In sixth grade, the Wellness and Life Skills program contains two core elements. The first element is to teach developmentally appropriate health education. The second element is to provide students with the opportunity to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, so they can then make choices that promote wellness.

At this level, students continue to explore relational aggression, how it affects one’s self and others and strategies for preventing or stopping such negative behavior. They also learn more about self-concept and the factors that influence it, and they examine additional strategies for effective interpersonal communication. Students consider how to recognize their own emotions and how to express their feelings in healthy ways, as well as how to cope with stress and other emotions. They also learn and practice refusal skills for saying no to drugs and alcohol. Finally, students explore the social, emotional and physical changes associated with puberty.