Body image and self-esteem
Grade level | Resource type | Name and description of resource |
Grades 9–12 | Information sheet | Nurturing Healthy Eaters offers information to school staff on how to create a supportive eating environment. |
Grades K–12 | Information sheet | Mental Health and Weight-Bias in Schools supports educators in creating inclusive and safe environments for all bodies. |
Grades K–12 | Lesson plans | Media Smarts has lesson plans on body image and food marketing. |
Grades K–12 | Information sheet | Overview of disordered eating prevention-how can schools help? |
Concussions
Grade level | Resource type | Name and description of resource |
Grade 9 | Teacher guide, lesson plans | Educators can visit the OPHEA Concussion Portal to review information about concussions, including sample forms, assessments, an e-Learning module, as well as a Rowan’s Law Day Toolkit. |
Grades 9–12 | Resource | SCHOOLFirst is a compilation of information and resources to assist the education community in supporting students with the reintegration and return-to-school after a concussion. |
Grades 9–12 | Resource | Parachute has additional training and awareness building resources for educators. |
Grades 9–12 | Resource | The Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries provides information and resources for parents, educators, students and coaches on concussion prevention, identification and management. Age-specific concussion awareness resources and videos are also provided. |
Handwashing
Handwashing, when done correctly, remains the single most effective way to control the spread of illness. To book a presentation, request a Glow Germ Kit, or to order handwashing decals please call 705.522.9200, ext. 464 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200, ext. 464).
Visit our Handwashing page for general information or to download signage on our steps to effective handwashing. Check out the preventive measures page for tips to help reduce the chances of getting an infection or spreading it to others or to download prevent the spread of illness resources.
Healthy eating
Grade level | Resource type | Name and description of resource |
Grades K–12 | Website | BrightBites (Ontario Dietitians in Public Health) has resources to help teachers and other school leaders improve school nutrition. There are ideas to improve the cafeteria environment, catered lunches, fundraisers, and much more. |
Grades K–12 | Information sheet | Nurturing Healthy Eaters offers information to school staff on how to create a supportive eating environment. |
Grades K–12 | Lesson plans | OPHEA has specific healthy eating lesson plans that are aligned with the 2019 Health & Physical Activity Curriculum. |
Grades K–12 | Lesson plans | Media Smarts has lesson plans on body image and food marketing. |
Grades K–12 | Lesson plans | Agscape has lesson plans about agriculture and food literacy. |
Grades K–12 | Guide, information sheet | Canada’s Food Guide has information on food, nutrition, and eating. You can order copies in various languages. You can also promote eating well in your school using these tips (Health Canada). |
Grades K–12 | Lesson plans | Food is Science has experiential, evidence-based resources to help educators understand and teach new food literacy learning in Ontario’s Science and Technology Curriculum (Sustain Ontario). |
Human development and sexual health
Grade level | Resource type | Resource topic | Name and description of resource |
Grades 9–12, staff, caregivers | Public Health Sudbury & Districts sexual health clinic services | Information, testing and free treatment, anonymous HIV testing, emergency contraception, low-cost birth control, free condoms, pregnancy testing, options counselling, and more. | The Sexual Health Clinic promotes healthy sexuality and provides confidential services that reduce sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Services are by appointment only. For more information, call Public Health. |
Grades 9–12 | Birth control kits | Information, samples of various birth control methods | Birth Control (BC) kits have been delivered to your secondary school by your school board Curriculum Consultant. They contain samples of various birth control methods to support with teaching of the curriculum. |
Grades 9–12 | Borrow anatomy models | Male and female anatomy models | Borrow male and female anatomy to help teach the curriculum. Contact the School Health Promotion Team by completing the request form online or by calling 705.522.9200, ext. 393 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200). |
Grade 9–12 | Sexual health chats | Healthy sexuality, birth control, STI, decision making, healthy relationships | Sexual Health Chats are offered by Public Health Nurses for students in Grades 9 – 12. These sessions are meant to answer students’ questions once the sexual health curriculum has been covered by the classroom teacher. Book your Chat session with the School Health Promotion Team by completing the request form online or by calling 705.522.9200, ext. 393 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200). |
Grades 9–12 | Information, resources | Puberty, the body, sexual and preconceptual health, LGBTTQ+, pregnancy, consent | Sex & U (The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada) provides accurate, credible, and up-to-date information and education. |
Grade 9 | Lesson plans, resources | Teachingsexualhealth.ca (Alberta Health Services) provides teachers with evidence-based sexual health education background and delivery methods, current lesson plans and activities and comprehensive resources for students (including students with differing abilities). Lesson plans and resources are also available for gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation. | |
Grades 9–12, educators | Training modules, downloadable guide | Healthy relationships, healthy dating relationships | Healthy Relationships Resources (PREVNet) check out the online training and download the student guide. |
Grades 9–12 | Activity book, information sheets | Healthy/unhealthy relationship, sextortion, online sexual violence | Cybertip!ca (Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc.) offers internet safety for youth.
