Health Education:

Grades 6 to 9

Note: The list of resources in this section provides an update to Health Education: A Bibliography for the Middle Level (Grades 6-9) (1998).

Appropriate Actions: A Guide for Educators on Dealing With Sexual Harassment (Video). National Film Board of Canada (NFB), 1998. 27 min. Order no. C9197155 ($39.95).

(CAN) This video could be useful for school boards, school division administrators, principals and staff when developing and implementing a policy concerning sexual harassment. The program provides a definition of sexual harassment and illustrates examples of it in schools. It also emphasizes how teaching becomes less effective in an environment plagued by sexual harassment.

Suggested Use: Grade 9 - Safety at School, at Home, and in the Community

Beans on Toast (Print-Fiction). Hrdlitschka, Shelley. Orca Book Publishers Ltd. (LRDC), 1998. 122 p. Order no. 17978 ($7.50 pbk.).

(CAN) At an eventful summer camp, 13-year-old Madison begins to cope with the repercussions of her parents. divorce and her subsequent move with her mother from Alberta to British Columbia. Camp proves to provide a positive, growing experience that Madison did not expect! Appealing black-and-white sketches enhance this realistic chapter book.

Suggested Use: Grade 8 - Divorce and Separation

Blue True Dream of Sky (Print-Fiction). Maynard, Meredy. Polestar Press Ltd. (RAI), 1997. 130 p. ISBN 1-896095-23-2 ($9.95 pbk.).

(CAN) A convincing portrait of adolescent moral awakening is dealt with in this novel that tackles the issue of clear-cutting rainforests. Nickie lives in a one-industry West Coast town, and her father is a logger. When some protesters arrive to demonstrate against the logging of a nearby island, Nickie has to confront her own ambivalent feelings about clear-cutting. The numerous sub-themes may weigh the reading of this book down in some places, but Nickie. s dilemma and her passionate response to social issues are relevant young adult themes.

Suggested Use: Grade 6 - Personal Standards; Grade 8 - Protecting the Environment and the Health of People

Other Use: English Language Arts: Grades 6 to 9

Brad's Universe (Print-Fiction). Woodbury, Mary. Orca Book Publishers Ltd. (GDS), 1998. 191 p. ISBN 1-55143-120-3 ($8.95 pbk.).

(CAN) His family. s transient nature and his father. s long absence puzzle Brad, a young teenager. He is told that his father has been secluded in a mental hospital. However, after his father re-enters his life, he discovers that he was convicted of sexually abusing young boys and has been serving time in jail. This gripping story provides a good example of the multiple roles played by a mother and an only child in the absence of the father.

Suggested Use: Grade 8 - Family Structures, Roles, and Responsibilities

Bully Beware! Take Action Against Bullying (Video). Lajoie, Gesele, McLellan, Alyson and Seddon, Cindi. Bully B'ware Productions (BBW), 1997. 13 min. No order number is required. ($99.00).

The 13-minute video is comprised of four scenarios involving bullying between students. It offers valuable advice for handling challenging situations. A preview of this program is available at www.bullybeware.com.

A helpful teacher. s guide is included with the video.

Suggested Use: Grade 7 - Conflict Resolution

The Bullying Prevention Handbook: A Guide for Principals, Teachers, and Counselors (Print-Non-Fiction). Hoover, John H. and Oliver, Ronald. National Educational Service (LRDC), 1996. 148 p. Order no. 9704 ($37.25 pbk.).

This comprehensive resource was designed to assist professionals in implementing an anti-bullying program in their schools. It offers an understanding of the problem, from the family dynamics, to the classroom environment, to the overall culture of the school. The appendices provide many practical tools such as checklists, role play scenarios, evaluation materials, bullying surveys and a list of resources related to bullying. Included is a table of contents.

Suggested Use: Grade 7 - Assertiveness Skills; Conflict Resolution; Grade 8 - Family and Community Violence; Teacher/Administrator Reference

Other Use: Health Education: Elementary Level

Camy Baker's Love You Like a Sister: 30 Cool Rules for Making and Being a Better Best Friend (Print-Non-Fiction). Baker, Camy. The Bantam Dell Publishing Group (BAN), 1998. 165 p. ISBN 0-553-48656-X ($4.99 pbk.).

Written by a sixth-grade student, this appealing resource offers suggestions for making and keeping friends. Included are a section of commonly asked questions and a list of 30 important rules on the topic of friendship.

Suggested Use: Grade 6 - Personal Standards; Self-concept; Grade 7 - Assertiveness Skills; Conflict Resolution; Peer Pressure

Catty-Cornered (Print-Fiction). Ware, Cheryl. Orchard Bks., Inc. (ORB), 1998. 106 p. ISBN 0-531-30067-6 ($15.95 U.S. hdc.).

