Sexual Health and Responsibility Curriculum

I feel so fortunate that my daughter was able to participate in Dr. Maxwell's Human Sexuality workshop. She is both aware and accepting of the changes happening to her in a way that I never was. She's also very open and comfortable talking about her body with me in a way that I never was with my mom. Thank you both.
Listening to the parent's presentation (several times!) in both a small group and lecture format gave me both the motivation and framework to prepare for and initiate some incredible daughter/mother conversations. Thank you both.
I'm confident that the foundation of trust, honesty and humor we've built around these topics will help us to continue the conversations as we navigate adolescence together! Thank you both ... and cross your fingers! - Parent from Massachusetts

Parent Presentation

Parents are an essential part of this curriculum because, when it comes to understanding sex and sexuality, parents are the most important teachers. The curriculum includes a two-hour parent presentation and homework that involves student-parent communication. Additionally, we make ourselves available to parents throughout the curriculum via email and phone.

This presentation brings parents up to speed with the social/sexual landscape that kids face today, including the impact of smartphones, texting, and social media.

Student Modules

Session 1
Who Am I? Who Decides?
Developing a Healthy Relationship with Yourself

Puberty is a time of profound change. One’s mind, body, feelings, relationship with family, and relationship with friends are all in the process of transformation. Students are invited to become research scientists of their own unique experience as we investigate this time of growth and change. Students learn about the power of self reflection as a means of developing a strong, positive relationship with their own self. This relationship is the anchor that will guide them through adolescence successfully. Each student develops a personal plan to spend time reflecting on their thoughts and feelings, and journal about what they learn.

Session 2
Learning about
Your Body, Sex, and How Babies Are Made

When it comes to explicit conversations about anatomy and sex, students must feel safe to ask questions and engage in dialogue. This session begins by establishing an inclusive and safe setting for everyone to participate and learn.

In this session, students learn:

the physical changes that take place during puberty
reproductive and sexual anatomy
what is sex and how are babies made

Students receive an assignment to interview their parents about when they think it is O.K. for a person to have sex. Parents are prepared for this assignment during the parent presentation. This gives parents a golden opportunity to begin and sustain a dialogue about making responsible decisions.

Session 3
The Energy of Desire: A Framework for Healthy Decisions

Sexual desire is brought into the context of all human desires and defined as a powerful energy. Learning to control and direct the energy of our desires in alignment with our own code of ethics is essential to becoming a healthy, responsible adult. Students learn the importance of developing the muscle of self-control, a powerful tool in making responsible sexual decisions. Using this framework, students learn the effects of drugs and alcohol on one’s ability to exercise self-control, as well as how STIs are transmitted and prevented.

Session 4
Navigating Media Manipulation

Using real-life scenarios, students explore how the media manipulates their sense of self-worth and plays on the insecurities of adolescence. They create and perform commercials that target the specific vulnerabilities that have been discussed throughout the curriculum. Students learn to bring a critical eye to the subtle and not-so subtle messages they are consuming and to evaluate the effect of these messages on their sense of wellbeing.

Session 5
Let’s Talk about Love, Romance,
and Healthy Relationships

The feelings that accompany one’s first romantic relationship are exciting and often overwhelming. Students explore the nature of these feelings and the qualities that they would want in a healthy romantic relationship. Looking at real life scenarios and pop song lyrics, students discuss how their peers and the media influence expectations about love and romance. Students generate a list of questions to help them evaluate the health of a relationship.

Students express how they feel about beginning sex ed

Students brainstorm the qualities of a research scientist—the same qualities they are invited to bring to this curriculum