Life Skills Education Toolkit

2 • MODULE SEVEN: GROWING UP

Session One: My Body and Me

Objectives

By the end of the session the children will be able to:

• Describe physical changes that occur during puberty;


• Develop greater awareness of their changing
  bodies and emotions;


• Learn to talk comfortably about sex and sexuality;


• Understand the relationship between sex and
  gender; and


• Understand how social and cultural norms
  determine perceptions of sex and gender.

Key Points

Young people often do not have accurate

information about puberty, sex and sexuality. It is

important that young people understand what

growing up means and how and why this period of

adolescence places them at risk of acquiring STI/

HIV due to risk taking behaviors.

Gender affects both men and women. It determines

how society perceives a person of either gender, how

each person perceives him/herself and how one

relates to another of the same sex and that of the

opposite sex. During the growing up years it is

important for young people to understand that

biological differences are very different from social

(gender) differences and to question cultural and

society norms that place either girls or boys at risk.

Girls are killed even before birth but the birth of a

son is celebrated; a girl is told to be faithful but a

boy can “fool around;” boys are sent to school but

girls may not be; girls have to stay in the house and

work but boys can play and do any work out of the

house; girls are expected to be docile and can be

exploited but it is okay for a boy to be aggressive.

Life Skills Learned

Self awareness, critical thinking and communication.

Time Required

Each activity lasts for 30 to 45 minutes.

Materials

Flipchart, markers, body pictures, pictures of

female and male reproductive systems, poster on

how pregnancy begins and a question box.