In diary style, seventh grader, Venolae Mae reveals the trials and tribulations she faces when she is recruited to spend nights with her grandmother after her grandfather dies. Armed with her sense of humour, the protagonist bravely copes with puberty, her grandmother. s eccentricities and. a trailer full of cats! Child-like, black-and-white drawings support the easily read text.

Suggested Use: Grade 6 - Changes of Puberty; Grade 8 - Family Structures, Roles, and Responsibilities

Caught in the Net (Video). National Film Board of Canada (NFB), 1997. 14 min. Order no. C9197 039/E9701 ($29.95).

(CAN, WCP) Caught in the Net provokes young people to explore the risks of getting too personal on the Internet. Adam reluctantly faces the possibility that a girlfriend he met over the Internet may not be everything she appears to be. He is challenged to think critically and carefully about the many people and sources of information he finds on the Internet. This video should be balanced with information regarding the positive value of peer support groups found on the web.

An excellent teacher. s guide containing valuable information and suggestions for discussion accompanies this video.

Please note that this program was recommended by Western Canadian Protocol to support English Language Arts Curricula.

Suggested Use: Grade 9 - Safety at School, Home, and in the Community

Other Use: Arts Education: Grade 9; Arts Education: Secondary Level; English Language Arts 20; Life Transitions 20/30

Corey's Story: Her Family's Secret (Print-Fiction). Carbone, Elisa Lynn. Waterfront Books (LRDC), 1997. 100 p. Order no. 17979 ($17.65 pbk.).

Twelve-year-old Corey O. Dell struggles with the reality that her father is an alcoholic and has difficulty in keeping a job. Although she loves her father, Corey yearns for a "normal" life. When Mr. O. Dell. s addiction worsens, Corey and her mother participate in some creative problem solving that results in very positive changes!

Suggested Use: Grade 7 - Alcohol and Other Drugs

Daughter (Print-Fiction). Moore, Ishbel. Kids Can Press (UTP), 1999. 216 p. ISBN 1-55074-537-9 ($6.95 pbk.). ISBN 1-55074-535-2 ($16.95 hdc.).

(CAN) Moore. s novel deals with an issue many of us prefer to avoid. Alzheimer. s disease and its devastating effects on sufferers and their loved ones. Her mother. s increasingly erratic behaviour and her dread of what might be causing the changes in her mother. s personality harshly disrupt 14-year-old Sylvie Marchione. s life. At first, she responds to her mom. s apparent lack of interest in her schoolwork and social life by changing her own behaviour and dress and associating with undesirable friends. Then, she begins to take on the unwelcome role of caregiver for her mother. She seeks help from her estranged father and from some of her more reliable peers. The story moves along briskly, with background information about Alzheimer. s integrated successfully into the plot. This coming-of-age novel offers a worthwhile and interesting perspective on a harrowing disease, and conveys realistically the pain and guilt a family feels over losing a loved one even before physical death occurs.

Suggested Use: Grade 9 - Chronic Illness

Other Use: English Language Arts: Grades 6 to 9

The Divorced Kids Club and Other Stories (Print-Anthology). Valgardson, W. D. Groundwood Books (GWD), 1999. 184 p. ISBN 0-88899-370-6 ($7.95 pbk.).

(CAN) The short stories in this collection are presented in a quick, yet appealing fashion that keeps the reader wanting to know what happens next. All of the stories deal with outsiders. young people who are facing hardships or challenges in their lives. Although parents are not always around to guide them, these adolescents seek wisdom and solace from each other and from those more substantial adults whom they occasionally encounter. This book is an intriguing new collection for young teens.

Suggested Use: Grade 8 - Divorce and Separation

Other Use: English Language Arts: Grades 6 to 9

Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey. 1st ed. (Print-Fiction). Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Simon & Schuster Trade (DIS), 1996. 108 p. ISBN 0-689-80097-5 ($24.99 hdc.). ISBN 0-689-81543-3 ($6.99 pbk.).

The life of a 16-year-old girl, Tish, is realistically portrayed in journal entries written on the promise that her teacher will not read anything marked as "Do not read this." Tish keeps her journal faithfully, but rarely allows Mrs. Dunphrey to read any of it. She finds solace in writing about the problems that she faces, problems that threaten to overwhelm her. Her father departs, and then her mentally ill mother leaves, and Tish must care for the house and her little brother. Tish attempts to make adult decisions, but eventually she accepts the trust of Mrs. Dunphrey, who helps her to deal with her situation.

Suggested Use: Grade 8 - Family Structures, Roles, and Responsibilities

Other Use: English Language Arts: Grades 6 to 9; English Language Arts 10

Drinking, Driving and Dying (Video). Human Relations Media / HRM Video (MGR), 1997. 28 min. Dup. order no. V6811. Teacher's Guide - Order no. G6811 ($4.05 loose-leaf).

