Health Education

Health Education

The concepts and skills learned in health education become the cornerstone for developing healthy habits that students will use every day for the rest of their lives. Students will learn how to analyze influences, access accurate health information, use positive communication skills, make healthy decisions, set goals, practice healthy/safe behaviors, and advocate for their own health and those around them.

Health Education Standards

The School District of the Menomonie Area (SDMA) uses the State of Wisconsin Health Education standards. These standards are the same as the National Health Education Standards. SDMA uses these standards for all health instruction and grading.

Abbreviated description:

SDMA Human Growth and Development

The School District of the Menomonie Area (SDMA) works with representatives of many sectors that have included: parents, classroom teachers, school district guidance counselors, special education staff, building administrators, area health care providers, the UW-Eau Claire School of Nursing, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and community members to review and update district developed resources used for human growth and development instruction.

The process used to review existing district resources previously used at the elementary level within SDMA and identify areas for recommended updates included: a review of current Wisconsin and national instructional standards, local public health data, and a survey of participating advisory committee members. Instructional topics for inclusion, as well as when different aspects of human growth and development should be taught in the district curriculum, were also considered.  There was consensus on the part of the advisory committee that the medical terms for body parts should be used in the school setting during human growth and development instruction at all grade levels.

As a result of this work, a team of district instructional staff was assembled to complete the work of updating our locally reviewed and developed resources based on the recommendations of the advisory committee.  This team included all elementary guidance counselors, fourth and fifth grade teacher representatives, representation from elementary special education, and physical/health education.  

At an elementary level (Grades 4 and 5) female and male students will be separated during the delivery of human growth and development lessons. Our updated district resources for fourth and fifth grade will include developmentally appropriate teacher led discussion and lessons on the anatomy of the reproductive system and changes of puberty, appropriate social behavior, hygiene, choosing friends, and the need for communication with helpful adults. After the completion of these lessons, your child should be able to:

  • Identify a helpful person (both in school and at home) to turn to with questions.

  • Explain how she/he would handle an uncomfortable situation.

  • Understand that the changes of puberty are normal and healthy and bring with them increased responsibility.

  • Understand reproductive anatomy (male and female) and its functions.


Please feel free to review the lessons used for instruction. Should you have questions related to Human Growth and Development instruction with the SDMA, please contact your child’s teacher, building principal, or the office of Curriculum and Instruction.

Elementary Human Growth and 
Development
Grade 4 Human Growth and Development Curriculum
Grade 5 Human Growth and Development Curriculum
Middle School Human Growth and Development Curriculum
Contact Middle School Office 
High School Human Growth and Development Curriculum 
Contact Middle School Office