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Grades 9–12 | Brochure, information, quiz, short videos | Consent | Below are resource links to help support educators when teaching about the consent.
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Grades 9–12 | Resource | Diversity | Gender and identity Learning Hub (aboutkidshealth.ca) provides resources to answer questions on sex, gender and sexual orientation as well as how to find support and resources. |
Grades 9–12 | Resource | Diversity | Egale provides 2SLGBTQ+ resources and research and up to date tools and information to support students, parents and educators. The Genderbread Person is a helpful visual tool for understanding these components. |
Educators | Training, workshops | Diversity | Egale provides free educator training & workshops regarding equitable diversity and inclusion. |
Grades 9–12 | Educational toolkits and videos | Diversity | Egale provides a collection of curriculum-friendly teaching resources and materials featuring topics supporting 2SLGBTQI representation and inclusion within the Ontario curriculum. |
Grades 9–12 | Educational guides, webinar videos | Diversity | FrancoQueer provides a collection of curriculum-friendly educational guides and webinar videos featuring topics supporting 2SLGBTQI representation and inclusion.
(French resource only) |
Mental health promotion
Grade level | Resource type | Resource topic | Name and description of resource |
Grades 9–12 |
Posters | Connections, get to know each other, resiliency | Positive connections are essential for students’ social development. Download our fee posters to get to know your students and to help foster positive relationships with students, school staff and parents/guardians.
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Grades 9–12 |
Tools, resources, book virtual presentation | Mental health, alcohol, cannabis | |
Grades 9–12 |
Lesson plans, activities | Healthy relationship, emotions, motivation, perseverance, self-awareness, sense of identity, stress, coping | Everyday Mental Health Practices (SMHO) resources developed in partnership with the educator federations and offer collections of everyday mental health classroom practices organized by social-emotional skill category. |
Grades 9–12 |
Posters | Affirmations, visualisation, relaxation, breathing, gratitude, grounding | These social-emotional learning posters (SMHO) highlight everyday mental health classroom practices that support social-emotional learning. |
Grades 9–12 |
Resources for youth | Mental health and substance use | Helpful resources and tools for students (SMHO). |
Grades 9–12 |
Tips, activities | Calm breathing, muscle relaxation, distraction, visualisation, noticing, changing thoughts | Strategies (SMHO) to help students cope with stress. |
Grades 9–12 |
Booklet, handout, resource list | Help-seeking | Reaching Out (SMHO) support students with different ways to start the conversation and what to expect after asking for help.
