What is OWL?
Our Whole Lives (OWL) is the curriculum SK uses to teach health and human development. This curriculum is so much more than traditional sex ed: it's about growing up, making good decisions, and treating yourself and others with respect. OWL is an amazingly complete program that teaches the science and emotion of development and reproduction while emphasizing self-esteem and pro-active decision-making. It empowers students not only with knowledge, but by reinforcing their right to make their own decisions about who they want to be and what they want to do. It also empowers them to set their own comfort levels (and listen to others' comfort levels) in relationships. Some highlights include: - Emphasizes self-esteem as an important aspect of sexual health and teaches kids to positively express their sexuality - Encourages kids to appreciate their bodies as good, beautiful, and private - Provides accurate and developmentally-appropriate information about sexuality, reproduction, and gender - Focuses on interpersonal skills such as communication, decision-making, and problem-solving, and teaches the roles those skills play in staying healthy - Encourages parents to take an active role in the discussion and encourages kids to look to their parents for values and conversation Scroll down to see the topics we will cover and check out the links associated with each one. Spend some time with these to get the information you need, and make sure to include your parents in the conversation! Check out a diagram of OWL's Circles of Sexuality at this link! |
Great resources for kids (and parents):
Advocates For Youth, a nonprofit dedicated to providing honest sexual health information Scarleteen, a site promoting sex ed for the real world A Parent/Caregiver Resource: The OWL curriculum encourages regular communication with parents about what the students are learning, and checking in with parents about their own family values. Click here for a brochure on becoming an askable parent. NOTE: More great resources for parents can be found at the bottom of this page! |
Each Topic has a HomeLink assignment designed to encourage further thinking and communication with parents and caregivers about these issues. Copies of all HomeLink assignments can be found here:
Topic 1: SEXUALITY AND VALUES
Students explore and clarify their own values about sexuality. The program emphasizes values such as self-respect and staying healthy.
Vocabulary for topic 1: puberty, reproduction, pregnancy, gender, values, prejudice, stereotype, social power |
Topic 2: IMAGES IN POPULAR CULTURE
Students examine how the media portrays sexuality.
Vocabulary for topic 2: media literacy |
Topic 3: BODY IMAGE
Students explore the concept of body image, think about the diversity of bodies and experience people have with their bodies and consider ways to keep their own body healthy.
IT'S PERFECTLY NORMAL:
Vocabulary for topic 2: body image |
The video below shows us just how unreal media images can be.
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Topic 4: CHANGES OF PUBERTY
Students learn about the physical and emotional changes during puberty.
IT'S PERFECTLY NORMAL:
Vocabulary for topic 4: menstruation, ejaculation, wet dream, hormone, erection, maturity, tampon, sanitary pad, scrotum, genitals, ovaries, penis, testicles, uterus, urethra, vagina, vulva |
Topic 5: GENDER
Students decode messages they receive about gender. They learn what it means to have a gender identity and some of the many variations of gender identity.
IT'S PERFECTLY NORMAL:
Vocabulary for topic 5: biological sex, gender identity, cisgender, transgender, gender-fluid, gender nonconforming, gender expression, transphobia |
Topic 6: FEELINGS AND ATTRACTION
Students explore what it means to be romantically attracted to someone, either of the same or different gender. They learn terms associated with sexual orientation and discuss scenarios of attraction.
IT'S PERFECTLY NORMAL:
Vocabulary for topic 6: attraction, sexual orientation, gay, homosexual, lesbian, bisexual, straight, heterosexual, asexual, queer, homophobia, heterosexual, intimacy |
Topic 7: REPRODUCTION AND STAYING HEALTHY
Students learn about conception, pregnancy, contraception, sexually transmitted infections, and other possible consequences of sexual activity
IT'S PERFECTLY NORMAL:
Vocabulary for topic 7: fertilization, conception, zygote, embryo, fetus, vaginal birth, cesarean birth, sexual intercourse, abstinence, contraception, sexually transmitted infection, HIV, AIDS |
More Resources about Reproduction and Sexual Health
Advocates for Youth American Sexual Health Association STDs (CDC) Herpes HIV/AIDS (CDC) HIV.gov Planned Parenthood I Wanna Know Sex, etc. Scarleteen, Sex ed fo the real world |
Topic 8: DECISIONS AND ACTIONS:
Students think about decisions they would make regarding sexual activity including pornography and masturbation, and what they would and would not be comfortable with.
IT'S PERFECTLY NORMAL:
Vocabulary for topic 8: masturbation, pornography |
Topic 9: CONSENT AND PEER PRESSURE
Students practice communicating about consent, examine situations in which consent is violated, and identify people in their lives who can offer help.
IT'S PERFECTLY NORMAL:
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Think about it! The next time you see a romantic movie, discuss how the characters give or do not give consent. Even a Disney movie with romance can count for this. Suggestions include:
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Topic 10: HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
Students learn the components of a healthy relationship
IT'S PERFECTLY NORMAL:
IT'S PERFECTLY NORMAL:
- Part 6: Staying Healthy, Section 29, Responsible Choices (pages 90-92)
Parent and Caregiver Resources
Some great resources to help caregivers talk with their children about sexuality are included here.
BOOKS
Breaking the Hush Factor: Ten Rules for Talking with Teenagers about Sex, by Karen Rayne
For Goodness Sex, by Al Vernacchio
Sexuality Talking Points: A Guide Toward Thoughtful Conversations between Parents and Children, by Melanie Davis (see melaniedavisphd.com)
Talk to Me First, by Deborah Roffman
There's No Place Like Home...for Sex Education, by Mary Gossart
What Every 21st-Century Parent Needs to Know, by Deborah Haffner
VIDEOS
Talking to Kids about Sex and Sexuality, from the Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Parenting Tips: A Tool for Talking about Sex
WEBSITES
Families are talking: siecus.org
Talking with Kids about Tough Issues: childrennow.org/parenting-resources/
Parents' Sex Ed Center: advocatesforyouth.org/parents
Love Is Respect: loveisrespect.org
Tools for Parents (Planned Parenthood): plannedparenthood.org/parents
PFLAG: pflag.org
Gender Spectrum: genderspectrum.org
BOOKS
Breaking the Hush Factor: Ten Rules for Talking with Teenagers about Sex, by Karen Rayne
For Goodness Sex, by Al Vernacchio
Sexuality Talking Points: A Guide Toward Thoughtful Conversations between Parents and Children, by Melanie Davis (see melaniedavisphd.com)
Talk to Me First, by Deborah Roffman
There's No Place Like Home...for Sex Education, by Mary Gossart
What Every 21st-Century Parent Needs to Know, by Deborah Haffner
VIDEOS
Talking to Kids about Sex and Sexuality, from the Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Parenting Tips: A Tool for Talking about Sex
WEBSITES
Families are talking: siecus.org
Talking with Kids about Tough Issues: childrennow.org/parenting-resources/
Parents' Sex Ed Center: advocatesforyouth.org/parents
Love Is Respect: loveisrespect.org
Tools for Parents (Planned Parenthood): plannedparenthood.org/parents
PFLAG: pflag.org
Gender Spectrum: genderspectrum.org
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