Social Awareness – Grade 8 – Lesson 1
Objectives:
- Identify Warning Signs of Unhealthy or Abusive Relationships: Students will be able to recognize red flags indicating potential dangers in relationships, including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.
- Distinguish Appropriate and Inappropriate Behaviors in Relationships: Students will understand the distinction between healthy and unhealthy relationship qualities, empowering them to make informed decisions in their interactions with others.
Introduction:
Healthy relationships are built on respect, kindness, and trust. Unfortunately, a significant number of teens experience physical or emotional abuse in their relationships. In this lesson, we learn to identify warning signs and protect ourselves from the dangers of unhealthy relationships.
Activity 1: Relationship Scenarios
Discuss the following scenarios with the class and lead large group discussions or group/partner discussions:
- Why do some people tolerate unhealthy behavior from a boyfriend or girlfriend that they wouldn’t accept from a best friend?
- What does it mean to say that the foundation of a healthy relationship is a good friendship? What qualities should we look for in both friends and partners?
- Can you provide examples of abusive behavior in relationships? Is abuse ever the victim’s fault?
- In what ways can peer pressure affect relationships when people try to impress their friends? Is it different for guys and girls?
- Is it easy or difficult to leave an unhealthy relationship? What can you do to help a friend who confides in you about being abused emotionally or physically by their partner?
If questions were discussed in small groups, have students share a few of their answers for the benefit of the large group.
Activity 2: Raise a Red Flag
This activity requires small red flags, which can be either homemade or cut from construction paper.
Explain the concept of “raising a red flag” as a signal for potential problems or dangers in relationships.
Read and Discuss the Article:
Read the article “Am I in a Healthy Relationship?” individually or as a class, which describes the characteristics of healthy relationships and qualities of unhealthy relationships.
Identify Concerning Behavior:
Read the list of relationship situations and have students raise a small red flag if they think the behavior is concerning in any way. Address any ambiguous situations or those students find difficult to identify as problematic.
Closing:
Role-Playing Scenarios:
Engage a few students in role-playing scenarios to demonstrate how to respond to concerning situations:
- A friend confides that her boyfriend smacked her in anger last night.
- What would you say if she downplays the incident and says it was no big deal?
- What would you say if she blames herself for making her boyfriend angry?
- What would you say if she believes her boyfriend’s apologies and promises that it won’t happen again?
- Two male friends witness one of them yelling at his girlfriend and pushing her against a wall at a party.
- How would you communicate that the witness disapproves of what his friend did?
Lesson adapted from: The Nemours Foundation/Kids Health