Starting the Conversations: Creating Space to Develop Health Communication Skills in the Classroom for Grades 4-9 is a resource that focuses on health-related topics such as healthy relationships (both friendships and romantic relationships), communication skills, diversity, self-esteem and personal identity, peer pressure, alcohol and alcohol-related harms, and the importance of seeking support.

These lesson plans may help you “get out in front” of some of these issues and questions, and engage youth to develop skills in communication, support seeking, and decision-making that will increase their health now and in the future.

The following FREE workshop is intended for school principals, elementary school teachers, or high school health educators. It will discuss the foundational principles that were taken into consideration when developing this resource and will provide a brief overview of the resource, along with strategies and tips on how to use these modules to support children and youth in the classroom.

The resource contains lesson plans that meet the Ministry of Education’s curricular objectives.

Module 1: Diversity
Module 2: Sexuality and Gender Identity
Module 3: Healthy Relationships
Module 4: Peer Pressure
Module 5: Mental Health
Module 6: Alcohol and Substance Use

*Note: Are you a principal, elementary school teacher, or high school health teacher at a First Nations school? Contact Nicole Sellers, Youth FASD Prevention Program Coordinator, at nsellers@skprevention.ca to learn about eligibility for free travel arrangements to this event.