1. Healthy Relationships (Part 1 of 2)
Grade 8
NOTE to Teachers: This presentation is Part 1 of a 2 part series, you can access the second presentation “Healthy Relationships and Social Media” and other MLHU presentations at ( and Healthy Relationship Link on MLHU (

2. Ground Rules Giggling is OK
No names or specific examples of peers will be used in discussions.
Respect what others say
Understand others’ feelings
Discuss relationship topics responsibly outside the classroom
There are no dumb questions

3. What is a healthy relationship?
Throughout our lives, we are involved in many different kinds of relationships. These include:
Parents, siblings, relatives, friends, girlfriends, boyfriends, teachers and classmates
Healthy relationships can make us happier and add to our feelings of self-worth.
Throughout this presentation we will explore what affects online and offline relationships. We will be going back and forth between talking about online relationships and offline relationships.*
From: MLHU Healthy Relationships Webpage

4. Healthy Relationships Start With Yourself
When you are happy with yourself and confident, others will be drawn to you
We all have talents, strengths and parts of our personality that are great
We all have things we want to work on – no one is perfect

5. Healthy Relationships Start With Yourself
It’s good to see yourself in a positive way
Thinking negatively about yourself can make you feel upset.

6. Looking at Myself Activity
Write three words that people could use to describe you in a positive way
Examples: trustworthy, honest, self-reliant, kind
My favourite pastime when school is over is to _______________________________.
Reference: Grade 7 Growth and Development p. 212 Unit 4, Appendix T “Looking at Myself”
Consider completing Full version of “Looking At Myself” activity with class:
Students trace their hand and number fingers for corresponding 5 questions, Which are:
Name one characteristic about yourself that makes you feel proud
What is your strongest, positive personality trait?
List one thing you would like to change or improve about yourself
What is your best physical characteristic?
Who could you turn to if you needed help?

7. Media’s Influence
Let’s talk about the ways the media* can affect the way we:
Think about ourselves/others
Feel about ourselves/others
Act around others
* Remember that media includes all of the following: TV, online including all social media, gaming, advertisements
Suggested Activities:
OPHEA Health and Physical Education Grade 8. Sexuality Values in our Music. Page. 222.
Students choose a song to analyze lyrics as a class or individually.
Example Question: Do you think the song sends a positive or negative message about relationships.
A similar activity could be done by examining magazine advertisements for messaging related to sexuality, body image, violence and relationships
Discussion Question: What are some of the messages our media gives us, such as gender roles?

8. Stereotypes
Let’s look further into some of the ways media affects our views on relationships.
Do you think:
Girls only like guys who are the life of the party?
Guys only like girls who are flirty?
To fit in you have to have a girlfriend or boyfriend?
Adapted from: OPHEA Healthy and Physical Education – Grade 7
This slide is intended to generate discussion.
You may want to take the Four Squares approach to lead discussions.
Things are not just black and white, there are different ways of looking at relationships.
Example: Some people enjoy having a lot of friends online and offline. Others enjoy fewer friendships with close connections. Both of these situations are fine, it is ok to be anywhere on this spectrum.

9. Stereotypes Continued
Do only popular people have lots of friends on social media?
Are there differences between “online friends” and “offline friends”?
People who have lots of posts online are popular
Adapted from: OPHEA Healthy and Physical Education – Grade 7
This slide is meant to generate discussion.

10. Healthy Relationships
In a healthy relationship:
Both people want to be in the relationship
Both people feel good (brings out the best in each other)
Each partner helps the other partner out when they need it
Both people are comfortable being themselves
Each partner brings out the positives in the other (talents, strengths) to be a better person
Notice that each of these qualities can be found in positive friendships and romantic relationships.

11. Healthy Relationships Cont’d
People in Healthy Relationships:
Talk with each other easily
Trust each other
Respect each other
Are honest
Laugh together
Accept differences
Share similar interests
Are able to respectfully work through disagreements

12. Healthy Relationships Cont’d
What else makes a healthy relationship?
Can you think of more examples of what makes a healthy relationship?
What would be an example of an unhealthy relationship?
What is important to you in a relationship?
What are some ways people can show these qualities in a relationship?
Remind students that they can think of examples from their relationships with family, friends and classmates

13. Healthy Relationships Cont’d
If you have feelings of uncertainty, doubt, or fear about a relationship, it is important to recognize and act on these feelings
Don’t force yourself to be in a relationship you don’t want to be in
Where can students go for help:
Talk to someone you trust like a parent or teacher
Kids Helpline
* Keep in mind information shared online is public and permanent, but if you have had something posted online that you want to try and remove you can go to this website to try and minimize damage/take back control.

14. How Could You Start a Positive Friendship or Relationship?
Showing the other person that you are interested in getting to know them (e.g. smiling, laughing, listening to them)
Talk about interests and find what things you have in common (e.g. likes playing soccer, starting to play an instrument, interested in the same type of music)
Adapted from: Grade 7 Growth and Development Unit 4, Appendix U, p. 213
Reference: Grade 7 Growth and Development Unit 4, Appendix U, p. 213

15. How Could You Start a Positive Friendship or Relationship? Cont’d
If you share common interests and like each others’ company then you could get to know each other better by:
Hanging out together
Texting or talking on the phone
Connecting on social media*
Can you think of any more?
As relationships progress, people become more comfortable with expressing themselves and not being afraid of judgement
Adapted from: Grade 7 Growth and Development Unit 4, Appendix U, p. 213
Reference: Grade 7 Growth and Development Unit 4, Appendix U, p. 213
* Online safety will be further discussed in the second presentation, Healthy Relationships and Social Media.
You may wish to highlight:
Let relationships progress naturally (Don’t impose yourself on others)
Sometimes through no fault of our own people don’t click, don’t take it personally
Don’t let it get you down, look for other opportunities to make new friends
Sometimes friends and romantic relationships start and end, this is common and we can chose to think of the relationships in a positive way, such as what we learned from the relationship??

16. Wrapping Up
Remember:
A healthy relationship starts with how you feel about yourself.
Be aware of how media messages can affect how you feel about yourself and your relationships is important.
Be true to yourself and keep people in your life who make you feel good.
If you are having concerns about a friendship or relationship talk to someone you trust.