Annotated Bibliography of Sexuality Education Curricula

Many sexuality education curricula are available for use in faith communities with congregants of all ages from pre-school through adulthood. While a diversity of approaches and educational styles are used and the programs support the values of the particular faith community, each of the curricula listed below supports sexuality as a special gift to be nurtured through faith-filled practice, teaching, and dialogue. We encourage readers to carefully review curricula to assure that they are appropriate for a specific faith community; however, readers may find useful lessons and approaches in curricula from denominations besides their own.

This annotated bibliography was prepared by Dr. Kate Ott, and updates previous bibliographies published in the Religious Institute study guides A Time to Speak and A Time to Build. Contact us at info@religiousinstitute.org if links are no longer active or to suggest curricula to be added to this list.

Pre-School

In God's Image
Janet Neff Brewer
A book for parents and their children ages 2-5. The large-format picture book for toddlers and preschoolers allows parents or caregivers to comfortably teach the facts and values of sexuality education from a faith perspective. Topics include fetal development, boys' and girls' bodies differ, how to stay healthy and safe, how to tell bad touching from good touching and what to do about it, and how to deal with emotions like anger, sadness, and fear. A parent's guide and congregation guide are available separately. (Presbyterian)
1998; Children's Book $7.48; Guide for Parents $3.48; Guide for Congregations $3.48; Presbyterian Distribution Service, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396; Phone: 800/524-2612; Fax: 502/569-8030; Website: http://www.pcusa.org. These items are out of print with the original publisher, may be available on online with Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Elementary

Benziger Family Life Program, Grades K-8
Third Edition
Curricula including teachers' and students' guides for each grade level, kindergarten through eighth grade. There are also an implementation manual and a video for parents. Online program resources include student games, extra activities, official church documents, child development information, and frequently asked questions. Human Reproduction is discussed in the 5th and 6th grade and is primarily focused on providing information. Curriculum recognizes parents as primary teachers. Call for exact prices. (Roman Catholic)
RCL Benziger , 200 East Bethany, Allen, TX 75002; 1-877-ASK-4-RCL, Website: http://www.rclbenziger.com.

Created By God: About Human Sexuality for Older Girls and Boys, Grades 5-6
James H. Ritchie, Jr.
A six-session curriculum for older elementary school children emphasizing a healthy biblical and Christian perspective on human sexuality, values, and relationships. There is also a Leader's Resource Kit, which is a step-by-step guide to planning and implementing the curriculum. (United Methodist) Includes CD with music and reproductions. New edition expected fall of 2008.
1999; Leader's Guide $49.95; Student Book $6.95; Cokesbury, 201 Eighth Avenue South, P.O. Box 801, Nashville, TN 37202-0801; Phone: 800/672-1789; Fax: 800/445-8189; Website: http://www.cokesbury.com.

Our Whole Lives (OWL): A Lifespan Sexuality Education Series, Grades K-1, 4-6
Part of a comprehensive lifespan sexuality education series developed jointly by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries. Material for grades K-1 support parents in educating children about birth, babies, bodies and families. Following a Parent Meeting and Parent/Child Orientation, the eight class sessions engage children with stories, songs, and activities. In grades 4-6, participants address pubertal changes, read It's Perfectly Normal, and examine topics such as values and sexuality, communication and decision making. Both offer a weekly "Home Link"-a homework project for parents and children to do together. (Unitarian Universalist Association and United Church of Christ)
Call for prices for each level. Unitarian Universalist Association, UUA Bookstore, 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108; Phone: 800/215-9076; Fax: 617/723-4805; Website: http://www.uua.org/owl/main.html.

Preventing Child Sexual Abuse
Ages 5-8 (1994)
Kathryn Goering Reid
Ages 9-12 (1989)
Kathryn Goering Reid with Marie M. Fortune
These two curricula provide information about sexual abuse and prevention. Age 5 - 8 curriculum offers 10 sessions while the ages 9 - 12 curriculum offers 13 sessions to be used in Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, or youth meeting settings. (UCC)
1994, Ages 5-8, $13.00; 1989, Ages 9-12, $ 12.00; United Church Press, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100; Phone: 800/537-3394; Fax 216/736-3713; Website: http://www.unitedchurchpress.com or http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org.