This program provides information for students about the serious consequences of drunk driving. It assists students in becoming responsible citizens who are able to make a difference in their own lives and in the lives of those around them. Students will:

• gain an understanding of what blood alcohol content (BAC) is and how it is estimated
• learn that under no circumstances should a person who has been drinking alcohol be allowed to operate a car
• appreciate the critical difference between the legal BAC limit and the practical limit of alcohol in the blood
• realize that a drunk driver is a danger to society
• become aware that anyone who causes a crash while driving drunk will be prosecuted
• learn the warning signs of someone who is driving while intoxicated
• understand ways that they can make sure that none of their friends get behind the wheel of a car after drinking alcohol
• recognize that drunk driving is deadly, but it is also preventable.

A useful and extensive teacher. s guide is available.

Suggested Use: Grade 9 - Safety at School, at Home, and in the Community; Tragic Death and Suicide

Other Use: Driver Education

Everything You Need to Know About Self-Confidence. Rev. ed. (Print-Non-Fiction). Ignoffo, Matthew. (The Need to Know Library Series). Rosen Publishing Group (LRDC), 1999. 64 p. Order no. 17198 ($25.45 hdc.).

This book offers suggestions on how to improve self-confidence and explains the positive effects that self-confidence can have on a person's life. The text is enhanced with numerous black-and-white and colour photographs. Included are a table of contents, a list of sources of help, a glossary, a bibliography and an index.

Suggested Use: Grade 6 - Self-concept

Food Fight: A Guide to Eating Disorders for Preteens and Their Parents (Print-Non-Fiction). Bode, Janet. Aladdin Books (DIS), 1998. 154 p. ISBN 0-689-81086-5 ($6.50 pbk.).

In three parts, this clearly written book provides a comprehensive guide to eating disorders including their causes, symptoms and possible solutions. Part One is for young readers; Part Two is for adult readers; Part Three is for all readers. Included is a table of contents.

Suggested Use: Grade 8 - Eating Disorders

Getting Equipped to Stop Bullying: A Kid's Survival Kit for Understanding and Coping With Violence in the Schools (Print-Non-Fiction). Boatwright, Becki H., Mathis, Teresea A. and Smith-Rex, Susan J. Educational Media Corporation (LRDC), 1998. 80 p. Order no. 9921 ($23.30 pbk.).

This timely, three-part resource helps to provide an understanding of the dynamics of bullying. It also assists teachers in guiding Elementary and Middle Level students to cope effectively with this very serious problem. Part One focuses on helping children to understand bullies and bullying. Part Two offers practical ideas for victims and bullies to get equipped to stop bullying. Part Three provides practical ideas for adults to help victims and bullies get equipped to stop bullying. Included are a table of contents and a list of resources.

Suggested Use: Grade 7 - Assertiveness Skills; Conflict Resolution; Grade 8 - Family and Community Violence; Teacher Reference

Other Use: Health Education: Elementary Level

The Giver (Print-Fiction). Lowry, Lois. Dell Distributing (LRDC), 1993. 180 p. Order no. 8181 (4.35 pbk.).

This Newbery Medal winner describes a fictitious community in which contentment comes at the price of individual human rights. When 12-year-old Jonas begins his life training as the Receiver, the repository of all community memory, he learns that the fullness of life demands acknowledgement of differences and the memory of painful experiences. He also sees that deeper emotions, such as love or real pleasure, require the knowledge of pain.

Suggested Use: English Language Arts: Middle Level

Go, Go, Goals! How to Get There (Video). Sunburst Communications (MGR), 1993. 26 min. Dup. order no. V6798. Teacher's Guide - Order no. G6798 ($4.80 booklet).

Using scenarios typical of young teenagers. experiences, this video presents a step-by-step process that students could follow to successfully set and achieve their personal goals.

Suggested Use: Grade 6 - Decision-making Process; Grade 7 - Decision-making Process; Grade 8 - Decision-making Process; Grade 9 - Decision-making Process

Growing Up! For Boys (Video). MarshMedia (MAG), 1995. 15 min. Order no. T219-219-005 ($110.00).

This program focuses on the basics of male anatomy and development while reassuring young boys that physical and psychological changes are a normal part of maturing. It provides advice on health, hygiene and good grooming. It also directs viewers to reliable sources of information on puberty.

A brief teacher. s guide accompanies the video.

Suggested Use: Grade 6 - Changes of Puberty; Grade 7 - Personal Hygiene

Growing Up! For Girls (Video). MarshMedia (MAG), 1995. 15 min. Order no. T219-219-004 ($110.00).

This program focuses on the basics of female anatomy and development while reassuring young girls that physical and psychological changes are a normal part of maturing. It provides advice on health, hygiene and good grooming. It also directs viewers to reliable sources of information on puberty.

A brief teacher. s guide accompanies the video.

