Are you looking for resources and activities for teaching comprehensive sex-ed in your classroom?
We've compiled a collection of activities that you can use as part of your comprehensive sex-ed lessons. Each activity is printable and comes from Beyond the Basics, a resource for educators on sexuality and sexual health. Activities are divided into two sections, Activities for Grade 1+ and Activities for Grade 6+.
Love these resources or have questions? Contact us at btb@actioncanadashr.org.
Activities for Grades 1 +
Assertive Communication
Activity Summary: Students share toys or meaningful objects as a way of exploring communication styles.
Learning Objectives:
- Discern between aggressive, passive, passive-aggressive, and assertive communication styles.
- Develop assertive communication skills.
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Gender and Sexuality Galaxies
Activity Summary: Use the Gender and Sexuality Galaxies to explore diverse identities and different terminology.
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Optical Illusions (Media Literacy)
Activity Summary: Students will look at real optical illusions to explore what images represent and develop media literacy skills.
Learning Objectives:
- Reflect on the types and functions of different kinds of media.
- Critically reflect on the illusions inherent in media representation, including the news.
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Puberty Question Box
Activity Summary: Students will anonymously write down questions about puberty to be entered into a box and taken up at the end of the activity or at the next appropriate time.
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Activities for Grades 6 +
Condom Cards
Activity Summary: Students will use cards to put the steps involved in putting on a condom in order.
Learning Objectives:
- Debunk myths associated with condom use.
- Learn how to properly use external condoms.
- Reflect on the importance of communication in safe sex.
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Mask Making
Activity Summary: Students will create a mask where they can write or draw their qualities, values, and personalities that they show to the world and keep private.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn what the term self-concept means and how it is related to body image and self-esteem.
- Apply the concept of “perspective” by turning problems into open ended questions.
- Consider what they would need in order to accept and show more of themselves.
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Relationship Mapping
Activity Summary: Students will use a provided format for mapping relationships and the different types of relationships they have.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify what a healthy relationship feels/looks like.
- Critically evaluate their relationships in terms of what might promote or hinder connection.
- Learn how to articular and negotiate their relationship needs and boundaries.
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Sexual Health and Relationship Planning
Activity Summary: Students will complete handouts that will help them think about how they can plan to make decisions about their sexual lives and relationships.
Learning Objectives:
- Reflect on their own desires and boundaries around dating, relationships, and sexual experience.
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Beyond the Basics
These activities all come from Beyond the Basics, an educator resource on sexuality and sexual health. It offers the tools to teach young people about sexuality and sexual health from a sex positive, human rights perspective. It covers topics that range from anatomy to consent and healthy relationships and is written to easily move in and out of chapters, modules, and activities that suit the particular age, maturity, and trust in each classroom.