A Lesson Plan from Life Planning Education: A Youth Development Program

Leader's Resource for Gender Roles and Relationships Lesson Plan

1. Travis is about to ask Michelle out for the first time when she walks over to him and says, "Travis, there's a new movie in town and I really want to see it. I was hoping you would go with me. Are you busy Saturday night?" Travis has no plans, and he was hoping to take Michelle to the movie, but he wants to do the asking. He thinks he'll say he's busy. What can Travis say or do?
2. Charlene has been offered a special grant to apprentice with a master plumber after graduation. She's excited, and she rushes to tell John. They've been planning to get married in the fall, and this way, she'll be able to start earning good money. John is very quiet after Charlene tells him. Finally, he says, "I don't think I can marry a plumber, Charlene. You're going to have to make a choice—me or being a plumber." What might Charlene do?
3. Sam wants to buy a doll for his nephew's birthday, but his friend, José, says, "No way!" Sam explains that dolls help teach little boys to take care of someone and be loving, but José argues that they just teach boys to be sissies. Sam knows he is right, but he's concerned about what José might say to their friends. What might Sam do?
4. Serena and Fernando have been going out for months, and things have been good between them. Her parents approve of him, and the word is out around school that she is his girl. However, lately Fernando has been putting a lot of pressure on Serena for more than she is ready for. When she says, "No," he says that it's her place as a woman to please him. What can Serena say to him?
5. Shaudra and Malcolm are arguing about their sister, Patricia, and her husband, Robert. Shaundra has noticed lots of bruises on Patricia's arms and shoulders recently, and this weekend she had a black eye. Malcolm says Patricia has been too "uppity" lately and their brother-in-law is trying to show her who's boss. Shaundra looks at Malcolm and shakes her head. She doesn't think violence is ever an answer. What might Shaundra say?
6. Keisha has decided to have sexual intercourse with her boyfriend, Tony. She says they really love each other. She stops at the drugstore to buy condoms, and her friend, Tanya, says, "Girls can't buy condoms! That's a guy's business to do." What might Keisha say and do?
7. Susan and Michael have been going together for almost a year. Michael always pays for everything and makes most of the decisions about where to go and what to do. In Susan's health class, they talked about girls paying for dates and having some say about a couple's plans. Both Susan and Michael have part-time jobs and earn very little money, so pooling their funds seems to make sense to Susan; but Michael is furious at the idea. He says she doesn't think he is man enough to pay for her. What might Susan say to Michael?

Adapted from Life Planning Education, a comprehensive sex education curriculum.  Washington, DC: Advocates for Youth.