5th Grade Health

The Folsom Cordova School District is excited to partner with you in guiding your child toward making healthy choices. This instruction comes at a critical time, as students enter adolescence and encounter increasing pressures from peers and social media. Today’s youth must navigate daily decisions about their health, safety, and relationships, and our goal is to equip them with the knowledge and skills to do so with confidence.

Through lessons on emotions and communication, puberty and hygiene, friendship and body image, decision-making and safety, suicide prevention, substance use, sex/gender, cyberbullying, and body systems, students will gain both understanding and practical strategies. They will also learn protective skills, such as recognizing personal boundaries, advocating for themselves and others, practicing refusal skills, and identifying trusted adults and resources.

These experiences are designed to strengthen protective factors, which reduce the likelihood of risky behaviors, while also building health literacy, the ability to access, understand, and apply health information to make safe, informed choices.

Our ultimate goal is for every student to feel empowered to care for their well-being, respect others, and know when and how to seek support. We value your partnership in reinforcing these lessons at home and encourage you to continue the conversation with your child.

Together, we can help our students grow into healthy, confident, and compassionate young people.

Information

Topic Descriptions

	Lesson Number	Title
September	Chapter 5, Lesson 1	Your Emotions and Your Body Describe human emotions and their effects on the body Respect how emotions can impact physical health Demonstrate communication skills to enhance health and well-being Predict the consequences of emotion on health
	Chapter 5, Activity 7	Suicide Prevention To identify signs of depression and suicide Demonstrate specific steps for helping someone who is at risk for suicide and /or has revealed they are suicidal
	Chapter 6, Lesson 1	Hormones and Your Body Explain the endocrine system, including major glands and the role hormones play in stimulating body functions
	Chapter 6, Lesson 2	Growing and Changing Identify the anatomical differences between males and females. Describe changes that happen during puberty, including menstruation Explain how to be empathetic and compassionate toward others who are at a different stage of puberty from oneself Practice speaking respectfully to another person while advocating for self and others
October	Chapter 6, Lesson 3	Hygiene and You - Keeping Clean Identify the connection between good hygiene and overall wellness Describe how hygiene practices change during puberty Includes Activities 4 and 5 (Co-taught with School Nurse)
	Chapter 6, Portfolio 3	Body Image Analyze how society and the media can influence ideas about self-esteem and body image
	Chapter 6, Activity 6	Friendship Identify qualities of healthy and unhealthy friendships
	Chapter 6, Lesson 4	Growing Up With a Healthy Attitude Define maturity Identify health and safety values that demonstrate maturity Select and demonstrate practices and behaviors that support the health of self and others Demonstrate effective decision making skills in situations involving negative peer pressure
November	Project Protect Day 1	Identify and prioritize their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. Learn personal boundaries: recognizing the importance of respecting both their own and others' boundaries in various contexts. Explore how to listen to your inner voice to identify trusted adults and create a safe circle
	Project Protect Day 2	Define vulnerability as situations that may expose them to emotional or physical harm Recognize the importance of protective shields, and identifying strengths and resources that can assist in protecting them from harm Explore physical interactions through a lens of confusing, safe, and unsafe touch through discussion activities Complete a safety plan and identify resources
	Common Sense Ed	Beyond Gender Stereotypes Define "gender stereotype" and describe how they can be present online Describe how gender stereotypes can lead to unfairness or bias Create an avatar and a poem that show how gender stereotypes impact who they are
January	Chapter 7, Lesson 1	The Effects of Use, Misuse, and Abuse of Drugs Define the terms drug use, drug misuse, and drug abuse, and identify the short-and long-term effects of different categories of drugs on the body Set a goal to protect one’s body from misuse and abuse of drugs Differentiate among proper use, misuse, and abuse of drugs
	Chapter 7, Lesson 3	Drugs and Advertising Identify positive and negative influences around drug use, including advertisements and peer pressure. Show the value of advocacy by creating a PSSA warning about the potential dangers of substance use Analyze print and electronic media ads to determine whether or not they promote the misuse or abuse of drugs Compare and contrast media influences with peer influences
	Chapter 7, Lesson 4	Choose to Be Drug Free Explain why drugs won’t solve problems Create a graphic showing how adhering to positive values builds inner strength Make a list of activities that are fun and can also help a person to be strong, healthy, and positive
	Common Sense Ed	Is it Cyberbullying? Recognize similarities and differences between in-person bullying, cyberbullying, and being mean Empathize with the targets of cyberbullying Identify strategies for dealing with cyberbullying and ways they can be an upstander for those being bullied
February	Chapter 1, Portfolio 4	Stand Up, No Bullying Here! Identify types of bullying behavior (including harassment) and demonstrate ways to be an upstander, ally, and advocate for all people
March	Chapter 1, Lesson 1	Making a Decision Identify situations that need a decision related to safety and injury prevention Consider a health-promoting option that aligns with personal values when making an effective decision Choose a healthy option when making a decision related to safety and injury prevention
	Chapter 1, Lesson 2	First Aid That You Can Do Explain the methods of handling first aid for a range of common minor injuries Explain the importance of developing first aid skills Simulate a first aid station where patients are triaged, first aid is administered, and patients are referred to appropriate resources for help
	Chapter 1, Lesson 4	Taking Precautions Identify risk or unsafe situations at home, at school, at play, and in the community Demonstrate responsibility by responding safely to a variety of risky situations Predict the consequences of unsafe, risk-taking behavior Analyze why people take risks that may lead to injuries
	Chapter 8, Portfolio 1	Being Responsible Identify behaviors that support a healthy body and circulatory system Make a commitment to positive health behaviors they’ve identified
April/May	Chapter 8, Lesson 2	Your Blood and Your Immune System Identify components of the blood and the jobs they do Demonstrate appreciate for the importance of the immune system Practice talking to a healthcare provider about a variety of health concerns
	Chapter 8, Lesson 3	HIV, Enemy of the Immune System Discuss how HIV affects the immune system Practice refusal skills, particularly concerning avoiding behaviors that pose risk of contracting bloodborne diseases, including HIV Analyze how HIV is and is not transmitted (no inclusion of sexual contact is discussed in this lesson)
	Chapter 8, Activity 7	Sleep and Your Immune System Learn how to chart sleep habits and get a sufficient amount of sleep
	Chapter 8, Activity 14	Pathogens and Illness Compare pathogens, identify the body’s defense system, and explain how to keep germs from spreading.

