This term all classes will be covering the topic of Relationships and Sexuality in our SPHE lessons (Social, Personal and Health Education)

The relationships and sexuality unit of SPHE focuses on developing self-awareness, self-respect and respect for others.
Relationships and Sexuality Education involves:
1. Providing information and knowledge
2. Challenging beliefs
3. Forming positive attitudes and values
4. Developing sexual identity 
5. Promoting the skills necessary for effective communication and loving, caring and happy relationships
6. Encouraging positive behaviour

These objectives can only be achieved using a developmental approach, beginning in the early years at an appropriate level and progressing through childhood and adolescence into adulthood.

The Living and Growing programme is covered from Senior Infants to 6th Class. the content for each class level is outlined below.

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Senior Infants

Programme 1

Differences

Differences has the theme 'living things', the difference between male and female, feelings and life cycles.

First Class

Programme 1 + 2

Differences (as above)
How Did I Get Here?

Programme 2 How did I get here? has the theme of 'growing' and looks at growth and change from the point of view of children, considering themselves as babies and thinking about their future as adults. It also covers the growth of the foetus during pregnancy.

Second Class

Programme 2 + 3

How Did I Get Here? (as above)
Growing Up

Growing up has the theme 'Where do I come from?' and continues work on life cycles, growth and change. It also looks at relationships.

Third Class

Programme 3 + 4

Growing Up (as above)
Changes

Changes explores the physical and emotional changes changes that take place at the onset of puberty and how we may feel about ourselves. It considers some of the changes that are outside our control, and others over which we can have increasing control and are able to make choices about as we grow up. It reaffirms that puberty is a normal and natural process.

Fourth Class

Programme 4 + 5

Changes (as above)
How Babies Are Made

Programme 5 How babies are made examines the whole process of life cycles and reproduction, rites of passage, friendships and feelings. It emphasises the importance of loving, caring relatioships between couples and the value of the family and relationships within it.

Fifth Class

Programme 6, 7 + 8

How Babies Are Born
Girl Talk
Boy Talk

How babies are born reviews relationships and feelings and investigates roles and responsibilities. It focuses on the development of the baby in the womb, the needs of the baby and the mother before birth and the inheritance of physical characteristics.

Girl talk considers the changes that take place in a girl's body and answers the questions that young women want to ask at a potentially difficult period of their lives. The programme also allows young men to understand what is happening to girls as they go through puberty.

Boy talk is similar to the previous programme but is from the point of view of young men, dealing with difficult issues such as masturbation and wet dreams.

Sixth Class

Programme 6, 7, 8 + 9

Girl Talk (as above)
Boy Talk (as above)
Let's Talk About Sex

Programme 9 Let's Talk About Sex considers the mixed messages young people are receiving about sex and addresses their concerns with honest, age appropriate answers.