Suggested Use: Grade 6 - Changes of Puberty; Grade 7 - Personal Hygiene

How to Become an Alcoholic! (Video). Kinetic Inc. (MAG), 1998. 12 min. No order number is required. ($49.00).

This video begins with the who, what, where, when and how of alcoholism. It then addresses factors such as family history, environment and age of first use. This information is presented in a captivating fashion using four students who are "morphed" into alcoholism. The main message is that alcoholism is preventable.

Suggested Use: Grade 6 - Drug Addictions and Gambling; Grade 7 - Alcohol and Other Drugs

How to Love a Smoker (Video). AGC United Learning (MGR), 1998. 12 min. Dup. order no. V587.

Using humour as a vehicle, this program addresses a very difficult topic. how to approach friends or family members about their addiction to nicotine. First, assisted by a team of volunteers, narrator Joe Dempsey reviews methods that are guaranteed to fail: begging, nagging, bargaining and threatening. Then, some non-smoking volunteers demonstrate a three-step process to encourage their loved ones to quit smoking. The narrator emphasizes that non-smokers should never give up attempting to help their loved ones during this challenging process.

Suggested Use: Grade 6 - Drug Addictions and Gambling

I Can't Believe I Have to Do This (Print-Fiction). Alford, Jan. Penguin Books Canada Limited (CDS), 1997. 180 p. ISBN 0-698-11785-9 ($8.99 pbk.).

Dean Matthew. s mother gives him a diary for this 12th birthday, hoping it will teach him some discipline. Through the weekly entries and first person narration, Dean. s thoughts and careless actions are authentically captured. With each journal entry, Dean moves through the year dealing with school, his best friend. s gradual slide from good to troubled kid and his own brief skirmishes with drinking, girls and the law. This novel is a good choice to promote journal writing and to reinforce the fact that bad choices may have undesirable consequences.

Suggested Use: Grade 7 - Alcohol and Other Drugs

Other Use: English Language Arts: Grades 6 to 9

If I Forget, You Remember (Print-Fiction). Williams, Carol Lynch. Delacorte Pr. (DOU), 1998. 201 p. ISBN 0-440-41420-2 ($6.99 pbk.).

In this gripping, fast-paced novel, 12-year-old Elyse. s plans to write an award-winning novel are rudely interrupted when she and her sister become caregivers for their loving grandmother who has Alzheimer. s disease. With warmth and humour, the author skilfully relates the courage and love that bind one family together and see them through some very trying circumstances.

Suggested Use: Grade 8 - Family Structures, Roles, and Responsibilities; Grade 9 - Chronic Illness

Just for Girls: Facilitator's Manual (Print-Non-Fiction). Friedman, Sandra Susan. Salal Books (SLL), 1999. 147 p. ISBN 0-9698883-1-7 ($35.00 pbk.).

(CAN) This is an updated version of Girls in the 90s which was previously recommended in Health Education: A Bibliography for the Middle Level (Grades 6-9). This program provides a societal context for girls. feelings of fatness, ugliness and stupidity and encourages a positive change in thinking and behaviour, thus fostering a healthy self-concept. It offers suggestions for activities that explore topics such as:

• body image and awareness
• dealing with bullying
• food and weight
• maintaining self-esteem
• maintaining healthy friendships
• puberty and sexuality
• understanding and expressing feelings.

Just for Girls also provides a section titled "Just for Boys." Included are a table of contents, reproducible handouts and a list of resources.

Suggested Use: Grade 6 - Body Image and Nutrition; Changes of Puberty; Self-concept; Grade 7 - Assertiveness Skills; Conflict Resolution; Grade 8 - Eating Disorders; Family Structures, Roles, and Responsibilities

Labour of Love: 5 Stories of Caregiving (Video). National Film Board of Canada (NFB), 1997. 45 min. Order no. C9198004 ($39.95).

(CAN) This touching video presents the true stories of five caregivers of family members with chronic illnesses such as Alzheimer. s and stroke. It emphasizes the heavy, day-to-day demands placed on caregivers and their need for support. Please note that a minimal amount of the language employed may be considered inappropriate for classroom use.

A brief viewer. s guide includes information on some sources of assistance for caregivers.

Suggested Use: Grade 9 - Chronic Illness

Look Who's Growing Up! (Video). Rainbow Educational Video (KIN), 1998. 22 min. Order no. 2385 ($139.00).

Two post-puberty teenagers discuss their knowledge of the changes that the phase of life between approximately nine and fourteen presents. Beth and Steve offer advice on topics such as depression, physical changes and peer pressure. They assure viewers that there is a wide range of normalcy in the rate of development and in body shapes and sizes. The video includes two short quizzes on physical and emotional changes during puberty.

Suggested Use: Grade 6 - Changes of Puberty

Looking for X (Print-Fiction). Ellis, Deborah. Groundwood Books (GWD), 1999. 132 p. ISBN 0-88899-382-X ($7.95 pbk.).