No Problem Too Big or Too Small (SMHO) includes information on self-care, noticing when you need help, where to go for help and conversation starters. My Circle of Support (SMHO) helps students identify the people, places and things that support them when needed. Sudbury & Manitoulin Resource List (NISA) local list of community resources for staff reference. |
Grades 9–12, caring adults |
Tools, resources, videos, articles, handouts | Many mental health and substance related topics | Kids Help Phone not only provides French and English e-mental health services and support 24/7 for young people across Canada by calling 1-800-668-6868 or by texting CONNECT to 686868, they also offer various tools and resources. Here’s a sample: |
Grades 9–12 |
Handouts | Self-care | Self-Care 101 for students (SMHO) handout provides tips for students. |
Grades 9–12 |
Lesson plans, activities | Kids Help Phone has self -care resources for youth. | |
Grades 9–12 |
Lesson plans, tip, tools, booklet, program | Stress, coping skills | Strong Minds Strong Kids Psychology Canada, offers a section dedicated to helping teens build essential life coping skills and to promote positive social and emotional development. |
Caring adults and grades 1–8 |
Videos, tools, resources information, app | Anxiety, stress, coping | Anxiety Canada provides science-based anxiety relief for children and youth. Provides educators with teaching tools. Here’s a sample of the resources:
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Grades 9–12 |
Interactive tools | MindyourMind works with young people aged 14 to 29 to co-create interactive tools and innovative resources to build capacity and resilience. The following tools help students identify their strengths, emotions, stressors, passions, coping strategies, and more. | |
Grades 9–12 |
Program with teacher resource guide | Stigma, mental illness | Talking About Mental illness (TAMI) is a program from Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) to increase awareness about mental illness and the stigma that surrounds it.
Teacher’s resource guide offers information, and tools needed to implement TAMI. |
Grades 9–12 |
Toolkit and guide | Understanding mental health, stress, classroom resources | Mental health literacy offers many tips and resources in their toolbox including for parents, health professionals, educators, and friends. Check out the
Mental Health and High School Curriculum Guide (includes six interactive web-based, classroom-ready modules, a teacher self-study resource, lesson plans, print and video resources, PowerPoint presentations, evaluation options, and supplementary materials) |
Grade 12 | Student guide (also a catholic version), teacher guide | Identity, becoming independent, education, building relationships, mental health, sexual health | Know Before you Go is part of the classroom resources from the mental health literacy toolbox intended for Grade 12 students, and the educators who support them, as they transition from high school to post-secondary studies and /or employment. |
Grades 9–12 |
Toolkit | Positive Mental Health Toolkit supports a whole school approach to promoting positive mental health. The toolkit consists of five modules: Introduction to Positive Mental Health, School Connectedness, Resiliency in School Environments, School Team Relationships and Assessing Comprehensive School Health. Each module can be used independently and includes downloadable information, checklists, classroom strategies and links to additional resources. |
Personal safety and injury prevention
Grade level | Resource type | Name and description of resource |
Grades 9–12 | Lesson plans | Cybertip!ca (Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc.) offers internet safety resources for youth. Some of the resources include teacher lesson plans. |
Grades 9–12 | Lesson plans, tip sheets | Media Smarts offers lesson plans, tip sheets and other teacher resources on various media topics, including violence. |
Grades 9–12 | Teacher guides | Parachute offers many programs and various injury topics, including home safety, playground safety and poison prevention, that can be used by teachers for their classrooms. |
Grades 9–12 | Toolkits, posters, activities, training modules | PREVnet offers teacher resources on eliminating violence, such as bullying, cyberbullying and teen dating violence and promoting healthy relationships. |
Physical activity
Grade level | Resource type | Name and description of resource |
Grades 9–12 | Lesson plans, activities | OPHEA Healthy Schools Healthy Communities provides lesson plans, activity ideas, professional learning and more to support meeting the expectations of the Ontario physical education and health curriculum. |
Grades 9–12 | Educator guide | Canadian 24 hour Movement Guidelines for youth 12-17 years provides guidance on the recommended balance of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for healthy growth and development. |
Grades 9–12 | Educator guide | Active Sudbury provides networking and learning opportunities, resources and tools for teachers, and coaches to create physical literacy in schools. |
