Positive Self - Esteem and Body Image

You will notice changes in your physical appearance and those around you. These changes are a part of the natural
development of human beings as they begin to approach sexual maturity. The time of change is when young people
begin to change into adults is called puberty or adolescence. Children going through puberty are referred to as
adolescents.

Some adolescents seem to deal with these changes in a confident while most find adolescence to be a very difficult
time in their lives. Studies have shown one way of coping is to understand what the changes are and why they are
occurring. It is also important to understand that this development process is a process that ALL children must go
through in order to become adults.

Body changes
These used to be topics that was taboo(topics that were not spoken about) but these days people are more open and
understand the need to talk about human sexuality and development. Studies have shown that when puberty is
discussed in a mature manner, learners are more likely to make wise choices.

Girls
From about the age of 10, most girls begin to develop breasts. Their hips get wider and they begin to grow hair under
their arms and around their genitals. They may also begin to menstruate. This monthly menstruation is the body’s
way of getting rid of eggs that have not been fertilised (in other words, the girl is not pregnant). Many young women
experience cramps and back pain when they first begin to menstruate. This is normal and there are tablets that are
available to dull the pain. It is important to follow a healthy eating plan during adolescence and get lots of exercise
because the chemical changes, due to hormones, in a young girl’s body make it easy to gain weight.

Boys
During adolescence, boys become taller and their shoulders and chest usually begin to broaden. Their voices also
become deeper. Boys begin to develop hair under their arms, on their face and around their genitals. When a boy
reaches puberty, he starts to produce sperm cells. These sperm cells are ejaculated through the male genitals in
liquid called semen. Many adolescent boys experience ejaculation during sleep. This is a normal part of puberty and
there is no reason to be embarrassed by it. Some changes during puberty are similar for both boys and girls. For
example, glands produce more oil and this sometimes causes pimples.

The role of media and society on body image

Modern adolescents are exposed to images in media that have been photo shopped and they often think that they
need to live up to these standards. In the magazine pictures, they always look

fashionable and happy and there is never a single pimple in sight. Famous movie stars wear make-up, speak
rehearsed lines and appear to have exciting lives – they are made to look more perfect than what is possible.
Beautiful models that appear on the covers of magazines have had their make-up applied by professionals, their
photographs taken by experienced photographers and the final image in the magazine digitally enhanced to remove
blemishes and wrinkles. Sometimes, people can be very cruel to those that they think are not ‘cool’; are not blond;
are not tall and thin; do not dress in the latest fashion; do not have the latest techno gadgets and so forth.
Remember that, although it is important to be well groomed, neat and clean. Young people going through puberty
are sometimes awkward and do not look or feel attractive. Adolescence is hard enough without society and the
media pointing out what they think you should be – be the best that you can be and remember that puberty does
end. If you stay true to yourself and are a good person with high selfesteem, then people will think you are wonderful
even if you are not perfect.

Acceptance of self
Accept your body as it is.
Remind yourself often of all the things that you like about yourself.
Like people for their personalities and not for the way they look.
Do some exercise, team sport or other group activity.
Follow a balanced eating plan
Groom yourself

Abilities, Interest and Potential

Abilities are things that you can do. Everyone has some abilities.

Relationships between abilities, interests & potential

You may notice that most of the things that you are good at are the ones in which you have an interest. This is
because, if you are interested in something, you will probably make an effort to become good at doing it. In some
cases, people do not even realise that they have abilities. This is particularly true of people who do not try new things
or do not have the opportunity to explore options for different activities.

Creating opportunities
It is important to know what your abilities and potential are so that you can make the most of them. Developing your
abilities will probably make you better at those activities and this will help you to see yourself as a successful person.
Part of making sure that you reach your full potential is the ability to set goals and formulate plans that can help you
to reach those goals. When you set these goals, make sure that you work out all the steps that will help you to get
there. Some goals are short term and others may take longer to reach. If you set goals, write them out and put them
in a place that you will see every day. You will start to find that your actions and daily routine start falling in line with
those goals. However, take care to set realistic (attainable) goals.

What is peer pressure?

When your friends (peers) ask you to do something and you feel uncomfortable about doing it but join in anyway,
because you do not want them to make fun of you or exclude you, then you are giving in to something that is called
Peer Pressure.

Appropriate responses to peer pressure

It is often very hard to resist peer pressure. Sometimes, it seems easier to do what your peers ask you to do OR to
stand by and do nothing when they are clearly doing something that is not acceptable. If you feel uncomfortable
about anything you do because you are pressured into it, you will almost certainly feel bad about it afterwards.
Remember that saying ‘They made me do it.’ is not an acceptable excuse for unacceptable behaviour. You are in
charge of your behaviour. Having good friends is important to helping you deal with peer pressure. If you have
chosen your friends wisely then the chances are great that they will not pressurize you into doing anything
unacceptable because they would not be doing it either.

