-making over one’s lifetime.
2.2.12.B.1 Predict the short-and long-term consequences of good and poor decision making on oneself, friends, family and
others.
2.2.12.B.2 Evaluate the impact of individual and family needs on the development of a personal wellness plan and address
identified barriers.
C. Character Development
Individual and/or group pressure to be successful in competitive activities can result in a positive or negative impact.
2.2.12.C.1 Analyze the impact or competition on personal character development.
Core ethical values impact behaviors that influence the health and safety of people everywhere.
2.2.12.C.2 Judge how individual or group adherence or lack of adherence to core ethical values impacts the local, state,
national, and worldwide community.
2.2.12.C.3 Analyze current issues facing the disability community and make recommendations to address those issues.
D. Advocacy and Service
Effective advocacy for a health or social issue is based on communicating accurate and reliable research about the issue and
developing and implementing strategies to motivate others to address the issue.
2.2.12.D.1 Plan and implement an advocacy strategy to stimulate action on a state, national, or global health issue including,
but not limited to organ tissue donation.
F. Health Services and Information
Potential solutions to health issues are dependent on health literacy and available resources.
2.2.12.E.1 Analyze a variety of health products and services based on cost, availability, accessibility benefits and accreditation.
Affordability and accessibility of healthcare impacts the prevention, early detection and treatment of health problems.
2.2.12.E.2 Determine the effect of accessibility and affordability of healthcare on family, community and global health.
2.3 Drugs and Medicines
2.3.12.A. Medicines
Medicines come in a variety of forms (prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, medicinal supplements) are used
for numerous reasons and should be taken as directed in order to be safe and effective.
2.3.12.A.1 Determine the potential risks and benefits of the use of new or experimental medicines and herbal and medicinal
supplements.
2.3.12.A.2 Summarize the criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of a medicine.
2.3.12.A.3 Relate personal abuse of prescription and over-the-counter medicines to wellness
2.3.12.B. Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs
There are immediate and long term consequences of risky behavior associated with substance abuse.
2.3.12.B.1 Compare and contrast the incidence and impact of commonly abused substances(such as tobacco, alcohol,
marijuana, inhalants, anabolic steroids and other drugs) on individuals and communities in the United States and other
countries.
2.3.12.B.2 Debate the various legal and financial consequences of the use, sale and possession of illegal substances.
2.3.12.B.3 Correlate increased alcohol use with the challenges that may occur at various life stages.
2.3.12.B.4 Correlate the use of alcohol and other drugs with incidences of date rape, sexual assault, STI’s and unintended
pregnancy.
2.3.12.B.5 Relate injected drug use to the incidence of diseases such as HIV AIDS and hepatitis.
.
2.3.12.C. Dependency/Addiction and Treatment
The ability to interrupt a drug dependency/addiction typically requires outside intervention, a strong personal commitment,
treatment and the support or family, friends and others.
2.3.12.C.1 Correlate duration of drug use to the incidence of drug related injury, illness and death.
2.3.12.C.2 Analyze the effectiveness of various strategies the support an individuals ability to stop abusing drugs and remain
drug free.
Substance abuse impacts individuals from all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
2.3.12.C.3 Predict the societal impact of substance abuse on the individual, family and community
IV. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS AND CONTENT
Mental Illness
1. What are the physical and mental aspects of stress?
2. Define personal stressors.
3. What are positive ways to relieve stress? What are negative ways?
4. What causes depression?
5. What are the signs and symptoms of depression?
6. What are warning signs of a suicide attempt?
7. What are signs and symptoms of other mental illnesses?
8. What treatment options are available to people with mental illnesses?
Lifestyle Diseases
1. Define “Lifestyle Disease”.
2. What are the most common lifestyle diseases?
3. What are the causative factors of cardiovascular disease?
4. What lifestyle diseases are associated with obesity?
5. What are the medical consequences of type 2 diabetes?
6. What is the influence of nutrition and exercise on lifestyle diseases?
7. What are safe and effective ways for people to lose weight?
8. How does the media influence the health choices that we make?
9. What behaviors can put a person at risk for HIV?
10. What lifestyle choices can put a person at risk for certain types of cancer?
11. What medical treatments are available for people with lifestyle diseases?
12. What are health choices that teens can make to prevent lifestyle diseases?
Drugs and Alcohol
1. What are the effects of alcohol on the body?
2. What are the effects of smoking on the body?
3. What are the effects of marijuana on the body and mind?
4. How can drug and alcohol use impair judgment in sexual situations and driving?
5. What are the legal ramifications of drug and alcohol use?
6. What are the effects of peer pressure on drug and alcohol use?
7. What can teens do to resist peer pressure?
8. Define addiction.
9. What treatment options are available to people who become addicted to drugs and alcohol?
V. STRATEGIES
Development of concepts will take place through video presentations, lectures, software and Internet
activities. Small group discussion, problem solving activities and class discussion will be utilized to convey
the information in the unit. Guest speakers will also be presented to enforce key concepts in the unit. The
students will use the textbook as an informational supplement to this unit.
VI. EVALUATION
Methods of evaluation may include:
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Notebooks
Health Article Summaries
Quizzes
Tests
Homework Assignments
VII. REQUIRED RESOURCES
Supplemental Text:
Merki, Mary, Merki, Don. Health: A Guide to Wellness, Glencoe, Eighth Edition.
VIII. SCOPE AND SEQUENCE
Mental Illness (3 weeks)
1. Self Esteem
2. Stress
3. Stress Management
4. Depression
5. Treatments for Depression
6. Teen Suicide
7. Phobias
8. Anxiety Disorder
9. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
10. Eating Disorders
11. Bipolar Disorder
12. Multiple Personality Disorder
13. Schizophrenia
Lifestyle Diseases (3 weeks)
1. Mortality Statistics for Lifestyle Diseases
2. Cardiovascular Disease
3. Treatments for Cardiovascular Disease
4. Obesity
5. Diseases Associated With Obesity
6. Type 2 Diabetes
7. Lung Cancer
8. Colon Cancer
9. Melanoma
10. Breast Cancer
11. Testicular Cancer
Drugs and Alcohol (3 weeks)
1. Alcohol
2. Binge Drinking
3. BAC
4. Drinking and Driving
5. Smoking
6. Marijuana
7. Anabolic Steroids
8. Prescription Drugs
9. Club Drugs
10. Drug Testing
11. Drug Treatment Options