Standards

Injury Prevention and Safety Topics

Bullying
1. 1.4.S - Examine the effects of bullying and harassment on others.
2. 4.5.S - Demonstrate what to say and do when witnessing bullying.
3. 8.2.S - Offer friendship and support to someone who was bullied.
Seeking Assistance
1. 1.7.S - Describe ways to seek assistance if worried, abused, or threatened.
2. 3.2.S - Demonstrate how to access emergency services and communicate effectively with emergency personnel.
3. 3.3.S - Identify safe people and places to go to if feeling unsafe or threatened (e.g., school counselor, police department, fire department).
4. 3.4.S - Identify trusted adults to report to if people are in danger of hurting themselves or others.
Traffic Safety
1. 1.16.S - Identify ways to reduce risk of injuries from fires, around water, while riding a motor vehicle, as a pedestrian, on the playground, and from falls.
2. 7.3.S - Use appropriate protective gear and equipment.
Consent and Personal Boundaries
1. 1.19.S - Demonstrate escape strategies for cases of inappropriate touching or attempted abduction.
2. 1.7.G - Recognize that everyone has the right to establish personal boundaries.
Digital Citizenship
1. 2.2.S Media and Technology - Examine the influence of violence in media and technology on health behavior
Medicine and Needle Safety
Communicable Diseases
1. Blood Borne Pathogens
2. Covering coughs
3. Living with someone with a condition
  1. 5.2.G - Analyze why it is safe to be a friend to someone who is living with HIV or AIDS.
4. Identifying Life Threatening Conditions (if friend or teacher is unconscious)
  1. 1.5.G - Describe how HIV is and is not transmitted.

Growth and Development Topics

Human Development
1. 1.1.G - Describe the human cycle of birth, growth, aging, and death.
2. 1.2.G - Explain the structure, function, and major parts of the human reproductive system.
3. 1.3.G - Identify the physical, social, and emotional changes that occur during puberty
4. 2.3.G - Discuss how changes during puberty affect thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
5. 3.1.G - Recognize parents, guardians, and other trusted adults as resources for information about puberty.
Gender
1. 1.6.G - Recognize that there are individual differences in growth and development, physical appearance, and gender roles.
Hygiene
1. 1.10.G - Identify personal hygiene practices and health and safety issues related to puberty (e.g., showering, use of sanitary products, deodorant, and athletic supporters).
2. 6.2.G - Develop plans to maintain personal hygiene during puberty.
3. 7.1.G - Engage in behaviors that promote healthy growth and development during puberty.
4. Safety for menstrual products
Positive Body Image
1. 6.1.G - Identify steps to achieve and maintain a healthy and accurate body image.

