In accordance with the Health Framework for California Public Schools and The California Healthy Youth Act, Education Code (EC) sections 51930-51939, Ocean Charter School is developing a collaborative, comprehensive program to teach health, nutrition, and life skills education. The curriculum focuses on the developmental tasks of early adolescence, health education, nutrition, and life skills education. The Life Skills program at Ocean Charter School explores the innate mysteries of individuality as well as nurtures the interpersonal connections that make us human.
Students in 5th – 8th grade participate in process-oriented course work that explores issues of self-esteem, self-awareness, and appreciation of others. Individuation tasks in the formation of identity, cognitive skills such as perspective taking, and skills necessary for making good choices regarding health, sexuality, and nutrition are examined.
During the years between 5th and 8th grade, students study Human Development and Sexuality, with an age-appropriate emphasis on puberty and the physical, emotional and social changes of adolescence. When human reproductive organs are included, permission of a parent or guardian is obtained (Education code, Section 51550).
In the 6th, 7th and 8th grade years, students study the use of technology and social media and its impact on their lives. In the award winning Cyber Civics curriculum that we implement, students learn the principles of good citizenship and how they relate to their digital footprint.
In 6th and 7th grades, health, nutrition, and reproduction are introduced just before the students enter puberty, while they are still relatively less self-preoccupied and can experience the nature of the human being in a general way.
During 7th grade, as the students’ developmental shifts take them further from the realm of family and closer to independence, life skills course work focuses on making healthy life choices. Drug education, examination of cultural and social messages and their impact on teen consumers, as well as a focus on organizational/study skills prepares young people to navigate their personal and school lives in a healthy manner.
8th graders continue their study of health, fitness, and nutrition with the added elements of HIV awareness, stress reduction, and gender issues.