Grades 9–12 | Educator guide | Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada) offers some free physical activity resources for educators. |
Road and off-road safety
Grade level | Resource type | Name and description of resource |
Grades 7–12 | Lesson plans, toolkit | The Ontario Road Safety Resource was developed for teachers and community leaders who are dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of Ontario’s children and youth who are raising road safety awareness at every level. Each resource provides specific support for each grade level including lesson plans and a tool kit. |
Grades 7–12 | Toolkits | Parachute Canada offers information, toolkits, resources and programs on many road safety subjects and other preventable injury prevention concerns. This includes the National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW) an annual campaign to build awareness of teen driver safety issues and to encourage community and youth involvement as part of the solution. |
Grades 7–12 | Information sharing | Public Health Sudbury & Districts and the City of Greater Sudbury websites both provide great information for cycling safety. This information is informative for students of all ages and their parents: Cycling safety (Public Health Sudbury & Districts) and Safe cycling (City of Greater Sudbury). |
Grades 7–12 | Information sharing | The Ministry of Transportation has great guidance regarding Off Road safety. Off-road safety is largely impacted by understanding the rules, and regulations that keep you safe as well as what age riding off terrain is appropriate: Driving an off-road vehicle (ORV) (ontario.ca). |
Substance use
Grade level | Resource type | Name and description of resource |
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Grades 7–12 | Activities | The Substance Use Jenga Game (PDF, 335.48 KB) adapted from Windsor Essex Health Unit, is an engaging and fun way for students to test their knowledge of tobacco, vaping, cannabis, and alcohol use. Jenga Games are available for educators to help teach the activity. Borrow these resources from the School Health Promotion Team by completing the request form online or by calling 705.522.9200, ext. 393 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200). The Windsor Essex Health Unit has also developed a number of classroom activities (PDF, 646.63 KB) and discussion questions to support students in learning about peer pressure and developing effective refusal skills. |
Grades 7-12 | Poster | The refusal skills poster (PDF, 103.40 KB) provides youth the opportunity to learn about different types of refusal skills and how to use them when faced with peer pressure. |
Grades 9–12 | Teacher guides, resources, reports | Ophea offers Addiction and Substance Misuse Prevention resources, reports, and guides for teachers. |
Grades 7–12 | Lesson plans | iMinds (University of Victoria) provides sample lesson ideas to help educators include additional possibilities and opportunities to address drug use, available for all grade ranges. |
Grades 7–12 | Information sheet | School Mental Health Ontario offers resources for educators on topics that include vaping, cannabis, and opioids. |
Grades 7–12 | Guide, information | Drugs Free Canada offers educational information on several substances including alcohol, vaping, cannabis, opioids, and illicit drugs. It informs on effects, risks, how to talk with kids about these topics, resources, and more. |
Grades 7–12 | Guide | e Mental Health offers a guide for caregivers on alcohol and substance use in children and youth. Teachers can learn different types of substances and learn key prevention strategies such as building strong relationships and strategies to address behaviours. |
Alcohol
Grade level | Resource type | Name and description of resource |
Grades 9–12 | Teacher guides, video modules | Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction is designed to help increase educators understanding of substance use. These educational resources provide information on a variety of topics including understanding substance, stigma, cannabis vaping, alcohol, and impaired driving. |
Grades 9–12 | Activities | Educators – Region of Durham test your student’s knowledge about alcohol, by participating in a ready to use Kahoot questionnaire. |
Grades 9–12 | Workbook, teacher’s guide | Educalcool offers informal tips on opening conversation with your children and youth. You can find a student workbook and teacher’s guide to further enhance their knowledge on alcohol and their influences. Find ‘on the go’ school programs, tools, and additional information such as “Teens and Drinking: Sooner really isn’t better” and “Talking about alcohol at school” on the website. |
Grades 9–12 | Lesson plans | Media Smarts offers alcohol marketing lesson plans, interactive class activities, and other resources that can easily be integrated into the provincial K-12 curriculum. |
For more information regarding alcohol, please visit Alcohol & Other Drugs.
