Our Whole Lives (OWL)
Our Whole Lives (OWL) helps youth make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behaviour. It equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information in the areas of human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behaviour, sexual health and society and culture. Grounded in a holistic view of sexuality, OWL provides not only facts about anatomy and human development, but helps participants to clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality.
The recently revised curriculum includes sessions on “Sexuality, Social Media and the Internet” and “Bullying & Bystander Responsibilities”.
Parents are a child’s most important sexuality educators, and sexuality education begins at home. Parents can be effective sexuality educators especially if they have the support and resources to help them face this challenging and rewarding responsibility. And that’s where OWL can help.
Please check out the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) website for more information about this program. https://www.uua.org/re/owl
Owl groups are offered on alternate years and dependent on the needs. The age ranges are:
OWL Grades 4-6: This curriculum is designed to help children ages nine through twelve to gain the knowledge, life principles, and skills they need to understand and express their sexuality in holistic, life-enhancing ways. This comprehensive, developmentally appropriate program introduces key topics like values, body image, gender and sexual identity, peer pressure, and healthy relationships with sensitivity and inclusiveness.
OWL Grades SK-2: This curriculum supports parents in educating children about birth, babies, bodies and families. The sessions engage children with stories, songs and activities and include a weekly Home Link – a homework project for parents and children to do together. Promotes dialogue between parent and child.
OWL Grades 7-9: https://www.uua.org/re/owl/297213.shtml OWL models and teaches caring, compassion, respect, and justice. It helps adolescents address their attitudes, values, and feelings about themselves, their sexuality, and others’ sexuality. Participants are guided by trained facilitators through an engaging curriculum that addresses topics most important to young adolescents, including those typically excluded from sexuality education and health classes.