Conflict and mediation

 Conflict can arise when two or more people cannot agree on something.
 Sometimes, the conflict arises because two people or groups want the same thing and
there is not enough of that thing to go around.
 Conflict sometimes arises because people have different opinions or beliefs.
 Conflict might arise when somebody wants something that you have and you are not
 willing, or in a position, to give it to them.
 Conflict can arise when somebody treats you disrespectfully by being unkind or rude

If you ever hope to be successful in business or become a good leader, you will have to master the skills of self-
control, mediation and peacekeeping.

Mediation is when a person who is not directly involved in the situation (we say they are objective) acts as a
peacekeeper between the people who are involved in the conflict. Becoming objective means that you are genuinely
able to see the other person’s point of view, help them to understand
yours, and, through communication, find a solution to the conflict.

There are three main ways to deal with conflict.

Passive responses usually mean that you are pretending to ignore the situation. Eventually you will not be able to
pretend anymore and then you will become so angry you might do something you will regret.

Assertive response is the hardest way to deal with conflict, but it is normally the most successful, particularly when
the person is spoken to in a respectful and calm way.

Aggressive responses usually create more conflict. It is possible that the person who pushed into the line will swear
at you or hit you.

Peacekeeping skills
Peacekeeping and mediation are about respect for other people. It is about treating people ‘right’ even if you think
they are wrong. You can show respect by matching the way you speak with your facial expression and body language.
Listening to what other people are saying and taking note of their facial expression and body language when you
speak to them are important peacekeeping and mediating skills.

DO YOU WANT TO BE POPULAR AND WELL-LIKED?

Stop talking and start listening!
Stop Talking
Prepare Yourself to Listen
Put the Speaker at Ease
Remove Distractions
Empathise
Be Patient
Avoid Personal Prejudice
Listen to the Tone
Listen for Ideas – Not Just Words
Wait and Watch for Non-Verbal Communication
Term 2: Self-Management Skills - GRADE 6 LIFE SKILLS

Self-management refers to methods , skills , and strategies by which a person can effectively
direct his/her activities toward the achievement of objectives.

Managing responsibilities
At home, and at school, there are things that you are responsible for. At home, your
responsibilities might include things such as: keeping your room tidy, taking out the trash, cooking
dinner, washing dishes, getting ready on time in the morning and making your bed. At school, your
responsibilities might be activities such as: doing homework, studying for tests, going to sport
practise, doing monitor duty, and so forth. Sometimes, it is difficult to manage all the things that
must be done.
Do you have a busy life?
Do you struggle to fit your activities into the day?
Are you constantly in a state of panic or do you think you are well organised?
Which one of the following cupboards could be yours?

Tips for getting organised

Organise your space

Put it back
Use a calendar
Write it down
Organisation strategies for school
Goals
Do not rush
Prepare your clothing
Avoid clutter
Make an effective study area
Do Not Disturb
Get your beauty sleep.
Eat properly
Break up your study time
Schedule consistent study times.
Break it up
What is bullying?
When somebody deliberately tries to hurt, scare or upset another person then this action can be
called bullying.

Reasons for bullying

Many psychological studies have tried to find out why some people become bullies and others do
not. They have been able to identify some common factors.
One or more of the following might cause somebody to behave like a bully:
1. family problems (divorced parents, alcoholic mother and/or abusive father).
2. being bullied themselves.
3. no friends, and they feel angry and lonely,
4. low self-image and when they make other’s feel weak, they feel strong.
5. want other people to think they are big and powerful.
6. selfish and want their own way.

Can bullies stop being bullies?

Nobody likes to be bullied. Nobody likes bullies either. Some bullies may seem to have a lot of
friends and appear to be popular but usually these people are only pretending to be friends with
the bully because they fear him/her. Usually, bullies end up being unpopular and lonely.
Cultural Rites of Passage
What is a rite of passage?
A rite of passage is an important event that happens at a stage of development. Some rites of
passage are common to more than one culture, e.g., special birthdays. In some cultures, turning
twenty-one. In other cultures, like Jewish culture, turning thirteen is considered significant and
marks the time when a child becomes an adult.

Rites of passage and specific cultures

The meaning and significance of ancestors
Ancestors are important in traditional African culture because they have the power to protect or
punish people. A child must be introduced to the rest of the family or clan at a special ceremony as
well as the ancestors.

The meaning and significance of circumcision

Circumcision mostly for male children, but some cultures also for females. For boys, circumcision
involves cutting away the foreskin of the penis. It is considered a cultural ritual, it is also a very
hygienic thing to do as other cultures have their boy children circumcised for medical reasons.
Jewish and Muslim boys are circumcised after they are born. In traditional African culture boys are
circumcised when they begin puberty and circumcision shows the boy has become a man.

The meaning and significance of baptism

Baptism (Christening) is a ritual that takes place in Christian churches. Baptism can take place
when church members are babies or adults. When a baby is baptised, a priest sprinkles holy water
on the baby’s forehead and makes the sign of a cross with the water which is a symbol of
goodness and everlasting life and the water symbolises washing away of sins. The baby is also
given a name and then the baby is considered a formal member of the church. When an adult is
baptised, water is also used to show that sins have been washed away and a new way has begun.