Middle School/ High School

Free in Christ to Care for the Neighbor: Lutheran Youth Talk about Human Sexuality

Helen Musik, Dan Jessup, and Crystal Kirgiss

Adapted from the 2006 study "Free in Christ to Serve Your Neighbor," this is a six-session curriculum designed for use with senior high youth. Session titles include: Created as Sexual Beings, The Voices of Influence, When is Sex OK?, Sex, Power, and Abuse, Selling Sex, and Sex for Money. Sessions use current media such as film clips and popular songs to spark discussion. Each session includes a take-home sheet for use by parents that summarizes what was discussed in class with the youth and gives suggestions for conversation started in the home.

2007; Free; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; available at http://www.elca.org/faithfuljourney/youth/. It is also available for a cost of $5.00 plus shipping; Website: http://www.augsburgfortress.org.

Girls and Guys (Curriculum Pack)
Ten sessions each for teenage girls and boys. Designed to be used separately with girls and boys, the sessions address issues that are gender-specific. Topics include self-perception, purity, sexuality, emotions and friendships.

Website: http://www.youthspecialties.com ($23.98).

God's Gift of Sex
Carol Duerksen
From the Fast Lane Bible Studies series, this five session course is for junior high students. It follows traditional bible study format with additional skits that address respect for sex role differences, consent, dealing with negative sexual experiences, and how present personal identity affects future sexual happiness. (Church of the Brethren and the Mennonite Church)
1998; $9.99; Faith & Life Resource, 616 Walnut Ave/ Scottdale, PA 15683; Phone: 800/245-7894; Fax: 724/887-3111; Website: http://www.mph.org/flr/youth-fastlane.html.

God's Gift of Sexuality: A Study for Young People
For 7th to 12th graders with a younger and older youth two stage series. The younger student curriculum establishes fundamentals while the older offers a more in depth, nuanced view of sexuality. The curriculum is geared toward supplying information and is activity centered. A separate parent's guide ($7.95) and youth guide ($7.95) can be purchased in addition to the leader's guide ($17.95). In 1999, Presbyterian Church, USA developed Sexual Abstinence and the Abundant Life, a supplement supporting abstinence-only education as a modification to the original curriculum ($5.95). (Presbyterian Church, USA and Reformed Church in America)

These items are out of print with the original publisher, may be available on online with Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Good Sex: A Whole-Person Approach to Teenage Sexuality & God
Jim Hanckock and Kara Eckmann Powell
A non-denominational Christian based high school sexuality program. In seven sessions, the curriculum covers communication, sexual identity, intimacy, desire, boundaries, and responsibility. The package includes a leader's guide ($15.29), with assistance in setting up parent meetings and supplemental activities plus a student journal called "What (Almost) Nobody Will Tell You About Sex" ($7.64) and video series ($44.99). Additional discussion starters can be purchased ($11.99). This curriculum engages popular culture, uses realistic skits, and provides solid reflection activities. (Non-denominational Christian)
2001; Youth Specialties Books, Zondervan Publisher, 5300 Patterson, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49530; Phone: 800/776-8008; Website: http://www.youthspecialties.com.

In God's Image: Male and Female
Patricia Martens Miller
A human sexuality program for grades five through eight. Teacher's Manuals, videos, student and parent worksheets, and additional materials are available for each grade. The developmental approach is composed of four areas: Respecting Yourself, Asserting Yourself, Informing Yourself, and Challenging Yourself. There are five units in each area. There is one video and one teacher manual per area, with student/parent worksheets for each of the five units. Materials come in English and Spanish with online updates provided yearly. (Catholic)
1989; Teacher Manual $10.00 each manual; These items are out of print with the original publisher, may be available on online with Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Journey to Adulthood
LeadeResources
This is an online curriculum for youth from 6th to 12th grade. Youth progress through three levels: Rite 13, Journey to Adulthood (J2A), and Young Adults in Church (YAC). The youth remain with the same group until senior year. The two year curriculum cycle includes Sunday school and retreat material, parent meetings, movie lists, service projects and fundraisers. The program offers a comprehensive approach looking at self-society, spirituality, and sexuality. Specific to sexuality, the Rite 13 material focuses on gender issues and identity formation, while the high school material focuses on relationships and sexual behavior. The senior high material has two sections titled "Meaningful Is Not Good Enough: How to Decide When to Do It" and "Be Yourself and Stay Alive: Feedback on Sexuality." The material is usually downloaded but can be mailed on CD. (Episcopalian)
Updated yearly; $200 per year for three years (includes resource help); LeadeResources, 38 Mulberry Street Box 302, Leeds, MA 01053-0302; Phone: 800/941-2218; Website: http://www.leaderresources.org.

