Students in Grade 7 receive approximately 210 minutes of instruction divided over three 70-minute lessons. Information is presented using a combination of class discussion, scientific diagrams, written information, interactive activities, and short video clips. If a student misses any lessons or parents/caregivers have opted to deliver the content through alternative means, please see the Parent Information Letter and the At-Home Learning Document linked below.
Grade 7 Parent Information Letter
Grade 7 At-Home Learning Document
Lesson 1:
Personal boundaries and sexual harassment: Students are asked to consider their own personal boundaries and boundaries of others. Students discuss the cues that show another person is uncomfortable. Students learn that the crossing of boundaries can be harassment and in certain cases sexual harassment. Common forms of sexual harassment are mentioned and students learn what to do if someone is being harassed or bullied.
Examples of sexual harassment: pulling a person's pants down, pulling bra straps, grabbing private areas of a person's body, making jokes about a person’s body/body parts, cat calling, making jokes about rape, sexualized graffiti, sending of nude pictures, repeatedly performing an action that makes another person uncomfortable, and making homophobic or transphobic remarks.
Online Safety: The sending of sexually explicit content, sextortion, and child luring is discussed. Students learn about common tricks and tactics employed by online predators. Discussion includes how to get out of uncomfortable situations, and where to go for help. Needhelpnow.ca and cybertip.ca websites are provided as resources. Students are given a Canadian Center for Child Protection activity book to take home.
Lesson 2:
Puberty/reproductive system review: Sexual orientation and gender identity are discussed with the intention of fostering inclusivity. The following aspects of sexual identity are defined: sexual orientation (who a person is attracted to or may fall in love with), gender expression (how a person shows their gender to themselves and others), gender identity (an internal sense of one's own gender), and biological sex (the physical characteristics a person has that define their body as male, female, or intersex). Instructors review the puberty and reproductive system information that was presented in grades 4-6. Tips for shaving facial and body hair are included in this lesson.
Lesson 3:
Disease prevention and sexually transmitted infections: Students receive a brief introduction to communicable and non-communicable diseases. Students learn some common names of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and how they can pass from person to person (skin-to-skin contact of the genitals and through bodily fluids).
Students learn methods of STI prevention, including: not having sex, knowing and communicating boundaries, limiting sexual partners, getting tested, keeping vaccines up-to-date, and using barrier protection (ex., condoms). Proper condom application is demonstrated. Instructors discuss what to do if a condom or needle is seen in public.
Anonymous questions: Students ask questions about topics they are still unclear about or curious about. Students do not need to ask questions but can make a comment instead. The teacher uses their professional experience to answer questions in an age-appropriate manner from a health based and safety perspective. Students are encouraged to continue these conversations at home with caregivers.