The meaning and significance of weddings

A Muslim marriage is the joining of two families. Marriage is a contract that is blessed by Allah
(God) and is done with the purpose of having children. In Muslim culture, a man may have more
than one wife.

In Hindu culture marriage is a life-long commitment to one person. Marriage is sacred and holy,
rather than a contract. A Hindu marriage is believed to be one of the ways a family can honour
their ancestors.

In Jewish culture, marriage is seen as a holy promise that is bound by a contract in the sight of
God. The spouses are considered equal, but they have different roles. The man must provide for
the family and protect his wife and children. The woman must look after the home and raise the
children.

In the African culture, brings two families together. A marriage agreement is made between the
families and the future husband promises to pay lobola for his bride, to the future bride’s family.

For Christians, the main purpose of marriage is to spend a life with somebody that you love and to
produce children. When Christians get married, they promise God that they will be faithful to each
other and love and respect each other.

The meaning and significance of death

Muslims believe that there is another world after death – they call it paradise. A Muslim believes
that when he/she dies, if a good life has been lived, their soul will go to paradise.

Hindus believe that death is part of a continuing cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth. After death,
the soul of the person is transferred to another body. The Hindus call this reincarnation.

Jewish people believe that, if they live a good life; their souls will be resurrected in a perfect world
at some future point in time.

Christians believe that, when they die, God will judge their life. If they have been good Christians,
then their souls will go to Heaven. If not, then their souls will go to Hell.

The Dignity of the Person in Religions in South Africa

Dignity and religion
Dignity is: The state or quality of being worthy of honour or respect.

Religion gives people dignity. Each religion has a set of rules that are expected to follow called a
Code of Conduct, makes sure that people treat each other and themselves with respect. By doing
this we give them dignity.

Codes of conduct and religion

I believe that the main purpose of the Muslim faith is to teach people how to live peacefully with
each other. This gives every human being dignity.

Christianity has a Code of Conduct called the Ten Commandments. One of these commandments
is ‘Love your neighbour’. This commandment makes sure that every person has dignity.
Activity
Do you have a clear idea of your abilities - talents and skills?

Complete the table to identify what your abilities are.

Making action plans : Case Study

Samu is a Grade 6 learner. He really loves cooking and baking. He often helps his mother to
prepare meals at home. He also enjoys looking for different recipes and watches the cooking
channel whenever he gets a chance. He thinks that his food tastes very good and his friends and
family agree. He feels that he has the potential to become a chef when he leaves school. He
knows that he will have to learn a lot more about food and cooking if he wants to turn his talent
into a career. He washes the family car once a week and his father gives him extra pocket money
if he does a good job. Samu uses the money to purchase recipe books and cooking equipment.
He asked the IT teacher at school to help him and he has found some tasty recipes on the
internet. Samu has applied to be a school Tuck Shop monitor. If he is successful, then he will be
very pleased. Although he will not get to cook any food, he will learn how to serve customers and
work with money correctly. Samu’s school principal has announced that, next year, the school will
be offering a new extra mural. It is a cooking class called the Yum-Yum Club. He will need to
audition if he wants to join, so he decides that he will start practising to cook a variety of meals.
That way, he will be able to choose his best meal for the audition. He offers to cook meals for his
family on Saturdays. This will give his mother time to relax and it will allow him the opportunity to
experiment with new recipes, get his family’s opinion about the food and learn how to manage a
budget. Samu decides that, as soon as he is old enough to work, he will try to find part-time work
at a local restaurant as a chef’s assistant. He will also ask his Life Skills teacher whether she
knows about any high schools that specialise in culinary courses and restaurantmanagement
skills. He has also started investigating which South African universities offer degrees in nutrition
or cooking. He would like to study to become a professional chef when he matriculates. Samu’s
idol is Gordon Ramsey and his dream is to become a Michelin Star chef and to host his own TV
cooking show one day.

Answer the following questions:

1. What special interest does Samu have?
2. List two of Samu’s long-term goals.
3. Describe one medium-term goal that Samu would like to achieve.
4. Which of the goals described in the case study could be described as a short-term goal?

Appropriate responses to peer pressure

Interpret the situation and decide what YOU would do if you were faced with this kind of peer
pressure.

Situation 1
The school year is almost at an end. A few of your friends have decided that they are going to dye
their hair in rainbow colours for the last day of school. You know it is against school rules but your
friends say, “Don’t be a nerd. What can the Principal do? Put us on detention on the
last day of school?”

Situation 2
You are at the supermarket with your friend. You are looking at the chocolates but neither of you
have any money. Your friend says, “Let’s eat them while we walk around the shop, then we won’t
have to pay for them at the till.”

Situation 3
One of your friends is having a party. His parents will be away for the weekend so there will be no
adult supervision. All the popular children will be at the party so you think it is important for you to
be seen there. Your friend has asked each person to bring a bottle of alcohol with to the party
instead of a birthday gift.