Parent Preview

Parents may schedule an appointment to review the curriculum in the Elementary school office, provided it is not in use by the teacher
Teacher slides, which serve as visual accommodations, will be posted as they become available. These slides have been developed by the Health Guiding Coalition and are aligned with the curriculum guide.

Visual Accommodations: Teacher Slides

Chapter 1, Lesson 1 "Making a Decision": Here (This is for preview)
Chapter 1, Lesson 2 " "First Aid You Can Do": Here (This is for preview)
Chapter 1, Lesson 4: "Taking Precautions": Here (This is for preview)
Chapter 1, Portfolio "Stand Up, No Bullying Here": Here (This is for preview)
Chapter 5, Lesson 1 "Your Emotions and Your Body": Here
Chapter 5, Activity 7 "Suicide Prevention": Here
Chapter 6, Lesson 1 "Hormones and Your Body": Here
Chapter 6, Lesson 2 "Growing and Changing": Here
Chapter 6, Lesson 3 "Hygiene and You": Here
Chapter 6, Portfolio 3 "Body Image": Here
Chapter 6, Activity 6 "Friendship": Here
Chapter 6, Lesson 4 "Growing Up With a Healthy Attitude": Here
Chapter 7, Lesson 1 "The Effects of Use, Misuse, and Abuse of Drugs": Here
Chapter 7, Lesson 2: "Substance Use Disorder and the Family": Here
Chapter 7, Lesson 3: " Drugs and Advertising": Here

Opt Out Process

If you don't want your child to participate in a specific topic, please let the school know in writing which topics you don't want your child to participate. Your child will be supervised in a self-guided activity outside their classroom during the instruction.

The List of Lessons are:

Chapter 5, Lesson 1- Your Emotions and Your Body
Chapter 5, Activity 7- Suicide Prevention
Chapter 6, Lesson 1-Hormones and Your Body
Chapter 6, Lesson 2-Growing and Changing
Chapter 6, Lesson 3- Hygiene and You - Keeping Clean
Chapter 6, Activity 6- Friendship
Chapter 6, Lesson 4-Growing Up With a Healthy Attitude
Project PROTECT day 1 and 2
Chapter 7, Lesson 1- The Effects of Use, Misuse, and Abuse of Drugs
Chapter 7, Lesson 3-Drugs and Advertising
Chapter 7, Lesson 4-Choose to Be Drug Free
Chapter 1, Portfolio 4-Stand Up, No Bullying Here!
Chapter 1, Lesson 1-Making a Decision
Chapter 8, Portfolio 1- Being Responsible
Chapter 8, Lesson 2-Your Blood and Your Immune System

FAQ

Public curriculum review period: 5/8/25-6/17/25
June 18, 2025 Board Presentation
5th Teacher training: 8/4/25, SPED Teacher Training: 8/28/25
School Health Advisory Council
K-6 California Healthy Youth Act Fact Sheet
Health Education Framework: Grades 4-6
Supreme Court Decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor
- CDE
- ACLU

The California Healthy Youth Act 2016 (CHYA)

The adoption of the California Healthy Youth Act 2016 (California Education Code [EC] sections 51930–51939) requires school districts to ensure that all students in grades seven through twelve, inclusive, receive comprehensive sexual health education and HIV prevention education.

Elementary School: It is permissible to teach knowledge and skills related to comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education in grades kindergarten through grade six (K–6), inclusive. All instruction and materials in grades K–6 must meet the instructional criteria or baseline requirements in EC Section 51933. Content that is required in grades 7–12 may also be included in an age-appropriate way in earlier grades. (EC sections 51933, 51934[b].)

Why is the instruction delivered in mixed gender groups?

Sexual health instruction is most effective when provided in an open, safe, supportive, inclusive, and judgment-free learning environment. In a safe learning environment where students of all genders learn together about growth and development, teachers can reduce discomfort and foster understanding about both similarities and differences in the puberty changes experienced by students. For additional guidance on creating an inclusive learning environment, see the Access and Equity chapter. (From the 2019 California Health Framework, Chapter 4, under the topic “Grade 5: Growth, Development, and Sexual Health,”, retrieved from https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/he/cf/)

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