7.PCH.1

What does this standard mean a child will know and be able to do?

7.PCH.1.1 Explain health and academic consequences of inadequate rest and sleep.
Adequate sleep and rest are needed for several reasons. Health and safety concerns include being able to prevent illness and stay alert to potential injury. If rested, a person is better able to manage stress. The immune system is more effective in fighting off illness. Sleep allows the body to slow down and recuperate from the activities of the day. Without adequate sleep, many organs (including the brain) cannot function at their capacity. Lack of sleep also affects mood, causing one to be irritable, depressed, or angry.

There can be academic consequences of not getting sufficient sleep. A student who is tired or drowsy cannot concentrate on academics. Studies show a rested and alert student is better able to learn and retain information, solve problems, and perform effectively on exams and assessment activities. A student who is falling asleep in class should get up, wash his or her face, and focus on learning.

Strategies for being more rested are: avoid caffeine late in the day, avoid exercise three hours before bedtime, and establish a routine of going to bed and getting up at the same times each day. It is a good idea to make the room as comfortable and dark as possible, use the bed only for sleeping, and utilize relaxation techniques such as soft music just before bedtime. Keeping a sleep diary is helpful to many who have trouble sleeping and do not know why.
 * The student will explain the relationship between sleep/rest and health and academic performance.
 * The student will identify strategies to increase recuperative sleep.
 * The student will be able to get adequate sleep and rest to enhance health and academic performance.

7.PCH.1.2 Explain environmental, psychological, and social factors affecting excessive sun exposure.
A variety of reasons influence cultural attitudes toward sun exposure.
 * The environmental factors or influences may include the following: having a job which requires an individual to spend a lot of time outdoors, such as construction; living in a warm climate; time of day sun exposure occurs; altitude of the place an individual lives.
 * The psychological factors or influences may include the following: the belief a suntan is attractive; the belief suntans make an individual appear thinner.
 * The social factors or influences may include the following: fitting in because some people try to get a good suntan; avoiding being picked on or teased.

These beliefs must be balanced with the goal to achieve and maintain good health for a lifetime. The association of overexposure to the sun and skin cancers (some of which are potentially deadly) is well known. The sun’s rays (if too direct or intense) cause cellular changes that result in premature aging, wrinkling, and cancer. After experiencing a sun burn with blisters, a person can (years later) have a far greater chance of developing skin cancer.
 * The student will be able to list factors that influence decisions (environmental, psychological, and social) about sun exposure.
 * The student will list health reasons to avoid exposure to the sun.
 * The student will take protective measures to avoid overexposure to the sun.