Our Whole Lives, Sexuality Education for Grades 4-6By Elizabeth M. Casparian and Eva S. Goldfarb - Web site
- www.uua.org/owl
- Theme and Description
- A part of the UUA's lifespan sexuality education curriculum Our Whole Lives, this program for Grade 4-6 is designed for boys and girls on the brink of puberty. It focuses on values, self-esteem, family relationships, the changes that occur during puberty, gender identity and seuxal orientation, human reproduction, bodily and sexual health and safety, communication, and decision-making.
- Goals for Participants
- To develop the ability to come to one's own conclusions about issues relating to sexuality, health, and relationships;
To understand the changes that bodies undergo as they enter puberty, and to acknowledge the difference between gender identity and sexual orientation;
To recognize society's gender roles, and how they impact individuals;
To differentiate between fact and fiction regarding issues such as sexually transmitted diseases and sexual abuse.
- Age Range
- Grades 4-6
- Size of Group
- Flexible; 8-12 works well
- Space Requirements
- The space should have room for participants and leaders to sit in a circle, room for smaller groups to meet, and space for tables and chairs for other activities.
- Number and Length of Sessions
- 8 sessions
Length: 1 hour - Leader Training
- Training for OWL Grades 4-6 is very strongly recommended. For more information, visit the OWL training website http://www.org/owl/training.html. You may also contact the Lifespan Faith Development staff group at the UUA at (617) 742-2100, ext. 349.
- Leader Preparation
- OWL training (usually one day) and average per session preparation.
- Strengths
- Encourages independent thinking through interactive stories;
Is part of the Our Whole Lives program, a comprehensive lifespan sexuality education curriculum;
Prepares older elementary children for puberty in a way that is supportive, honest, and informative;
The sessions are well-organized, clearly presented, and easy-to-follow;
Fosters communication between parent and child through an introductory parent meeting, mandatory meeting with both parents and children, the corresponding resource, The Parent Guide to Our Whole Lives for Grades K-1 and 4-6, and "Home Link" homework assignments that precede each session;
Teachers who are OWL trained are supported by a UUA website and listserve. - Limitations
- Make sure the age range in the class is limited to include only one or two grades, never three;
Leaders should attend an OWL-Child training. - Adaptability
- Can be explicitly grounded in Unitarian Universalism when used in conjunction with Sexuality and Our Faith, Grades 4-6, also available from the UUA Bookstore.
- Unitarian Universalist Values
- This curriculum is designed to help young Unitarian Universalists identify and live according to their values within the context of their Unitarian Universalist faith communities. This program is based on the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equity, and compassion in human relations; acceptance of one another; and a free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
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Curricula
