Our Curriculum

Middle School Workshop Descriptions

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The CHE curriculum for middle school contains 9 workshops on the following topics:

Adolescence, Puberty, and the Reproductive System

The first of these two workshops introduces students to the idea of taking responsibility for their personal health; in addition to discussing health in general, it presents themes that run throughout the rest of the CHE curriculum, such as self-esteem, respect, and healthy communication. The second workshop deals with puberty and the reproductive system, covering topics such as the emotional, social, and physical changes that occur during puberty (both those that are universal and those that are unique to males or females), as well as the ways those changes relate to the process of reproduction.

Nutrition, Drugs and Alcohol

The nutrition workshop discusses the importance of eating in a healthy way, using practical ways to achieve this such as the balanced plate model and reading nutrition labels; the workshop also covers the importance of regular physical activity. The drugs and alcohol workshop focuses on tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana and helps students to understand the risks associated with using these substances. We discuss social pressures and addiction and present students with the knowledge needed to make responsible choices.

Self Esteem & Peer Pressure and Healthy Relationships

These workshops discuss emotional and social changes that occur during puberty. Topics in the first workshop include self-esteem, peer pressure and stress, employing scenarios and discussions to handle different situations related to these issues. The second workshop discusses healthy and unhealthy relationships, including romantic relationships and friendships. We discuss signs of abuse in unhealthy relationships, and we emphasize the importance of effective communication for all relationships.

Making Healthy Decisions About Sex and STDs

These workshops discuss sexual feelings and various sexual behaviors. Making Healthy Decisions about Sex emphasizes the responsibilities and consequences of having sex, also providing information about pregnancy and contraception as well as discussing important conversations two people should have before having sex for the first time. The STDs workshop presents information on transmission and prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and continues to emphasize the important conversations and responsibilities that healthy sexuality involves.

Sexual Orientation and Intimacy

These workshops use information learned in the previous lesson to introduce students to the spectrum of sexuality, to confront myths concerning sexual orientation, and to explore the concept of both sexual and nonsexual intimacy. The curriculum is designed to help students recognize puberty as a time when emotions and attractions evolve and to help students develop respect for this natural change. The second workshop includes scenarios that involve a broad range of themes covered throughout the curriculum, including peer pressure, communication, and decision-making.

High School Workshop Descriptions

Click here to jump to the Middle School curriculum descriptions

The CHE curriculum for high school contains 11 workshops on the following topics:

Introduction to CHE

This workshop introduces the major themes and topics of CHE as well as important skills that are reinforced throughout the CHE curriculum. The workshop creates a framework for discussing health in a context of decision-making and goal-setting to encourage students to recognize the importance of health in their own lives. Also covered are communication skills with specific applications to health-related scenarios (e.g. refusal skills). The introduction workshop offers room for a lot of creativity and innovation, as it is a relatively new workshop with a broad purpose.

Nutrition

This workshop focuses on making healthy choices in terms of both food and exercise. We discuss practical ways to improve nutritional content of meals and snacks, the importance of exercise, and ways to reduce the health risks related to poor nutrition, such as obesity and diabetes.

Substance Abuse

These workshops present students with the factual knowledge needed to make responsible choices regarding drugs and alcohol. The first workshop stresses the risks associated with use of these substances, describing the importance and interrelation of tolerance, addiction, overdose and withdrawal. The second workshop discusses reasons for drug use and addresses minimization of risk and refusal skills, particularly with regard to alcohol.

Healthy Sexuality

These two workshops address the skills students need in order to understand their own sexuality and to make informed, healthy decisions about sex. Day One of the workshop covers reproductive anatomy, pregnancy, and personal sexuality, which includes masturbation and sexual orientation. Day Two emphasizes the skills students need to make decisions about having sex: how to weigh the physical and emotional consequences of sex, and how to communicate with a sexual partner.

STIs and Contraception

These workshops present information on the prevention and treatment of STIs (sexually transmitted infections) and the prevention of pregnancy. The first workshop informs students about effective methods of contraception, particularly male condoms and the pill, and effective methods of sexual protection, with an emphasis on barrier methods, particularly male condoms and dental dams. The first workshop also demonstrates correct condom and dental dam use. The second workshop discusses getting tested, the treatment of STIs, and the social effects of STIs. The workshop as a whole emphasizes the importance of having open communication between sexual partners.

Healthy Relationships & Abuse

These workshops encourage students to discuss the differences between healthy and unhealthy relationships. The first workshop focuses on relationships and abuse in general, including what constitutes a healthy relationship and how to recognize an unhealthy one. The second workshop focuses on sexual abuse: harassment, assault and rape. We discuss sexual consent, rape scenarios, and how to help yourself or a friend after sexual abuse.