- Always Changing and Growing Up | Ophea and PHE Canada. Free, downloadable resources and support to teach adolescent growth and development, personal hygiene, and healthy, active living.
- Beyond the Basics | Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights. Resource for educators on sexuality and sexual health that offers tools to teach young people from a sex positive, human rights perspective. Topics range from anatomy, to consent, and healthy relationships. (NOTE: requires a one time fee for purchase.)
- Consent | SIECCAN Sex Information & Education Council of Canada. Intended to increase capacity to provide effective consent education with a focus on boys and Autistic youth. Includes an interactive online consent resource for youth.
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Huron Perth Public Health. Webpage with diversity, equity, and inclusion and 2SLGBTQIA+ resources.
- Every Body Curious | Every Body Curious. A YouTube series aimed at youth ages 9 to 12 (and their parents) that explores the birds and the bees through leading sex educators answering real questions from real kids.
- Human Development and Sexual Health Teaching Tools | Niagara Region Public Health. Designed to support elementary and secondary teachers in creating comprehensive lesson plans to cover health-related content in the classroom.
- Mental Well-Being | Huron Perth Public Health. Webpage with body image information and related lesson plans.
- Puberty | Sex & U. Student-friendly webpage that provides a summary of puberty changes to the male and female bodies.
- Sex & U | Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. Website providing accurate, credible, and up-to-date information and education on topics related to sexual and reproductive health.
- Sexual Health Ontario | Ontario public health units. Website providing information and advice on a variety of sexual health topics. The site could be used in a question, search and answer exercise.
- Sexuality and Developmental Disability: A Guide for Parents | Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. Provides information on the facts about sexuality and developmental disability, the parent’s role, suggestions for what parents can do and tips and strategies for talking comfortably with your child about sexuality.
Human Development and Sexual Health
Puberty, hygiene and body image are normal parts of being human and topics we need to discuss to make students comfortable with changes happening to their bodies. When teaching students about sexuality and sexual relationships, it is important to maintain a positive and respectful approach, with the lens of the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. Sexual health-related issues are wide-ranging, and include sexual orientation and gender identity, sexual expression, and relationships.
According to the World Health Organization, the ability to achieve sexual health and well-being depends on:
- Access to comprehensive, high-quality information about sex and sexuality
- Knowledge about the risks one may face and their vulnerability to adverse consequences of unprotected sexual activity
- Ability to access sexual health care
- Living in an environment that affirms and promotes sexual health
There are many resources available to help ease the conversation. Please see below. If you are looking for tips on how to address certain issues or topics, or would like to request a presentation or kit, please complete the school health request form.
Our Puberty kit is a grab and go curriculum kit suitable for grades 4 to 6. It contains interactive activities and handouts on hygiene and puberty changes.
To borrow the kit, submit a School Health Request.
The following classroom presentations are provided by public health nurses to support and enhance curriculum. They are available for grades 7 to 12. To request a presentation, submit a School Health Request.
Birth control
This presentation provides information on birth control (contraception) options, benefits and limitations of each, and how to access contraceptives locally. It will also include information on services offered at HPPH sexual health clinics, including harm reduction supplies and naloxone kits.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
This presentation provides an overview of common sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBIs), including symptoms, prevention strategies, and local testing and treatment options. It also includes information on services offered at HPPH sexual health clinics, including harm reduction supplies and naloxone kits.
Birth control and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
This presentation provides an overview of common sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) and contraception options. It also includes information on services offered at HPPH sexual health clinics, including harm reduction supplies and naloxone kits. This presentation is a minimum of 60 minutes in length.
In addition, Huron Perth Public Health offers sexual health clinics that provide STI testing and other services.