Slabovia in the Classroom

Activity 1Relationships
Objective: To consider the features of negative and positive relationships; to learn self esteem and self confidence when evaluating interpersonal relationships; to learn to recognise exploitative and abusive relationships

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Suggested activities:

• Class watch one or more video clips on ‘Relationships’ which can be accessed via The Ministry of Sex or KNTV links from Slabovia’s Home Page. Click on the Browse By Show section and select Relationships. You will see in the left hand box the variety of clips available to watch. In particular, look at Professor Probious’ Probing the Human Body – Relationships and Sex Spies – Operation Relationships
• In pairs students discuss one good relationship and one problematic relationship they have experienced. This can be relationships with friends and family as well as boyfriend/girlfriends.
• Students are issued with two blank cards. On one they write one positive feature of a relationship. On the other they write one negative feature
• Cards are handed in to teacher who shuffles them and hands them out again randomly
• Students sort cards so that one side of the room has positive features and the other has negative features
• Students, in pairs, decide on the five most important cards from the ‘good side’
• Class discussion regarding choices and to give reasons for these choices
• Group discussion - what sort of ‘relationship’ were they thinking about? Would their choices change or be the same for friendship? Boy/ girl friends?  Parents/ children? Teacher/ student relationships?

Extension Activity: Taking any of the characters of Professor Probious, Kierky, Nietzsche or Afansia, the Svets or the Sex Spies, students write a script for a guide to good relationships

Project work: Film your guide in the style of the video clips you have watched and submit it to authorities in Slabovia

Activity 2Making Choices
Objectives: Students are able to identify pressures on a young person to become sexually active; to create an advice sheet about how to resist these pressures

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Suggested activities:

• Class watch one or more video clips on Relationships which can be accessed via The Ministry of Sex or KNTV links from Slabovia’s Home Page. Click on the Browse By Show section and select Relationships. You will see in the left hand box the variety of clips available to watch. The clips, Afansia’s Corner – Relationships and Sex with the Svets – My Boyfriend wants Sex, are particularly relevant to this activity
• Teacher takes on role of character (Mandy) in the downloadable dialogue sheet. The teacher may modify gender of character if needed. Teacher reads scenario to class (Insert SlaboviaActivity2SupportSheet download button labelled ‘Mandy’)
• In role, teacher goes around the room asking pupils, by tapping them on the shoulder, what Mandy must be thinking and feeling
• Pressure cooker activity: pupils stand in two rows facing each other. Teacher works their way between the rows of students asking them for their advice about what action Mandy should take
• Pupils take on the role of Mandy and write a diary entry outlining what they are going to do, going on to explain what they think the consequences of this might be

Note: Points for teacher to consider/ bring out in lesson: the law - the age of consent is 16; dangers of unprotected sex; how it might affect relationships with friends, parents, etc if they found out; average age to lose virginity in UK is 17; possible effects on own self-esteem

Extension Activity: Students in groups write their own scenarios in which an individual comes under pressure to engage in sexual activity. These are performed to class and peer assessed

Project work: In groups, students create a Survival Guide to Sex and Relationships addressing the following issues: what makes a good relationship; techniques on resisting unwanted pressures; social aspects which may influence our decision making e.g. peers, alcohol and drugs etc; keeping safe e.g. avoiding dangerous situations, date rape drugs etc.

Activity 3Puberty
Objective: To explore the physical and emotional changes which occur during Puberty; to evaluate ways of dealing with these changes

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Suggested activities:

• Class watch selection of video clips on Puberty which can be accessed via The Ministry of Sex or KNTV links from Slabovia’s Home Page. Click on the Browse by Show section and select Puberty. You will see in the left hand box the variety of clips available to watch. These are a light hearted way of introducing the topic to a KS3 group.
• Class discuss the physical changes that occur during puberty for both girls and boys. They can refer to the Slabovian Sex Guide as well if they want some written support (again language in this section of the Slabovian Sex Guide is useful for KS3 students)
• Using two outline body sheets organise students into pairs. Students to label one body Male and the other Female. Students label the male/female diagrams with the physical changes identified from watching the video clips, reading the Slabovian Sex Guide and the subsequent class discussion.
• In pairs, students then consider the non-physical changes that occur during puberty
• Feedback discussions to class. In pairs, students then list the emotional changes experienced during Puberty underneath the diagram
• Class rank emotional and physical changes according to how difficult/easy they think they are to deal with

Activity Extension: Students create a self help booklet designed for Year 6/7 pupils about to start experiencing changes associated with Puberty, detailing the emotional and physical journey they are about to begin and giving tips and advice on how to deal with these. This ‘Journey into Puberty’ can be presented in a variety of formats e.g. a cartoon strip using the Slabovian characters of Kierky, Afansia and Nietzsche or if they prefer, Professor Probious, the Svets, or the Sex Spies (or even the General’s Playboy Son)

Activity 4Sexually transmitted Infections (STIs)
Objective: To recognise identify the main STIs, particularly symptom free STIs; to learn about regular screening programmes; to understand prevention

