Lesson Plan
Facilitator Guide and Timing Map
By the end of the lesson, learners will correctly name at least five body parts including genitals with medically accurate terms, state two privacy rules, and identify two common puberty changes and one hygiene routine.
This lesson is important because it provides adults with medically accurate information about their bodies, fostering confidence and enabling healthy communication. It helps clarify common misconceptions and promotes personal well-being.
Audience
Adults
Time
90 minutes
Approach
Through interactive activities, discussions, and clear visual aids.
Materials
Your Body, Your Words Visual Slides, Name and Pronouns Icebreaker, Class Agreements and Rights of the Group Discussion, Body Map Match-Up with Symbol Supports Activity, Public or Private Sorting Cards Worksheet, Puberty Changes Bingo Game, and Exit Ticket: My Two Safety Rules Cool Down
Prep
Review Materials and Prepare Room
15 minutes
- Review the Facilitator Guide and Timing Map thoroughly.
- Familiarize yourself with the Your Body, Your Words Visual Slides.
- Print and cut out materials for Body Map Match-Up with Symbol Supports Activity and Public or Private Sorting Cards Worksheet.
- Prepare Bingo cards and markers for Puberty Changes Bingo Game.
- Ensure projector/screen and writing materials are available.
Step 1
Welcome and Introductions
10 minutes
- Begin with the Name and Pronouns Icebreaker to create a welcoming and inclusive environment.
- Facilitate the Class Agreements and Rights of the Group Discussion to establish a safe space for learning.
Step 2
Core Vocabulary & Concepts
25 minutes
- Use the Your Body, Your Words Visual Slides to teach medically accurate terms for body parts, including genitals.
- Clarify the distinction between sex and gender using slides and open discussion.
- Introduce privacy rules (public vs. private areas, appropriate touch, consent).
Step 3
Practice and Application
25 minutes
- Engage learners with the Body Map Match-Up with Symbol Supports Activity to reinforce body part identification.
- Utilize the Public or Private Sorting Cards Worksheet for interactive practice with privacy rules.
Step 4
Puberty & Hygiene
20 minutes
- Present basic puberty changes and their purpose using the Your Body, Your Words Visual Slides.
- Discuss essential hygiene routines related to puberty and overall health.
- Play the Puberty Changes Bingo Game to review and solidify understanding of puberty concepts.
Step 5
Wrap-Up and Reflection
10 minutes
- Administer the Exit Ticket: My Two Safety Rules Cool Down to check for understanding of key safety rules.
- Review key takeaways and briefly preview future topics.
- Address any remaining questions and thank participants.
Slide Deck
Your Body, Your Words: Welcome to Sex Ed
A Safe Space for Learning
Welcome participants, introduce yourself, and briefly set the positive tone for the session. Emphasize that this is a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment.
What We'll Learn Today
- Identify key body parts with medically accurate terms.
- Understand the difference between sex and gender.
- Learn important privacy rules.
- Recognize common puberty changes and hygiene routines.
Review the learning objectives. Ask if anyone has initial questions or specific topics they hope to cover within these objectives.
Building Our Safe Space
What makes a learning environment feel safe, respectful, and inclusive for everyone? Let's create our class agreements together.
Lead a discussion using the Class Agreements and Rights of the Group Discussion. Prompt participants for ideas on respect, confidentiality, listening, and the right to pass. Write them down as they are shared.
Who We Are
Let's get to know each other briefly. Share your name and, if you're comfortable, your pronouns and one thing you hope to gain from today's session.
Facilitate the Name and Pronouns Icebreaker. Model by sharing your own name and pronouns first. Emphasize that sharing pronouns is optional.
Your Amazing Body: Accurate Language
Using correct terms for body parts helps us communicate clearly about our health and bodies. Let's learn some key terms.
Explain the importance of using accurate, rather than childish or euphemistic, terms. Emphasize that all body parts are natural and deserve respectful language.
External Anatomy
(Image of a neutral, anatomically correct human outline with labels for external body parts including penis, vulva, testicles, breasts, anus, etc. - placeholder for visual aid)
Point to and name each external body part clearly. Give participants time to absorb the information. Reiterate that these are the correct, clinical terms.
Internal Anatomy
(Image of a neutral, anatomically correct human outline showing internal reproductive organs like uterus, ovaries, prostate, etc. - placeholder for visual aid)
Briefly introduce internal body parts. Focus on the main organs relevant to the learning objectives.
Sex vs. Gender: Understanding the Terms
Sex: Refers to biological characteristics (chromosomes, hormones, anatomy).
Gender: Refers to social and cultural roles, expressions, and identities (how someone feels and expresses themselves).
Clearly explain the distinction. Emphasize that sex is typically assigned at birth based on external genitalia, while gender is a complex personal identity. Open for brief questions.
Your Body, Your Privacy
Understanding what parts of our body are private is crucial for safety and respect.
Introduce the concept of public vs. private body parts. Ask participants what they think private parts are and why we keep them private.
What Are Private Parts?
Private parts are areas of our body covered by underwear or a bathing suit. These include genitals, breasts, and the anus.
