Teaching about the body, health and boundaries.

These lesson plans are developed for teachers and school nurses, ideally working together. Read through the complete plan before the lesson and consider how it fits the group. Age groups are a guide. Adapt the language, existing knowledge, activities and delivery to the pupils you teach.

• Agree on shared ground rules for respect. Discuss how to talk about bodies, take account of others and protect private information.
• Use fictional examples when exploring bodies, health, sexuality and home situations. Allow pupils to keep personal experiences private while ensuring the whole group can access the knowledge.
• Offer different ways to participate. Pupils may respond in writing, listen, work with fictional scenarios or join in verbally. Sharing personal experiences must be voluntary.
• Make further support easy to find. Explain whom pupils can contact after the lesson and agree how questions and concerns will be followed up.

A paper question box can make it easier to ask questions. Ask pupils to write general questions without names or identifying information. Answer questions relevant to the group together and explain how pupils can get in touch directly if they want individual support.

Choose learning objectives and agree who will teach. Make required materials and practical support available before the lesson. Set aside time for explanations, questions and a calm conclusion.

Explore what pupils have understood through general questions, activities or reflection. Use their responses to consider whether important terms need explaining in different ways. Each pupil decides whether to share personal experiences.

The materials build on practical ideas from Womanhood Initiative’s pupil and teacher resources about periods. The explanations have been adapted and the topics expanded. The plans have been developed as teaching suggestions from Tidlignok. Their learning outcomes have not yet undergone a separate research-based evaluation.