Keeping It Real: A Faith-Based Model for Teen Dialog on Sex and Sexuality
This is a seven-session program for ages 13-17, developed by The Black Church Initiative of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. It consists of a facilitator's guide and a teen activity book. The material deals with popular culture, relationships with others, and defining one's personal identity amidst current real life pressures. This is the only curriculum that incorporates direct discussion of racial issues.
2000; Free, when trained to facilitate curriculum; Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, 1025 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 1130, Washington, D.C. 20005; Phone: 202/628-7700; Website: http://www.rcrc.org/programs/keepinitreal.cfm.

Let's Be Real: Honest Discussions about Faith and Sexuality
Duane A. Ewers and M. Stevens Games, Editors
A non-denominational Christian curriculum designed for adolescents in middle school and high school. It consists of six sessions: anatomy, decision-making, relationships, contraception and sexually transmitted diseases, as well as media and culture. A parent resource, "Let's Listen Series" is included. The curriculum is divided by ages for audiences from 6th through 12th grade with a learning sequence chart that helps leaders understand developmental needs. There are two other supplementary offerings. Other resources in this series include: Let's Listen, a resource for parents designed to help them communicate with 7th-12th graders ($7.00) and Let's Decide, a six-session curriculum which highlights youth who have made decisions about sexuality. Session titles include: getting started, media and culture, anatomy, decision making, relaitionships, contraception and STI. It also contains a commitment service ($5.00). 1998; $15.00; Abingdon Press, 201 Eighth Avenue South, P.O. Box 801, Nashville, TN 37202-0801; Phone: 800/251-3320; Fax: 800/836-7802; Website: http://www.abingdonpress.org. Some of these items are out of print with the original publisher, may be available on online with Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Love - All That and More
A program for high school and college youth, it includes a six-session curriculum and three videos, as well as separate facilitators' guides for Jewish and Christian youth. The material focuses on developing healthy relationships that value mutual equality and respect as well as help teens recognize abusive relationships.
2000; $285; Faith Trust Institute, 2400 N. 45th Street, Suite 10, Seattle, Washington, 98103; Phone: 206/634-1903 or 877/860-2255, Website: http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org.

Love Shouldn't Hurt: Building Healthy Relationships for Jewish Youth

Shalom Bayit

Developed for Jewish youth by Jewish youth, Love Shouldn't Hurt is a new dating violence prevention curriculum addressing the age span from middle school through college. Includes Parent Workshop Power Point Presentation CD ROM.

$84.95; FaithTrust Institute, 2400 N. 45th Street #10, Seattle, WA 98103, 206-634-1903 phone, 206-634-0115 fax; Website: http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org.

M Louie
M Louie is the name of the Lutheran adolescent confirmation resources. M Louie comes with leader guides ($14.99) and student magazines ($9.99). Each magazine contains fifteen sessions (5 units, 3 sessions each) covering biblical reflection, catechesis, and a link to media. Two of the magazines-Darius McCrary and Agape-feature the article "Speaking of Sex: What's Love Got to Do with It?" (Lutheran, ELCA)
2000; $14.99; Augsburg Fortress, P.O. Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209; Phone: 800/328-4648; Website: http://www.augsburgfortress.org.

Our Whole Lives (OWL): A Lifespan Sexuality Education Series, Grades 7-9, 10-12
Part of the comprehensive lifespan sexuality education series developed jointly by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries. The junior high and high school curricula include lessons on positive and negative limit setting, development of moral decision-making, and address disability and sexual identity differences. Further information about the program, planning guides, and advocacy initiatives can be found at the web site of the Unitarian Universalist Association. (Unitarian Universalist Association and United Church of Christ)
Call for prices for each level. Unitarian Universalist Association, UUA Bookstore, 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108; Phone: 800/215-9076; Fax: 617/723-4805; Website: http://www.uua.org/owl/main.html.