Explicitly state what constitutes private parts. Explain that these areas are private for safety, hygiene, and personal comfort.
Privacy: Who Can Touch?
Only you have the right to decide who touches your body, and where. This is called consent.
Discuss consent in simple terms. Explain that exceptions include parents/guardians (for children), doctors (with permission/presence of a trusted adult), and caregivers for hygiene. Emphasize that these touches should always feel safe and be for a clear purpose.
Body Map Challenge!
Let's practice! Use your Body Map Match-Up with Symbol Supports Activity sheets to correctly label the body parts.
Distribute the Body Map Match-Up with Symbol Supports Activity materials and guide participants through the activity. Circulate to offer support.
Public or Private?
Using your Public or Private Sorting Cards Worksheet, sort the scenarios and actions into the correct categories.
Distribute the Public or Private Sorting Cards Worksheet and explain the activity. Facilitate discussion as needed during or after the sorting.
Puberty: Changes and Growth
Puberty is the time when our bodies grow and develop into adult bodies. Everyone experiences it differently, but there are common changes.
Introduce puberty as a natural process. Reassure participants that it's normal to have questions and that there's a wide range of 'normal' when it comes to puberty timing and changes.
Common Puberty Changes
- Hair growth (underarms, pubic area, face/body)
- Body odor
- Voice changes
- Skin changes (acne)
- Growth spurts
- Development of breasts/genitals
- Menstruation/sperm production
List and briefly describe common changes. Focus on the universality of these changes.
Hygiene Habits for a Healthy Body
Good hygiene is important for feeling fresh, healthy, and confident, especially during and after puberty.
Transition to hygiene. Ask what common hygiene practices participants already engage in.
Key Hygiene Routines
- Daily showering/bathing
- Washing hands regularly
- Using deodorant/antiperspirant
- Changing clothes, especially underwear
- Dental hygiene (brushing, flossing)
List and briefly explain each practice. Emphasize consistency.
Puberty Bingo!
Let's play Bingo to review what we've learned about puberty changes!
Explain the rules of the Puberty Changes Bingo Game and facilitate the game. Use the Bingo game as a fun way to reinforce concepts.
Time to Reflect: Exit Ticket
Please complete the Exit Ticket: My Two Safety Rules Cool Down before you leave. Thank you for your engagement today!
Distribute the Exit Ticket: My Two Safety Rules Cool Down. Encourage thoughtful reflection. Collect the tickets to gauge understanding. Thank everyone for their participation.
Warm Up
Name and Pronouns Icebreaker
Objective: To create a welcoming and inclusive environment by allowing participants to introduce themselves and share their pronouns.
Time: 5-7 minutes
Instructions:
- Facilitator Introduction: Start by introducing yourself, your name, and your pronouns (e.g.,
Discussion
Class Agreements and Rights of the Group
Objective: To establish a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment through collaborative agreement-setting and understanding of group rights.
Time: 5-8 minutes
Instructions:
- Introduction (1 minute):
*
Activity
Body Map Match-Up with Symbol Supports Activity
Objective: To reinforce the use of medically accurate terms for body parts, including genitals.
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials:
- Printed blank body maps (gender-neutral outlines, one per participant or pair).
- Printed word cards with medically accurate body part terms (e.g., vulva, penis, anus, breasts, testicles, abdomen, thigh, elbow, etc.). Include a few terms that are not genitals to ensure comprehensive learning.
- (Optional) Printed symbol cards representing each body part term for additional support.
- Glue sticks or tape.
- Markers or pens.
Instructions:
- Introduction (2 minutes):
*
Worksheet
Public or Private Sorting Cards
Objective: To help learners distinguish between public and private body parts and understand appropriate behavior related to privacy.
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials:
- Printed sets of
Game
Puberty Changes Bingo
Objective: To review and reinforce understanding of common puberty changes in a fun, interactive way.
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials:
- Pre-printed Bingo cards (one per participant) with a 5x5 grid. Each square should contain a different puberty change term (e.g., 'Voice Deepens', 'Underarm Hair Grows', 'Period Starts', 'Acne Appears', 'Growth Spurt', 'Body Odor', 'Breasts Develop', 'Testicles Grow', 'Wet Dreams', 'Mood Swings', 'Increased Sweating', 'Pubic Hair Grows', 'Shaving Begins', 'Hips Widen', 'Shoulders Broaden', 'New Feelings/Emotions', etc.). Ensure a 'FREE SPACE' in the center.
- Caller cards: A separate set of cards, each with one puberty change term listed on the Bingo cards.
- Markers or small tokens (beans, pennies, paper scraps) for participants to cover their squares.
Instructions:
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Preparation (Pre-class): Create and print enough Bingo cards and caller cards. Ensure a variety of terms are on each Bingo card to make multiple winners possible without everyone winning at once.
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Introduction (2 minutes):
*
Cool Down
Exit Ticket: My Two Safety Rules
Objective: To allow learners to reflect on and articulate key safety and privacy rules learned during the session.
Time: 3-5 minutes
Instructions:
-
Distribute: Hand out one exit ticket slip to each participant.
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Prompt: Ask participants to respond to the following prompt: