Book 8 – Life Skills for the Young Native American is designed for eighth graders as a comprehensive and culturally sensitive educational tool to continue this systematic approach of health and healing.
This curriculum addresses crucial aspects of adolescent development while incorporating traditional Lakota values and practices that serve as tools for making healthy choices. Book 8 allows students to practice life skills that build resiliency and self-esteem so they can thrive.
– To understand natural changes that occur during the adolescent stage of life.
– Continue to educate students on breaking the cycle of addiction and dependency.
– Making good choices concerning life over death, responding to bullying, and dealing with depression.
– Learning tools that build self-esteem and recognize the sacredness of life; Strengthening Lakota identity through preservation of culture and language;
– Empowering students to take responsibility for choices and make good choices that promote a healthy lifestyle.
– A traditional whole-body medicine wheel approach, viewing each of us in four parts; the physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental aspects of ourselves that we refer to as “bodies.”
– Helping the child to understand that each “body” is equality important to educate, nurture and develop in order to be able to walk a balanced life.
Physical: Adolescents experience developmental changes that impact sleep patterns, hygiene, and healthy eating habits. Students utilize their life skills emergency kit to prevent diabetes and understand the impact of drugs/alcohol on our body.
Emotional: Adolescents ride an emotional roller coaster that impacts their understanding of “Who Am I?” Students implore a 12-step self-care model that helps them deal with emotions like anger, grief, and depression while navigating relationships and the power of positive thinking.
Spiritual: Adolescents is a timeframe for learning about ceremony and the rite of passage. Students build on three superpowers: prayer, grounding, and meditation as they embrace service of the people and walking a Red Road path of sobriety and resiliency.
Mental: Understanding our incredible brain allows for bringing dreams into reality. Students learn about self-regulation, pros and cons of social media, and living a prejudice free life.
Students will go around the Medicine Wheel 14 times (7 times each semester).
o Health & Wellness Practices include meditation, tapping, talking circles, yoga, and journaling.
o Teachers present interactive activities, Lakota language, and ancestral wisdom from stories associated with each lesson.
o All workbooks have a pre and post inventory survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HVYX8FT) to track student learning and assess how the curriculum is making an impact on decisions, thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs.
Teacher’s Manuals contain worksheets and supplemental background information that allows for further discussion, examples and ideas that expand on lessons. Manuals are designed so any teacher can teach this subject matter.