(CAN) This easily read novel is told from the perspective of Khyber, aged 11, who feels isolated both at school and at home where she lives with her single mother and autistic twin brothers. Her only friend is a bag lady that she meets from time to time in a nearby park. When she is accused of vandalizing school property, she seeks out the elusive bag lady to testify to her innocence. Although the book is laden with issues, it gives insight into the thinking of a young girl living in poverty in the city of Toronto.

Suggested Use: Grade 8 - Family Structures, Roles, and Responsibilities

Other Use: English Language Arts: Grades 6 to 9

Mary on Horseback:Three Mountain Stories. 1st ed. (Print-Non-Fiction). Wells, Rosemary and McCarty, Peter, illus. Dial Bks. for Young Readers (LRDC/CDS), 1998. 53 p. (LRDC) Order no. 17981 ($21.45 hdc.). (CDS) ISBN 0-14-130815-X ($6.99 pbk.).

This intriguing resource tells the stories of three families who were assisted by Mary Breckinridge, the first nurse to travel into the Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky to offer medical care to the isolated inhabitants. In Mary. s mind was the seed of an idea that eventually bloomed into the Frontier Nursing Service. This organization has provided a model for rural nursing services worldwide. An afterword provides information about Breckinridge and the Frontier Nursing Service. Included is a table of contents.

Suggested Use: Grade 6 - Safety & Accident Prevention; Grade 7 - Personal Hygiene

Missing: An Educational Kit About Internet Kidnapping (Kit). Wake, Drew Ann. LiveWires Design Ltd. (LEW), 1999. No order number is required. ($35.00). 10 copies - No order number is required. ($75.00).

(CAN) In an entertaining fashion, this timely kit helps students to become informed about Internet safety. It includes a video, two CD-ROMs, a detective's notebook, a poster and a teacher's guide.

The video offers four brief documentaries. Two address the case study of an Internet abduction, while the others demonstrate how teachers and parents can work with children when they play the CD-ROM game.

Based on a true incident, the computer game challenges players to become detectives and help locate a 13-year-old boy named Zack who has been abducted by an Internet predator named Fantasma. Students can record the evidence that they collect in the detective's notebook. At the end of the game, students are asked three questions:

1. Has a crime been committed?

2. If so, what crime?

3. Who can be held responsible?

The answers to these questions are likely to surprise most players.

The 37 cm by 55 cm poster offers three rules to help students protect themselves against Internet crime.

The teacher's guide was developed to assist adults in discussing Internet safety with children. It includes the answers to the computer game.

In September 2000, Saskatchewan Education distributed copies of Missing: An Educational Kit About Internet Kidnapping to Saskatchewan schools. The development of this material was funded by the Mounted Police Foundation and Sask Tel.

Suggested Use: Grade 6 - Safety & Accident Prevention

Other Use: Health Education: Elementary Level

No Place for Kids (Print-Fiction). Lohans, Alison. Roussan Publishers Inc. (UTP), 1999. 99 p. ISBN 1-896184-50-2 ($5.95 pbk.).

(SK) In Alison Lohan. s latest novel, contemporary subjects such as death, abandonment, child abuse and homelessness are dealt with in a way that helps children explore these issues and think of their own ability to deal with adversity and survive. Sisters Sarah and Jennifer leave their alcoholic father in search of an aunt in Vancouver after being faced with possible sexual abuse from one of their father. s friends. Along the way, they enter the dangerous world of the homeless. The plot and characters are well developed, and the author makes good use of Canadian settings. Literature circle discussions would be lively when talking about the issues arising from this novel.

Suggested Use: Grade 7 - Alcohol and Other Drugs; Grade 8 - Family Structures, Roles, and Responsibilities

Other Use: English Language Arts: Grades 6 to 9

On Relationships: A Book for Teenagers (Print-Non-Fiction). Kirberger, Kimberly. (Teen Love Series). Health Communications, Inc. (ALL), 1999. 371 p. ISBN 1-55874-734-6 ($21.95 pbk.).

In this book, the co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul Series starts a new series that focuses on teen relationships. The book consists of a collection of letters, poems and personal stories that teens have written to express their experiences on love and relationships.

Suggested Use: Grade 8 - Respect in Relationships; Grade 9 - Dating

Other Use: Life Transitions 20/30

P.S. Longer Letter Later. 1st ed. (Print-Fiction). Danziger, Paula and Martin, Ann M. Scholastic Canada Ltd. (SCH), 1998. 234 p. ISBN 0-590-21310-5 ($19.99 hdc.).

This story is based on the letters exchanged between 12-year-old best friends, one of whom has just moved to another state. Tara*Starr wears glitter and sequins, loves to be the centre of attention and is the only child of young parents who are taking a long time to grow up. Elizabeth is shy and quiet, hates being the centre of attention, and lives in a house in which possessions are more important than feelings. As they correspond, life changes for both of them. While Tara*Starr. s family settles down, Elizabeth. s spendthrift dad loses his job, struggles with alcohol and abandons his wife and daughter. The letters chronicle these events, and the theme of friendship, even from a distance, makes this an interesting read.

