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A Lesson Plan from Life Planning Education: A Youth Development Program
The Circles
of Human Sexuality
Purpose: To
develop and understand a broad definition of sexuality
Materials: Newsprint and markers, board and chalk, Leader's
Resources on Circles of Sexuality, An
Explanation of the Circles of Sexuality and Sexual
Development through the Life Cycle; one copy of the handout, Circles
of Sexuality, for each participant; pens or pencils
Time: 45
minutes
Planning
Notes: Review
the Leader's Resource, Circles of Sexuality,
and draw a large version of it on newsprint or the board.
Procedure:
- Explain
that when many people see the words "sex" or "sexuality," they
most often think of sexual intercourse. Others also think
of other kinds of physical sexual activities. Tell the
group that sexuality is much more than sexual feelings
or sexual intercourse. It is an important part of who
every person is. It includes all the feelings, thoughts,
and behaviors of being female or male, being attracted
and attractive to others, and being in love, as well
as being in relationships that include sexual intimacy
and physical sexual activity.
- Write sexuality on
the board and draw a box around the letters s-e-x.
Point out that s, e, and x are
only three of the letters in the word sexuality.
- Display
the five circles of sexuality and give each teen a handout.
Explain that this way of looking at human sexuality breaks
it down into five different components: sensuality, intimacy, identity, behavior
and reproduction, and sexualization. Everything
related to human sexuality will fit in one of these circles.
- Beginning
with the circle labeled sensuality, explain
each circle briefly. Take five minutes to read the definition
of the circle aloud, point out its elements, and ask
for examples of behaviors that would fit in the circle.
Write the examples in the circle and ask participants
to write them on their handouts. Continue with each circle
until you have explained each component of sexuality.
- Ask
if anyone has any questions. Then conclude the activity
using the discussion questions below.
Discussion
Questions:
- Which
of the five sexuality circles feels most familiar? Least
familiar? Why do you think that is so?
- Is
there any part of these five circles that you never before
thought of as sexual? Please explain.
- Which
circle is most important for teens to know about? Least
important? Why?
- Which
circle would you feel interested in discussing with your
parent(s)?
- Which
circle would you feel interested in talking about with
someone you are dating?
Adapted from Life
Planning Education, a comprehensive sex education curriculum. Washington,
DC: Advocates for Youth, 2007.
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