Positive Potential

Grades 6-8

The Positive Potential program is a whole-child program for middle school students. The curriculum is designed to reduce or delay sexual behaviors, reduce other risky behaviors, including the use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs, and promote positive youth development among largely white rural communities. The three-year program consists of five 45 to 50-minute sessions per year, plus an end-of-the-year assembly designed to support existing health and physical education instruction. 

The goals of Positive Potential are to:

  1. Reduce the occurrence of sexual intercourse.

  2. Reduce the occurrence of other risky behaviors, such as peer violence and the use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.

  3. Impact psychosocial factors related to positive youth development by focusing on positive school performance, parent-adolescent communication, positive goal orientation, positive attitudes, knowledge, and skills to enable risk reduction behaviors.

6th Grade: This five-lesson curriculum for younger middle schoolers covers resisting peer pressure, developing healthy relationships, and planning for a healthy and successful future.

7th Grade: With five lessons, this curriculum builds on Positive Potential 6th grade to give 7th graders more information and skills on how to avoid risky situations, how choices can impact the future, and how to reach goals.

8th Grade: Unstoppable is the final five-lesson curriculum in the Positive Potential series. After reviewing what was learned in 6th and 7th grade, 8th graders continue to refine problem-solving skills, build self-confidence, and develop refusal skills.