Boundaries are important in relationships, no matter how close the relationship is. Middle schoolers explore the ideas of boundaries and personal space with two units about relationships. After discussing the boundaries in their own lives, teens examine different examples of relationships and determine the boundaries respected (or not) before participating in a class activity about personal space. They then note the places on their school campus that they deem "safe" or "unsafe."

 

Concepts

relationships, boundaries, personal space, self-awareness

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Additional Tags

health

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Instructional Ideas

• Bring to a peer counseling or teen issues class
• Use in a school-wide focus on bullying and self-esteem
• Encourage learners to keep a journal of what they observe and do throughout the day to maintain or cross boundaries

Classroom Considerations

• Wording in the instructions is very elevated, and may confuse the average sixth or seventh grade reader
• Plans call for six class periods to complete each unit; do it in more or less time depending on your needs and period length
• Lessons reference DVD segments that are not available, but they do provide a summary of some of the segments

Pros

• Provides a version for sixth graders, as well as a version for seventh graders
• Prompts learners to think about gender roles when it comes to acceptable or unacceptable behavior
• Encourages individuals to carry healthy relationship models forward into their teenage and adult lives

Cons

• None