Cannabis
Grade level | Resource type | Name and description of resource |
Grades 9–12 | Classroom activities, facilitated presentation | Health Canada Experiences: Pursue Your Passion offers an ambassador to join your class virtually to discuss cannabis related topics, engaging activities and opportunity for questions. Additionally, you can find downloadable resources such as posters, factsheets and videos with fun interactive activities and questionnaires to help test students’ knowledge. |
Grades 9–12 | Teacher guides, video modules | Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction is designed to help increase educators understanding of substance use. These educational resources provide information on a variety of topics including understanding substance, stigma, cannabis vaping, alcohol, and impaired driving. |
Grades 9–12 | Lesson plans, activities | Cannabis Misuse Prevention Lesson Plans offer lesson plans for grades 6-12 aligned with the Health and Physical Education curriculum. Its intent is based on promoting wellness, mental health, resiliency, and coping skills. |
Grades 9–12 | Activities, information | The High Way Home offers an interactive learning approach by providing examples of real life scenarios youth may face where they will need to make decisions. Each option provides feedback and explanation(s) about the risks, consequences or benefits of their choice. It also includes a quiz to test their knowledge. These activities can increase youths’ awareness of the impacts of impaired driving, specifically with cannabis. |
Grades 9–12 | Course, activities, videos | The Cannabis and Mental Health Project offers a free, 90-minute online course that was developed “for youth, by youth.” This resource aims to promote balanced conversations that help youth make informed decisions about cannabis use and coping with stress. Educators working with youth aged 12 to 18 can use interactive activities and videos from the accompanying Mentor Guide to support curriculum delivery. |
Grades 9–12 | Educational modules, fact sheets, training, videos | Youth Cannabis Awareness Program is an online hub for youth, parents and professionals that has self-guided educational modules about recreational cannabis use. You can find downloadable fact sheets and free training, videos, and courses. In addition, you can book a workshop/webinar available for ages 12+. |
Grades 9–12 | Activity guides, lesson plans | Lung Health Foundation “Talking About…” Series has educational resources with guided activities that support discussions with youth on different substances such as cannabis. |
School staff | Resources | Ministry of Education-Cannabis Resources for Teachers: provides information for schools, school boards, and educators about the legalization of recreational cannabis in Ontario. |
For more information regarding cannabis, please visit Cannabis.
Energy Drinks
Grade level | Resource type | Name and description of resource |
Grades 9–12 | Information | Caring for Kids offers an overview of the health considerations regarding energy drinks and sports drinks. |
Grades 9–12 | Fact sheets, poster, information | Middlesex-London Health Unit provides important information around alcohol and energy drinks. Learn about the risks by viewing their fact sheets and poster for youth and caregivers. |
Opioids
Grade level | Resource type | Name and description of resource |
Grades 9–12 | Classroom activities, facilitated presentation | Health Canada Experiences’ Know More Opioids offers an ambassador to join your class virtually to host a discussion on opioid related topics, including engaging activities and opportunity for questions. Additionally, you can find downloadable resources such as posters, factsheets and videos with fun interactive activities and questionnaires to help test students’ knowledge. |
School staff and students | Information sheet | School Mental Health Ontario information sheets: “Opioids: what you and your friends need to know” offers information on prescription opioid misuse, such as fentanyl, dangers and signs, how to seek help, naloxone use and benefits, facts, and true or false questions to test knowledge. There is an accompanying information sheet for educators entitled “Prescription opioids, including fentanyl: What educators need to know” as well as an information sheet “Prescription opioids, including fentanyl: What parents and caregivers need to know” that teachers can share. |
School staff | Guide, information | Drugs Free Canada offers educational information on several substances including opioids, and illicit drugs. It informs on effects, risks, how to talk with kids about these topics, resources and more. |
For more information regarding opioids and other drugs, please visit Prescription drugs.
Tobacco
Grade level | Resource type | Name and description of resource |
Grades 9–12 | Lesson plans, activities, worksheets, presentations | Tobacco Prevention Toolkit is theory based and evidence-informed curriculums and resources designed to prevent the use of tobacco and e-cigarette product amongst children and youth. It includes educational materials with guided lesson plans that incorporates activities, online quiz games, worksheets, presentations and more to help facilitate educators. |
Grades 9–12 | Activity guides, lesson plans | Lung Health Foundation “Talking About…”Series has educational resources with guided activities that support discussions with youth on different substances such as tobacco. |
Grades 9–12 | Lesson plans | Media Smarts offers tobacco marketing lesson plans, interactive class activities, and other resources that can easily be integrated into the provincial K-12 curriculum. |
School community | Information, brochure, guides, resources | Tobacco Wise offers information to help understand the traditional or sacred use of tobacco by First Nations, Metis and Inuit populations and addresses commercial tobacco use that is culturally appropriate. |
For more information on tobacco, vaping, and e-cigarettes visit Tobacco, Vaping, and Electronic Cigarettes.
