An important way you can prepare for students’ questions is to practice answering them.
Since you will be collecting questions at the end of each class, you have time to look through them and develop rehearsed answers. Take advantage of this situation. Here are a few sample questions and answers.
In Lesson One, you will find a more comprehensive list of common student questions, accompanied by helpful sample answers. This information should help prepare you for the type of information students will likely be seeking.
Girl, 13: Why is one breast bigger than the other?
Teacher: “The human body has been created with many interesting variations and imperfections. Most of us have small differences on the right and left sides of our bodies. For instance, one of our feet is normally slightly bigger than the other. The same is true for organs such as breasts and testicles. The right breast might be a little larger than the left. Some of us have even larger physical variations or disabilities. These human variations make us unique and more interesting.”
Boy, 10: Can young people, like 10 years old, have sex?
Teacher: “The answer to this question really depends on what you mean by ‘have sex’. Having sex is much more than just having sexual intercourse. For example, a 10-year-old might sometimes touch his penis or touch her clitoris because it feels good. That is a form of sex that is a normal part of childhood for most human beings. But, if you are asking if 10 year olds should have sexual intercourse, the answer is no. They are much too young to handle the decisions and consequences related to sexual intercourse. Sexual intercourse is a serious behaviour that can be a way of showing love in a relationship, but it can also lead to grown-up consequences like having a baby or getting certain diseases.
Nurses who worked in classrooms with students in grades four, five and six collected the following questions. As you will see, questions on this list are challenging. Taking the time to consider how you would answer some of these questions might be advantageous.
Questions to Expect
What is the protection for a boy not to get a girl pregnant?
Why is it difficult to talk with my mom/dad/caregiver about sex?
What does sex feel like?
Do you think sex is bad or good?
Can a woman get pregnant from swallowing sperm?
How old were you when you had sex the first time?
I'm worried. Some wet stuff comes out of my vagina sometimes. Do I have a disease?
Do animals and humans have sex the same way?
What is masturbation? Is it okay?
Does your period come on without warning?
What happens when a man has a sex-change operation?
Is sex better with a big penis?
How do two women have sex together?
How do two men have sex?
Why do boys like to touch girls on the butt?
What is a good age to start dating?
