Human Development and Sexual Health

Podcast

Jocelyn Graham and Kaitlyn Hill, health promotion facilitators with Alberta Health Services share a variety of strategies and resources that any teacher can use in their classroom to provide evidence-based, inclusive sexual health education to students of all ages.

Values Clarification

It is important to understand your own values before teaching human sexuality to avoid imposing personal values upon your students.

Values Exploration

Values Clarification Exercise  

Setting Ground Rules 

Classrooms that have ground rules (also known as group agreements) established at the beginning of teaching sexual health education, will help to create an environment of trust, safety, and comfort. 

Setting Ground Rules

Sexuality Wheel 

The Sexuality Wheel illustrates how all parts of sexuality are connected and are influenced by each other.

Diversity and Inclusive Language 

Diversity is everything that makes us unique and different from each other. These differences should be accepted and celebrated.

Diversity includes but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religious or ethical values system, national origin, and political beliefs, upbringing and life experiences.

Diversity

Inclusive Language

Consent

Consent is an agreement to engage in an activity; it occurs when you ask or give permission to do something.

What is Consent?

Important Information About Consent

How to Incorporate Consent Throughout the Year

Kahoot Game - Consent

Video - Consent 

Responding to Questions 

Making time for and responding to student questions is important to clarify and confirm the information that has been shared.

Responding to Student Questions 

Question Box, how to?

Tips when using question box in classroom Sexual Health teaching.

Question Box tips

Anonymous Question Box 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Included below are links to lists of common questions from students to help you prepare responses and are meant as a starting point. Your response to a student question should be adapted to your student’s age, maturity, classroom environment, and individual school policies.

Student FAQs

The Answer Box - Gr.4-6

The Answer Box - Gr.7-8 

Keeping Up to Date

Useful websites to keep up to date with sexual health information:

Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (OPHEA) H&PE Curriculum Resources (has lesson plans)

SIECCAN - Sexual Health Education Guidelines

SHORE Centre (has lesson plans)

Teaching Sexual Health (has lesson plans)

Sex and U - Your Trusted Resource for Sexual and Reproductive Health   

Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights

Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)

SOGI 123   

Videos for the Classroom

AMAZE   - Animated videos with real information in a fun format that gives you all the answers about your body, sex, relationships and more.

Every Body Curious  - An educational YouTube series about sexuality and healthy relationships for youth, ages 9-12.

About Sex Series -Thirty-five episodes that explore topics from consent to pornography, through skits, expert advice, and teen testimonials.  It is recommended to review content before showing students. Teachers may need to determine if it is age-appropriate content or appropriate for their classroom.

Games and Resource for the Classroom 

Check out our Lending Library for games and resources available for loan to support classroom learning and curriculum teaching.

Puberty

OPHEA - Always Changing & Growing Up Resources: Grades 5 & 6  is a school-based resource designed to teach pre-teens in Grades 5 and 6 about the transition between childhood and adolescence, and the beginning stages of puberty.

OPHEA -Always Changing and Growing Up: Grades 7 & 8  is designed to promote a healthy, active lifestyle for adolescent students in Grades 7 and 8.

Kahoot Games: Puberty Changes, Eggs & Ovaries, Sperm and Testicles, Reproduction   

Gender Diversity and Inclusion

Genderbread Person – A teaching tool that breaks down the big concept of gender

Components of Human Identity – An infographic that visually represents four components of human identity

Every Body – Gender Identity and Expression teaching tool

Guide to Selecting SOGI-Inclusive Resources (SOGI=sexual orientation and gender identity)

Sexuality & Gender Diversity Game Galaxy Activity

Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infections (STIs and BBIs) 

Sexually Transmitted Infections – Information on symptoms, testing, treatment and risk reduction

STIs Teaching Tool

Videos - Condom - How to Use Correctly , Using a Condom, Using a Dental Dam, Using an Internal (vaginal) Condom

Kahoot Game -  STIs

Games - Condom Game, Dental Dam Game, STI Feud Game

Contraception 

Interactive Contraception Information

Contraception Booklet

Game: Steps to Using a Condom

Kahoot Game - Contraception

Video - Condom - How to Use Correctly , Using a Condom, Using a Dental Dam, Using an Internal (vaginal) Condom 

Relationships

The Fourth R - Strategies for Healthy Youth Relationships

Building Healthy Relationships

Game - Relationship Game 

Media and Online Safety 

Teacher Resources & Lesson Plans - Media Smarts

Differing Abilities

Teaching Sexual Education to Students with Differing Abilities

Supporting Healthy Sexuality in Youth with Disabilities