Theology of the Body for Teens Seventh Grade Curriculum 5.1 Sex, Love and Chastity

Bellwork Please write out the following questions, filling in the gap. 1. Hanging out with girls is different from hanging out with guys because when I hang out with girls ___________. 2. Hanging out with guys is different from hanging out with girls because when I hang out with guys ___________. 3. One big misunderstanding that people have about the difference between guys and girls is __________. 4. When we were five, boys used to play _____________ but the girls played ___________.

Opening Prayer Lord, Help us to better see the beauty of chastity and to believe that a life of purity will truly bring us the love and freedom we desire. Amen.

Read Read the “Story Starter” on pp. 50-51 Why project two different responses in this story? (A little stereotypical) Read “Bridging the Gap” pp. 51-52 What causes division between the sexes? What is complementarity?

Why Complementarity? Sexual attraction is one of the strongest desires humans experience. God invented physical intimacy. He meant for the closeness of husband and wife to be a powerful sign of His love….the love He has for us, the Church. Complementarity leads to Romantic Attraction which leads to: Marriage

How is sex about who we are? Read paragraphs 1-3 of “To the Core,” p. 54. Discuss: What does the media want us to think about sex and sexuality? Saint John Paul II gives us a life-giving perspective on what happens when we live sexuality as God intends: Maleness and femaleness are key parts of personal identity, of being created in God’s image Can be a source of union, fulfillment, intimacy, and freedom. Not just “what” we do, but who we are.

Language of the Body -We need three volunteers for each of the following demonstrations: How is the language of the body expressed within different relationships? Between male friends Between female friends Between parents and children The invisible gift of love between a husband and wife is expressed in the visible gift of their bodies. -Read Paragraph 3 on page 55.

Marriage Is a Total Gift of Self “The total gift of the body – sex – expresses the truth of the relationship only when shared by two people who have made total gifts of themselves in marriage.”