To view the prescribed learning outcomes for Personal Development (Child Abuse Prevention) in other grades click on an icon below.

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

• Provide students with scenarios that might evoke strong feelings of hurt, anger, sadness, or anxiety (e.g., name-calling, hitting, damaging valued possessions, exploitation). Have students identify possible appropriate responses to each situation. Then have pairs or groups role-play selected situations, demonstrating the appropriate responses (e.g., avoidance, reporting, assertive communication). Encourage students to practise the appropriate behaviours they have suggested.
• Use abuse prevention resource materials to familiarize students with physical and behavioural indicators of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as child neglect (e.g., unexplained bruises, lack of supervision, sudden lack of interest in friends or activities, self-mutilation).
• Through whole-class discussion, compile a list of the characteristics of an ideal relationship (e.g., caring, trust, empathy, honesty, loyalty) and of an abusive relationship (e.g., deceit, coercion, control, neglect). Then have students suggest behaviours or physical signs that might indicate each of these characteristics.
• Have students select any two relationships portrayed in literature, on television, or on video and list their characteristics. Students can then identify these characteristics as being either healthy or abusive.
• Have students work in groups to research patterns of abuse. This might involve contracting a women’s centre or mental health services.
• Use videos or other resources to illustrate characteristic patterns in abusive relationships (e.g., victims may make excuses for the abuser, blame themselves, fail to report, or terminate the relationship; abusers may use threats, favours, expressions of remorse, or promises to never do it again to prevent evidence of the abuse from coming to light). Emphasize that secrecy and escalation are frequently part of the pattern of abuse.

SUGGESTED ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES

• When students role-play responses to selected situations, note the extent to which they:

• present appropriate responses
• show understanding of the relationships between feelings and behaviours
• avoid oversimplifying
• use appropriate language to enhance friendships and other relationships

• Note the extent to which research projects:

• are based on a variety of credible sources
• accurately describe the chosen topic

  Print Materials

• Focus on Bullying: A Prevention Program for Elementary School Communities
• Working It Out: Tools For Everyday Peacemakers

  Video

• Bully Beware! Take Action Against Bullying
• What Kids Wants to Know About Sex and Growing Up

  Multimedia

• The B.C. Handbook for Action on Child Abuse and Neglect
• bc.tobaccofacts:grade 7
• Student WorkSafe 7 Module

  BC Ministry of Education Home Page