Hastings Prince Edward Public Health works with local school communities and educators to ensure sexual health education is accessible and meaningful to all children. Every child has a right to comprehensive sexual health education and access to sexual health care. This knowledge is an important contributing factor to the health and well-being of Canadian youth (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2008).
Curriculum, Teaching and Learning
Presentations/Kits
HPEPH has created ready to use presentations, kits and activities to help teach the Ontario Human Development and Sexual Health curriculum.
- Puberty Kit Activity – to order the kit which accompanies this activity, click here to submit a request
- Download the Sexuality Teaching Kit
- Download the Powerpoint presentation
- Borrow a hands-on Sexuality Teaching kit (with birth control samples, condom demonstrator and STBBI information) by ordering here.
- Download the Sexuality Teaching Kit
- Download the Powerpoint presentation
- Borrow a hands-on Sexuality Teaching kit (with birth control samples, condom demonstrator and STBBI information) see your physical education department head for the kit or order one here.
HPEPH recommends the following resources to assist in teaching the Ontario Human Development and Sexual Health curriculum.
School-based puberty education and healthy, active living program. Always Changing provides user-friendly, free downloadable teacher guides, student manuals and worksheets.
Ophea’s H&PE Elementary Resources include 130 ready-to-use lesson plans per grade, student templates and assessment tools. The resources are organized into two main sections that are consistent with the 2015 H&PE Curriculum: Movement Competence & Active Living, and Healthy Living.
Ophea’s H&PE Secondary Resources support teachers in helping students acquire the physical and health literacy skills needed to thrive in the 21st century and lead a healthy, active life.
Find lesson plans and classroom resources (in English and French) for Grades 4 to 8 and students with differing abilities by grade, topic, language or resource type. All lesson plans include specific curriculum outcomes, material lists, teacher notes and tips.
Amaze takes the awkward out of growing up. Fun, animated videos empowering healthy relationships, with all the answers you want to know about your body. Topics include: Puberty, Healthy Relationships, STIs & HIV, Personal Safety, Pregnancy & Reproduction, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation.
An interactive campaign that aims to engage Ontarians in a dialogue about sexual violence. The campaign challenges common myths about sexual violence and equips bystanders with information on how to intervene safely and effectively. User guides (both elementary and secondary), posters and postcards are used to guide discussion on sexual violence.
These educator guides are designed to be a comprehensive and ready-to-use teaching resource for intermediate and secondary educators. Guides provide general resources for educators, activity lesson plans and supplementary materials. There are four guides: Healthy Relationships & Consent, Identity & Self-awareness, HIV/AIDS Basics and HIV Risk & Prevention.
School and Classroom Leadership
The Canadian Guidelines for Sexual Health Education provide guidance to educators and policy makers for the development and evaluation of comprehensive evidence-based sexual health education in Canada.
OPHEA’s Approaches to Teaching Healthy Living: A Guide for Secondary Educators is an online resource developed to support secondary educators in planning and teaching the Healthy Living strand of the 2015 Health and Physical Education (H&PE) curriculum.
Not Just the Tip Toolkit – This toolkit includes five modules that allow educators to engage in: introspection into their positionality and roles as educators; critical thinking about the field of sexual health education; and skill-building in some neglected areas and approaches to sexual health education. The five modules are: Decentering Myself, Power Dynamics, Pleasure vs. Shame, Facilitation Skills and Going Further.
Student Engagement
Support students in developing a gender sexuality alliance (GSA) to promote welcoming, caring, respectful and safe schools for 2SLGBTQI+ students and their allies.
Social and Physical Environments
2SLGBTQI+ Supports and Information
- Anti-2SLGBTQI Cyberbullying: A resource for educators
This resource highlights the disproportionate harm that 2SLGBTQI+ young people face as a result of cyberbullying. It offers educators and school staff a range of practical strategies for prevention and intervention that respond to the specific context of anti-2SLGBTQI+ bias, discrimination and violence within the school community, online and beyond.
Home, School and Community Partnership
Parent Resources
HPEPH Services
School Health Clinics
Clinics are currently offered in most publicly-funded HPEDSB secondary schools. To learn more about services offered, please visit our Public Health Clinics in Schools page.
Sexual Health Clinics
For students that may not have access to a school-based clinic, Sexual Health Clinics are also offered through HPEPH offices. To learn more, please visit our Sexual Health Clinic page.
Students who may need these services, can call the Hastings Prince Edward Public Health Sexual Health Line at 613-966-5500 ext. 243 for confidential support.
Additional Resources
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists – The Sex & U website offers credible information on your body, sexual activity, 2SLGBTQI+, STIs, contraception, pregnancy and consent. As well, they have specific webpages covering menstruation and HPV.
Sexual Health Ontario – Find a clinic near you for testing, treatment and counseling. This site also offers information on STIs and reproductive health. Information is provided in English and French.
Gender Unicorn – A teaching tool to help explain the concept of gender.
Egale – Resources and research that provides reliable & up-to-date tools and information for 2SLGBTQI people & communities, service providers, schools, and companies.
