Our Whole Lives (OWL) is the acclaimed comprehensive, lifespan sexuality education curriculum developed by the Unitarian Universalist Association for use in both secular settings and faith communities.

• OWL starts in kindergarten and first grade with lessons about families, love, gender, health and safety.
• OWL continues in fourth and fifth grades with lessons about puberty, values, identity and orientation, reproduction and health, decision making, bullying, and social media.
• OWL for teens covers these topics in much more depth, and body awareness, understanding yourself, healthy relationships, dating, responsible sexual behavior, STI’s, pregnancy, parenting, communication and consent.

It’s a lot of information! It is also an opportunity to form a supportive, safe peer group, to have time to digest the information and come back with questions, to learn not only about “the birds and the bees” but so much more about human relationships, values, ethics and what it really takes to be a safe, strong teenager in today’s uncertain world.

Because all of our OWL classes are taught from the perspective that parents are their children’s primary educators and we as a church are partners in the process, all OWL classes begin with a mandatory parent/child orientation session.

OWL curriculum is values-based:

• Self-worth
• Sexual health
• Responsibility
• Justice and inclusivity

Our Whole Lives helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. With a holistic approach, Our Whole Lives provides accurate, developmentally appropriate information about a range of topics, including relationships, gender identity, sexual orientation, sexual health, and cultural influences on sexuality.

Our Whole Lives recognizes and respects the diversity of participants with respect to biological sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and disability status. The activities and language used throughout the program have been carefully chosen to be as inclusive as possible of this human diversity.

OWL offers:

• accurate, honest, age-appropriate information
• in a spiritual context
• values clarification
• decision-making skills
• education about abuse, exploitation, harassment, and media messages
• acceptance of diversity
• affirmation of parents’ roles as primary educators of their children

If you would like to know more about the OWL program from the UUA, visit Our Whole Lives: Lifespan Sexuality Education. To find out more about OWL classes at UCBR, please contact Kathy Smith, Director of Family Ministries.