Living and Growing Programme Why teach Living & Growing in P6?

1. Living and Growing ProgrammeWhy teach Living & Growing in P6? • Role of the course is to give children the facts to combat misinformation and myths. It is a well rounded programme- Not just about sex! • Curriculum Guidelines for ‘A Curriculum for Excellence’ identify this is the most appropriate stage

2. Learning Outcomes • I can describe changes in growth & development during puberty & the importance of personal hygiene • I recognise how my body changes can affect how I feel about myself & how I may behave • I am able to describe how human life begins & how a baby is born

3. AIMS • To recognise the physical & emotional changes that occur during puberty • To develop their knowledge and understanding of how babies are made • To develop their knowledge and understanding of pregnancy and child birth

4. Rules • All questions will be put into an anonymous question box. • Children will only discuss topic work within the classroom at designated times. • Children should not make personal reference.

5. Topic content outline • Programme 1 - Changes which occur during puberty for both boys and girls • Programme 2 - How babies are made • Programme 3 - Child Birth

6. Key vocabulary used during topic penis vagina womb period menstruation erection sperm breasts egg ovaries ovulate ejaculation puberty testicles sexual intercourse labour

7. CHANGES • Will explore the physical and emotional changes that take place at the onset of puberty, and how we feel about ourselves. • It will look at changes that occur that are out with your child's control. • It reaffirms that puberty is a normal and natural process.

8. How babies are made • We will examine the whole process of life cycles and reproduction, friendships and feelings. • This part of the programme emphasises the importance of loving, caring relationships and the value of family.

9. How babies are born • This unit reviews relationships and feelings and investigates roles and responsibilities. • It focuses on the development of babies in the womb, the needs of the baby and the mother before birth, and the inheritance of physical characteristics. • The unit enables children to make comparisons with their own development and to reflect upon their own relationships in positive ways.

10. Activities The activities are designed to- • Encourage children to reflect upon different types of love. • To think about the different ways in which we can make others feel good. • To think about the roles of different members of their family. • To show children that the health of a mother during pregnancy is linked to the health of her baby. • To understand at a simple level that after 9 months of warmth and safety in the mothers womb, the baby is ready to be born.

11. Messages your child should hold on to • You are a special person, whatever you think and do. • Be kind and respectful to other people and look after yourself. • Talk to a grown up you can trust if anything happens you do not like. • There are lots of types of touching, good and bad. You can say no to a touch from anyone that does not feel right. • Your body is valuable and worth looking after.

12. Your Role • Be prepared. • Always ready to listen • Being open • Remembering that your own attitudes matter.

13. Responding • Ask your child what they know already. Your child gets information about sexuality and relationships at school, in magazines, in the playground and TV. A good play to start is to ask what your child knows already. • It is impossible to prepare for every question. • The way you answer a question will depend on your child’s age and stage of development.

14. Links • http://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/Professionals/Resources/Resources%20For%20ParentsCarers/Sexsmalltalk_HR1PC.pdf