Suggested Use: Grade 7 - Alcohol and Other Drugs; Grade 8 - Divorce and Separation

Other Use: English Language Arts: Grades 6 to 9

Patrick's Story (Video). Cooper Rock Pictures Inc. (NFB), 1999. 24 min. Order no. C9199286 ($39.95).

(SK) A suicide survivor, Patrick, was sexually abused at the age of six and abandoned by his parents at the age of 11. In this program, he reveals his years in foster care and in a youth detention centre in Saskatoon. He eventually "adopts" a beginning social worker as his mother and blooms into a successful student. Please note that there are two brief segments where the language may be considered inappropriate for school use.

Suggested Use: Grade 9 - Tragic Death and Suicide

Plays of Belonging: Three Plays. 1st ed. (Print-Non-Fiction). Deverell, Rex. Playwrights Canada Press (PLCN), 1997. 149 p. ISBN 0-88754-531-9 ($14.95 pbk.).

(SK) These three plays for young audiences speak of the yearning to belong. The title play, "Belonging" is the story of a child with a gift for poetry. but whose very giftedness sets her apart.

"Weird Kid" is about a group of young people who track down a vandal. only to discover their own part in making a classmate feel left out.

"Video Wars" is the story of a refugee child struggling to explain why a video war game is not simple entertainment, but means, rather, a war-torn homeland and a shattered and scattered family.

Each play is preceded by a playwright. s introduction. The real-life situations have possibilities for creative and critical extensions. Teachers are encouraged to have students create their own endings and to use the plays as inspiration for writing other scripts.

Suggested Use: Grade 8 - Respect in Relationships

Other Use: Arts Education: Grades 6 to 8; Arts Education: Grade 9; English Language Arts: Grades 6 to 9

Power Pac (Video). Shaw Cable, Swift Current (MGR), 2000. 18 min. Dup. order no. V506.

(SK) This video features three members of the Saskatchewan Safety Council Power Pac Team, a youth group that makes presentations to other children on farm safety. The participants describe the development and operation of the Power Pac program and illustrate the activities they use to engage the various groups. One of the presenters tells an emotional tale about a fatal farm accident.

This program could inspire Grade 9 students to become involved in the Power Pac Program.

Suggested Use: Grade 9 - Safety at School, at Home, and in the Community

Other Use: Health Education: Elementary Level; Kindergarten

Real People: When I Say Stop, I Mean Stop! (Video). Sunburst Communications (SUN), 1998. 25 min. Order no. 2833-03 ($109.95).

This fast-paced program addresses the issue of using assertiveness in the sexual arena. It defines sexual harassment, explains the difference between flirting and harassing and assures viewers that they have a right to respond negatively to sexual pressure. It also provides advice on saying no to someone a person cares about without offending that person. Contemporary music and appealing graphics enliven the program.

Suggested Use: Grade 7 - Factors That Affect Decision-Making in Relationships; Grade 8 - Respect in Relationships

Other Use: Life Transitions 20/30

The Right Moves: A Girl's Guide to Getting Fit and Feeling Good (Print-Non-Fiction). Schwager, Tina and Schuerger, Michele. Free Spirit Publishing, Inc. (LRDC), 1998. 273 p. Order no. 9707 ($29.05 pbk.).

In a lighthearted, down-to-earth style, this practical resource focuses on how girls can achieve a healthy level of fitness through developing a positive self-image, choosing nutritious foods and exercising regularly. Quotes, quizzes, tips and humourous illustrations add spice to this very appealing book. Included are a table of contents, a bibliography and an index.

Suggested Use: Grade 6 - Body Image and Nutrition; Self-concept; Grade 7 - Healthy Eating; Grade 8 - Eating Disorders

Other Use: Wellness 10

Smokeless Tobacco: A Wad of Trouble (Video). Cambridge Educational (MGR), 1999. 26 min. Dup order no. V588.

This video opens with a young women observing some of the unpleasant side effects of chewing tobacco (e.g., bad breath, spitting) on a young man that she meets. The middle section of the program discusses additives while the final section addresses the negative health effects of nicotine. It also discusses several methods of quitting smokeless tobacco. The main message of the program is that nicotine, in both cigarettes and chew, is addictive.

Suggested Use: Grade 6 - Drug Addictions and Gambling

Soldier Mom. 1st ed. (Print-Fiction). Mead, Alice. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Inc. (GWD), 1999. 151 p. ISBN 0-374-37124-5 ($26.95 hdc.).

Jasmyn Williams is looking forward to being the captain of the seventh grade basketball team when her mother is called up from the army reserves to go to Saudi Arabia for the opening phase of the 1990 Persian Gulf War. When her mother leaves for Operation Desert Storm, Jasmyn and her baby brother are left behind in the care of her mother. s boyfriend Jake. Besides being worried about her mother. s safety, Jasmyn resents her many new responsibilities; she now must cook, clean and baby-sit her brother in the afternoons leaving her less time for basketball. Jasmyn. s adjustment to change, her growth as an individual and her gradual acceptance of Jake as a substitute parent is realistically told in this convincing novel.

Suggested Use: Grade 8 - Family Structures, Roles, and Responsibilities

Other Use: English Language Arts: Grades 6 to 9

Someone Like You (Print-Fiction). Dessen, Sarah. Viking Penguin (LRDC/CDS), 1998. 281 p. (LRDC) Order no. 17982 ($19.80 hdc.). (CDS) ISBN 0-14-130269-0 ($6.99 pbk.).

Written in the first-person, this touching novel reveals the plight of Halley during her first year of high school as she copes with the death of her best friend. s boyfriend, the discovery that her best friend is pregnant, her own first serious romance and her controlling mother. Please note that this book includes a few, non-explicit, "sexual pressure" incidents.

Suggested Use: Grade 9 - Abstinence, STDs, Pregnancy, and Contraception

Strays Like Us (Print-Fiction). Peck, Richard. Dial Bks. for Young Readers (CDS), 1998. 155 p. ISBN 0-8037-2291-5 ($24.99 hdc.). ISBN 0-1413-0619-X ($6.99 pbk.).

A small town full of big secrets is the setting for this serious, realistic novel. Molly is staying with her Great Aunt Fay in a new town after being abandoned by her unstable, drug-addicted mother. She meets Will, another 12-year-old who is staying next door with his grandparents, and together the two "strays" confront secrets that are waiting to be revealed. AIDS, irresponsible adults and unhappy kids are dealt with in a mature manner in this story that reinforces the idea that family does not necessarily mean blood relations.

Suggested Use: Grade 8 - Family Structures, Roles, and Responsibilities

Other Use: English Language Arts: Grades 6 to 9

Student Assistance: Resources for Troubled Youth (Print-Non-Fiction). Parlay International (SUN), 1998. 96 p. Order no. 2938-00 ($247.00 loose-leaf).

This versatile resource includes reproducible information sheets on various health-related topics. Please note that some of the topics are sensitive, and the sheets need to be carefully reviewed before using in the classroom. The parent. s information section could be very useful for health education liaison committees. Included is a table of contents.

Suggested Use: Grade 6 - Drug Addictions and Gambling; Grade 7 - Alcohol and Other Drugs; Grade 8 - Divorce and Separation; Eating Disorders; Family and Community Violence; Family Structures, Roles, and Responsibilities; HIV/AIDS Education; Grade 9 - Abstinence, STDs, Pregnancy, and Contraception; Tragic Death and Suicide; Teacher Reference

Surviving Death: Stories of Grief (Video). National Film Board of Canada (NFB), 1998. 48 min. Order no. C9198029 ($39.95).

(CAN) Seven people from various cultures discuss their experiences with grieving for a loved one. The parents and brother of a young man who was killed in a car accident share their stories. A young boy and his aunt tell about the death of the boy. s mother as a result of AIDS. Another AIDS victim discusses the death of his friends and his forthcoming death. Also, a young Chinese woman talks about the death of her mother.

Suggested Use: Grade 9 - Tragic Death and Suicide

Take Charge: Resisting Sexual Pressure (Video). Human Relations Media / HRM Video (MGR), 1998. 30 min. Dup. order no. V6810. Teacher's Guide - Order no. G6810 ($5.80 loose-leaf).

Young people need help sorting out the many conflicting messages about sexuality. The first step is to determine what they want for their future. Students need to examine what they believe a relationship should be and sort out their own feelings about sexuality. As well, they need to learn to resist pressures. This program supports the concept of setting limits. It features skills of assertiveness and refusal applied in situations of sexual pressure. It encourages young people to stand up for their own personal choices in a self-assured manner.

Supporting print is available at Media Group.

Suggested Use: Grade 9 - Dating

Tobacco X-Files (Video). (Attainment's Gateway Drugs Series). Attainment Co. (KIN), 1999. 28 min. Order no. 4472 ($199.00).

This video discusses the concept of tobacco and nicotine as addictive substances, and it very graphically presents the negative effects of smoking. Tobacco X-Files combines teen interviews with "an unrelenting onslaught of grotesque images that makes painfully clear the very uncool impact of long term tobacco use."

Suggested Use: Grade 6 - Drug Addictions and Gambling; Grade 7 - Alcohol and Other Drugs; Grade 9 - Tobacco Industry

Touch of the Clown (Print-Fiction). Huser, Glen. Groundwood Books (GWD), 1999. 223 p. ISBN 0-88899-357-9 ($8.95 pbk.).

(CAN) This first novel by author Glen Huser contains many issues and themes that deal with sensitive matters. Barbara Kobleimer is only 13, but already she has a heavy load to carry. She is responsible for the care of her younger sister Livvy, who at six has both physical and behaviour problems. A chance meeting with Cosmo, a flamboyant actor and part-time waiter brings the first bit of light into Barbara. s dark life. Cosmo encourages Barbara to join a teen clown workshop he is leading, and there she finds the resilience and resourcefulness to survive when the unbearable situation she faces at home explodes. Caution: Homosexuality, AIDS, neglect, alcoholism and abuse are issues contained in this novel.

Suggested Use: Grade 8 - Family and Community Violence; Family Structures, Roles, and Responsibilities

Other Use: English Language Arts: Grades 6 to 9

Until Angels Close My Eyes (Print-Fiction). McDaniel, Lurlene. The Bantam Dell Publishing Group (BAN), 1998. 242 p. ISBN 0-553-57115-X ($6.99 pbk.).

Leah, a senior high school student, is devastated when she finds out that her loveable stepfather has cancer. She turns to her Amish friend, Ethan, for comfort, only to discover that he needs support in resolving numerous problems of his own as he struggles with the conflicting values of Amish life and Leah. s "English" world.

Suggested Use: Grade 6 - Personal Standards; Grade 8 - Family Structures, Roles, and Responsibilities; Grade 9 - Chronic Illness

We're Growing Up! (Video). MarshMedia (MAG), 1996. 12 min. Order no. T219-219-006 ($110.00).

In a brief and positive manner, the narrators in this video present basic information regarding the reproductive system and changes during puberty.

A teacher. s guide accompanies the video.

Suggested Use: Grade 6 - Changes of Puberty; Grade 7 - Personal Hygiene

What Do You Stand for?: A Kid's Guide to Building Character (Print-Non-Fiction). Lewis, Barbara A. Free Spirit Publishing, Inc. (LRDC), 1998. 277 p. Order no. 9710 ($38.40 pbk.).

This comprehensive, practical resource provides materials that help teachers to guide their students in building positive character traits. It offers practical features such as:

• descriptions of positive character traits
• profound, inspiring quotations and real-life stories
• dilemmas that challenge students to think about character traits and to practise problem-solving and decision-making skills
• activities that present opportunities to explore, experience and strengthen positive character traits.

What Do You Stand for? contains a table of contents, an index and lists of resources that include websites and American support organizations.

Suggested Use: Grade 6 - Changes of Puberty; Decision-making Process; Personal Standards; Safety & Accident Prevention; Self-concept; Grade 7 - Conflict Resolution; Factors That Affect Decision-Making in Relationships; Grade 8 - Respect in Relationships; Grade 9 - Safety at School, at Home, and in the Community; Teacher Reference

Other Use: Life Transitions 20/30

Whatsa Hygiene? (Video). MarshMedia (MAG), 1999. 18 min. Order no. T219-219-034 ($109.00).

Students in a band decide to get together and write a song in response to a health education assignment about hygiene. They use books, interviews and the Internet to gather information regarding bathing and care of skin, hair, teeth and nails. The personal care skills are connected to the new responsibilities of puberty.

A teacher. s guide accompanies the video.

Suggested Use: Grade 6 - Caring for Eyes, Ears, and Teeth; Changes of Puberty; Grade 7 - Personal Hygiene

Willow and Twig (Print-Fiction). Little, Jean. Viking Penguin (CDS), 2000. 227 p. ISBN 0-670-88856-7 ($22.99 hdc.).

(CAN) Jean Little departs from her usual style in her latest novel. The drug-addicted mother of 10-year-old Willow Wind Jones and her younger half-brother Twig, who has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, abandons them. Willow must cope with surviving in Vancouver. s East End and looking after Twig until a kindly social worker contacts their grandmother in Ontario. Although the book becomes overburdened at times with secondary storylines, Willow. s eventual lightened load presents an ultimate affirmation of hope. Note: Although the protagonist is 10 years old, the subject matter might not be suitable for children of that age.

Suggested Use: Grade 8 - Family Structures, Roles, and Responsibilities

Other Use: English Language Arts: Grades 6 to 9

Young People and Chronic Illness: True Stories, Help, and Hope (Print-Non-Fiction). Huegel, Kelly. Free Spirit Publishing, Inc. (LRDC), 1998. 199 p. Order no. 9735 ($29.05 pbk.).

This resource skilfully relates true accounts of teenagers who have been diagnosed with a chronic illness including hemophilia, diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, congenital heart disease and lupus. These teenagers describe how they have learned to cope with their ailments and keep a positive attitude. The book also provides a section on strategies for dealing with a chronic illness. Included are a table of contents and an index.

Suggested Use: Grade 9 - Chronic Illness