Vaping
Grade level | Resource type | Name and description of resource |
Grades 9–12 | Classroom activities | Health Canada Experiences’ Consider the Consequences of Vaping program has self-led modules that educators can use in classrooms to help inform youth of the risks and harms of vaping. It not only includes useful content, but also interactive activities, discussion questions and other resources available at your disposal. |
Grades 9–12 | Power point, infographics, posters, activities, lesson plan | Not An Experiment provides information to youth, educators, parents and caregivers about vaping. Find a downloadable power point lesson plan, posters, play a virtual escape room educational activity and more. |
Grades 9–12 | Awareness materials | Consider the Consequences is a Health Canada vaping prevention campaign. Download or order awareness materials for schools, community groups or for parents. |
Grade 9 | Toolkit, lesson guide | North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit: What’s the Hype? A vaping toolkit with curriculum linked activities for grades 5-9 that educators can use as a lesson guide to help increase youths’ knowledge on vaping and promote informed decision-making. |
Grades 9–12 | Activity guides, lesson plans | Lung Health Foundation “Talking About…” Series has educational resources with guided activities that support discussions with youth on different substances such as vaping. |
Grades 9–12 | Information sheets, classroom presentation Grades 7-12 and classroom activities | Vaping Toolkit: Public Heath Sudbury & Districts toolkit can support school communities in open, honest and ongoing conversation with students about vaping. The toolkit consists of downloadable factsheets, a PowerPoint (with educator speaking notes), and activity plans. |
School staff and students | Videos, information sheets, poster, social media | Government of Canada offer youth vaping prevention resources that educators, parents, caregivers and youth can access. There are posters, tip sheets, videos, social media images and infographics available to help spread awareness. |
Visit Youth and young adult apps and support to find resources you can use to help plan your quit. For more information on vaping visit Vaping and electronic cigarettes.
Sun safety
Grade level | Resource type | Name and description of resource |
Grades 9–12 | Education, policy development | The SunSense program from the Canadian Cancer Society, in collaboration with Environment and Climate Change Canada, supports schools in creating a sun safe environment and developing a SunSense policy to protect staff and students through education and awareness of sun safe practices. *Please note that this program requires full school participation and is not intended for specific individual classes. |
Grades 9–12 | Information sharing | Educators can also visit our sun safety and tanning section for general information about ultraviolet radiation, sun safe behaviours, shade, sunscreen, and skin cancer. |
Violence and bullying
Grade level | Resource type | Name and description of resource |
Grades 9–12 | Online resources, fact sheets | PREVNet is a national network of leading researchers and organizations working together to eliminate violence and bullying by helping to promote healthy relationships in Canada. They offer multiple online resources for children, youth, parents and educators.
PREVNet’s Bullying Prevention: Facts & Tools for Schools is available to support schools with their ongoing violence and bullying prevention and creating a safe school environment. Addressing Youth Dating Violence by PREVNet provides evidence-based resources and tools for everyone (prevention 101) including caregivers, educators and youth. |
Grades 9–12 | Information sharing, online resources | Need Help Now (Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc.) provides youth with information about how to manage self/peer exploitation incidents. The site features: steps youth can take to request images/videos be removed from websites, helpful hints for how to involve a safe adult, information about self-care and recognizing when things have gone too far. |
Grades 7–12 | Educator guides, lesson plans, scenarios, professional development, workshops and webinars | White Ribbon Draw the Line is resource created to support educators, students and parents in fostering the ability to engage in healthy relationships, navigate consent, and prevent sexual violence. |
Grades 9–12 | Lesson plans, tip sheets, educator resources | Media Smarts is a resource that houses one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of digital and media literacy resources that offer opportunities to approach digital issues in schools and in the classroom for educators in a positive way. |
Grades 9–12 | Educator guide | Kids in the know (Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc.) This program assists educators with teaching children and youth safety strategies in an age-appropriate way that builds resiliency skills and reduces their likelihood of experiencing adverse school experiences such as bullying, cyberbullying and violence. |
Grades 9–12 | Lesson plans, videos | Gender-Based Violence Prevention Education Resources (OPHEA Healthy Schools Healthy Communities) offers resources developed to increase educators’ understanding of what is gender-based violence and harassment and to raise awareness of how they can be prevented through early education and honest classroom conversations. |