6th Grade Approved Curriculum: Puberty: the Wonder Years 

LESSON 1: Growing Together 

Students will be able to:

• Participate in classroom discussions and related activities in a way that is respectful of themselves, their peers, teachers as demonstrated by active participation in community guideline creation and use of guidelines in discussions.

• Demonstrate preparation to have a conversation with a parent or other trusted adult about puberty by describing three communication skills that will support healthy relationships. 

LESSON 2: How My Body Works

Students will be able to:

• Identify three physical changes that occur during puberty after viewing a video about puberty.

• Name three ways puberty may vary among individuals through participation in discussion. 

LESSON 3: Changing as We Grow

Students will be able to:

• Identify three social, emotional, and cognitive changes that occur during puberty by sorting cards with characteristics of brain changes and social-emotional competencies.

• Display two communication skills by talking with a parent or other trusted adult about puberty using the first family activity sheet as evidenced by the adult’s signature on the activity sheet. 

LESSON 4: Healthy Relationships

Students will be able to:

• Analyze two similarities and two differences between friendships and romantic relationships by sorting characteristics into categories.

• Describe three elements of consent and the impact using consent has on healthy relationships after viewing a video. 

LESSON 5: Relationship Challenges

Students will be able to:

• Demonstrate two types of positive communication skills that will support healthy relationships after viewing a video.

• Demonstrate two strategies to communicate personal boundaries and two ways to honor the boundaries of others by discussing and rewriting student scenarios about consent and honoring boundaries. 

LESSON 6: Making Responsible Decisions

Students will be able to:

• Define vaginal, oral, and anal sex after hearing a mini-lecture.

• Compare and contrast three behaviors, including sexual intercourse and abstinence, to assess potential risks of pregnancy and STIs during class discussion of behaviors.

• Demonstrate two ways to communicate decisions about whether to engage in sexual behaviors by applying a model for decision-making. 

LESSON 7: Sexually Transmitted Infections

Students will be able to:

• Describe sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, and how they are and are not transmitted after viewing a video.

• Describe the signs and symptoms, or lack thereof, of STIs while working in small groups to compile facts.

• Discuss current biomedical approaches to prevent and treat STIs and HIV and why HIV can now be considered a chronic condition after viewing a series of videos and having class discussion. 

LESSON 8: Refuse or Report

Students will be able to:

• Define four forms of interpersonal and sexual violence and describe their impacts on sexual health after analyzing a power and control wheel and viewing a series of video clips.

• Demonstrate two positive ways to communicate decisions about sexual behaviors using refusal skills and reporting by practicing in pairs. 

LESSON 9: Media and Information Literacy

Students will be able to:

• Explain the impact that technology and media, including sexually explicit media, can have on one's body image and relationships by analyzing media samples.

• Define accuracy and analyze accurate sources of information about puberty, adolescent development, and sexual health by using a formula to analyze websites.

• Identify sources of support, such as trusted adults and community resources, they can go to if they or someone they know needs help by asking a trusted adult to help them analyze a website for accuracy. 

LESSON 10: Future Me

Students will be able to:
• Define racism and intersectionality and describe their impacts on sexual health after viewing a series of video clips and engaging in class discussion.

• Develop a plan to promote dignity and respect for everyone by identifying how to be an advocate.

• Develop a plan to promote sexual health by creating a vision board. 

Scope and Sequence for Puberty the Wonder Years

For more information on the curriculum, please visit www.PubertyCurriculum.com

Videos for 6th Grade
Life's Greatest Miracle - PBS Video  (.wmv or .mp4)
The Highs, Lows, and In-Betweens of Puberty - Human Relations Media (.wmv or .mp4)
Your Body: Reproductive Systems - National Geographic (.wmv or .mp4)