Health Relationship and Sex Education Grades 5 - 8

Health’s Essential Question……… What are the skills, knowledge and understandings we need so we can make smart choices, feel in control of our lives and be ‘happy’.

What’s the context? Student ages and stages of development Family and cultural values Criteria for good practice and an effective program We have a broader diversity than most secondary schools – creates a rich environment but also requires a greater sensitivity to the range of family and cultural values which need to be acknowledged and respected. …honest with students that if they ask a question and I pause, it’s not because I don’t want to answer…… …the school program is offered as a support to the conversations & information being shared at home, within the context of each family’s values.

Points underpinning best practice and effective Health education….. - Students’ knowledge of personal values and attitudes - Strategies for assessing and managing risk - Factual information: physical health emotional health mental health A lot to cover…the program builds over the 4 years, being mindful that students arrive and leave during that time.

Curriculum Content SRE begins with the lessons on Online Safety and Digital Citizenship use 5th: online predators, keeping personal information private and/or offline ‘Jigsaw’ 6th: online predators, red flag moments, not meeting up ‘Tom thought he knew’ 7th: online predators, risk factors, red flag moments, choice points ‘Matt thought he knew’ 8th: sexting Perceptions of peer norms eg 8th grade expectations about the number of 10th & 11th graders who drink alcohol, versus the actual percentage of 10th/11th graders who do. Perception is usually much higher than reality, but perceptions of what’s normal can create internal pressure in a student re what’s needed to fit in/be cool etc.

Curriculum Content 5th Grade correct medical terms for the reproductive system and the genitals, for own gender physical and emotional changes associated with puberty, for own gender Change: including… what events throughout a person’s life create change for them? Change chosen or imposed; positive/negative change; how to manage change Relationships: define what a relationship is, identify different types of relationship, recognise characteristics of positive and negative relationships Italics = gender separate classes Gender-separate classes – 1 in 5th grade; 3 in 6th grade. Boys will work with Mr Den Hartog, girls will work with me.

Curriculum Content 6th Grade correct medical terms for the reproductive system and the genitals, own and other gender physical and emotional changes associated with puberty, own and other gender human reproduction changing nature of relationships during adolescence including dvd ‘Caution: Teenager Under Construction” which includes a segment about relationships between teenagers and parents Italics = gender separate classes This year, because of the reduction in class times, expanding to 3 gender-separate classes

Curriculum Content Sexual orientation: can be sensitive, perhaps controversial based on belief systems. Why do we cover it? Government requirement to address diversity. As a school we celebrate diversity, and embrace inclusion. Statistically, anywhere between 2-3 and 15-10 of students in any grade could be…. No discussion about practices, just as there are no discussions about heterosexual practices. What’s meant by ‘that’s gay’ – perpetuation of judgements; message given to anyone hearing it

Curriculum Content 8th Grade Understanding human sexuality through the framework ‘Five Circles of Sexuality’ Consent Pornography: fact versus fantasy gender identity, gender roles and stereotypes Caring vs coercion Circles of Sexuality – Sensuality, Sexual Health & Reproduction, Intimacy, Sexual Identity, Sexualization Gender identity eg what does it mean to be a man, what does it mean to be a woman? Gender roles and stereotypes Caring versus Coercion – using a play script and opening up conversations about the use of coercion and how to spot it and respond Baby Think It Over – about unplanned pregnancies, not about teenage pregnancies: choices and consequences:

Thank you for your attention Any questions?