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NJPEP Home > Standards > Comprehensive Health and Physical Education (Revised)

STANDARD 2.4 (HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS AND SEXUALITY) by Grade 8

Strands with Cumulative Progress Indicators

A. Relationships

  1. Compare and contrast the current and historical role of marriage and the family in community and society.
  2. Discuss changes in family structures and the forces that influence change.
  3. Analyze how relationships evolve over time, focusing on changes in friendships, family, dating relationships, and lifetime commitments such as marriage.
  4. Discuss factors that enhance and sustain loving, healthy relationships.
  5. Describe how various cultures date or select life partners.
  6. Differentiate among affection, love, commitment, and sexual attraction.
  7. Describe the signs of an unhealthy relationship and develop strategies to end it.
  8. Develop standards for dating situations, such as dating in groups, setting limits, or only dating someone of the same age.

B. Sexuality

  1. Discuss the influence of hormones, heredity, nutrition, and the environment on the physical, social, and emotional changes that occur at puberty.
  2. Analyze internal and external pressures to become sexually active.
  3. Describe the physical, emotional, and social benefits of sexual abstinence and develop strategies to resist pressures to become sexually active.
  4. Discuss the potential short- and long-term physical, emotional, and social impacts of adolescent sexual activity.
  5. Analyze how certain behaviors place one at greater risk for HIV/AIDS, STDs, and unintended pregnancy.
  6. Compare and contrast methods of contraception, risk reduction, and risk elimination and explain how reliability, religious beliefs, age, gender, health history, and cost may influence their use.
  7. Discuss topics regarding sexual orientation.
  8. Discuss the importance of routine healthcare procedures such as breast self examination and testicular examination.

C. Pregnancy and Parenting

  1. Describe fertilization and each stage of embryonic and fetal development.
  2. Discuss the signs and symptoms of pregnancy and explain how pregnancy is confirmed.
  3. Analyze the physical and emotional changes that occur during each stage of pregnancy, including the stages of labor and childbirth.
  4. Discuss the importance of regular prenatal care to help prevent complications that may occur during pregnancy and childbirth.
  5. Describe the potential impact of alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, medicines, diseases, and environmental hazards on pre-natal and post-natal development.
  6. Describe the physical, economic, emotional, social, cultural and intellectual responsibilities of parenthood.
  7. Describe effective parenting strategies and resources for help with parenting.
  8. Analyze the challenges and responsibilities of being a teen mother and/or teen father.