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Suggested activities:

• Students read the section on Sexually Transmitted Infections in the Slabovian Sex Guide (add hyperlink). This can be accessed by following the link into the The Ministry of Sex via the homepage.
• In pairs students list as many STIs that they are aware of and, if they know, what the symptoms and treatments are.
• Feed back to rest of class and come up with a definitive list, correcting any misunderstandings and filling any gaps in knowledge
• In pairs/groups, students discuss the following questions:
  a) How to avoid STIs
  b) How to find out if they have an STI
  c) What to do if they discover they have an STI
• Feedback to class and list any youth oriented services such as Brook (www.brook.org.uk)  which are dedicated organisations for young people
• Class finish by playing the STI Invasion game (also accessed via the Ministry of Sex).

Activity 5Conception
Objective: To understand what happens during the process of conception; to understand the causes of multiple births

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Suggested activities:

• Students watch videos on Pregnancy via the Ministry of Sex or KNTV link. Kierky and Nietzsche- Pregnancy, Professor Probious’ Probing the Human Body, Sex Spies – Operation Pregnancy and Sex with the Svets – Pregnancy are all relevant
• Go through with class the biological process of conception
• Students research the different stages of pregnancy
• Produce a pictorial guide to pregnancy (choose 6 key stages during 40 weeks gestation period)
• What happens during birth? In pairs students discuss
• Feedback to class

Extension Activities: Research into what happens in multiple births and the differences between identical and non identical twins

Project Work:  Research what can happen when conception becomes a problem. What are the different options that can be taken to help with infertility problems? What are some of the ethical issues surrounding treatments for infertility? What are the ethical issues about selective pregnancies?

Activity 6Contraception
Objective: To learn about different forms of contraception; to focus in particular on the use of condoms and why they are the most affective contraceptive in the prevention of STIs

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Suggested activities:

• Class watch selection of video clips on Contraception which can be accessed via The Ministry of Sex or KNTV links from Slabovia’s Home Page. Click on the Browse by Show section and select Contraception. You will see in the left hand box the variety of clips available to watch. One of the video clips, Sex Spies – Operation Contraception, is a particularly relevant way into this topic.
• In pairs students discuss benefits of using contraceptives
• Pairs feed back to class and decide on list – fill in any knowledge gaps
• Class watch State-Approved Interrogation – Sex and Contraception video accessible via The Ministry of Sex
• Class read Brownprint-Condoms – a step by step instruction on using condoms and use LEA’s Sex and Relationships Education Guidelines to develop discussion about use of condoms.
• Final discussion on what to so when contraception fails or has not been used at all – what action can be taken?
• Feedback to class

Differentiated ActivitiesGifted and Talented Activity Evolution
Objective: To discuss the implications of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution; to evaluate alternative interpretations; to discuss the current debates which surround Gene Therapy, evaluating the moral and ethical implications of technical advances in Human Reproduction

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Suggested activities:

• Look at the videos ‘Who was Charles Darwin?’ and ‘Darwin’s Big Idea’. This can be accessed via the KNTV link under the Browse by Show section.
• In pairs students discuss the concepts of ‘adaptation’ and ‘survival of the fittest’.
• Feedback to rest of class and decide on a statement definition for the two concepts
• In pairs/groups students list as many examples from the natural world where there is evidence of adaptation. Students also try to come up with examples of species which have become extinct and explain why this might have happened e.g. the Mammoth
• Students address questions

- Why is adaptation important for survival?
- What problems would be caused if adaptation did not occur?

• Feedback to class
• Extension Task:  Compare and contrast ideas about Darwin’s Theory of Evolution with the Theory of Intelligent Design. What are the current debates about these two modes of thinking?

Project work: Research the debate surrounding the issue of genetic modification, gene therapy and the so-called phenomenon of ‘Saviour Siblings’. What are the implications of the development of new technologies on human reproduction?

SEN ActivitiesConception - How the Sperm met the Egg – A Love Story
Objective: To understand what happens during conception and how a pregnancy begins; to begin to understand the implications of having a baby

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Suggested activities:

• Students watch videos on Pregnancy via the Ministry of Sex or KNTV link. Kierky and Nietzsche - Pregnancy, Professor Probious’ Probing the Human Body, Sex Spies – Operation Pregnancy and Sex with the Svets – Pregnancy are all light-hearted takes on pregnancy and the implications of having a baby and use characters from the fictional world of Slabovia
• Go through with class the process of conception
• Using any of the Slabovian characters, students design a step by step explanation of the process of conception in the form of a story ‘How the Sperm met the Egg – A Love Story’. This can be a comic strip/cartoon creation.

Extension Activity: Watch documentaries about Kizzy Neal (BBC3), a young mum. What problems has she faced because she had a baby a baby at a very young age?

Level:

14 – 19yrs: KS3; KS4; Post 16; S1-6

Curriculum Relevance:

Science; SRE; PSHEE; Philosophy

Benefits:

uses informal and comic content to address often challenging subject matter