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The resources presented in this section are suggested for teaching 1st and 2nd class pupils. These resources have been developed by state agencies or organisations with expertise in the area of SPHE/RSE. Each resource is also freely available to use in Irish primary school classrooms.
The resources presented aim to provide a range of relevant materials to address the strands and strand units of RSE, as an aspect of SPHE. Each resource should be considered in respect to the particular needs and interests of children, their parents, the wider school community, and your school’s SPHE and RSE policies.
Please note that the Stay Safe Programme is listed for the relevant strand units to illustrate that it can be used to teach aspects of SPHE/RSE. However, unlike other resources presented, the Stay Safe programme is mandatory and must be taught in all school contexts.
Self-identity
Walk Tall: The Walk Tall resource aims to give children the confidence, skills, attitudes and knowledge to make healthy choices in their lives. This resource was updated in 2016 and now provides a comprehensive set of lessons to teach SPHE.
1st Class Manual Unit 1
My Name
I am Good at Lots of Things
2nd Class Manual Unit 4
I have Opinions
I am Learning to Ask for What I Want
We All Belong: The We All Belong resource suggests the use of picture books that include the wide variety and backgrounds of children and families in our school communities. Each suggested picture book includes activities and key questions for teaching.
Picture book suggestions and lesson ideas for Gender Expression
Picture book suggestions and lesson ideas for Gender Identity
Equal Measures: The Equal Measures resource aims to support schools and teachers reflect upon and develop practices in their teaching to support and promote gender equality.
The Blue Kangaroo
Allie the Alien
Taking care of my body
RSE Resource: The RSE resource provides a menu of options for classroom lessons from which teachers can choose to support aspects of SPHE. In particular, it can support the sensitive aspects of RSE.
How My Body Works
When my Body needs Special Care
1st Class Manual Unit 2
All Shiny and New
2nd Class Manual Unit 2
Our Amazing Bodies
The Stay Safe Programme: The Stay Safe Programme should be taught in its entirety over one school year with topics taught consecutively. The Stay Safe Programme is a personal safety skills programme for primary schools. The aim of the programme is to reduce vulnerability to child abuse and bullying through the provision of personal safety education for children and training for teachers, school management boards and parents.
Stay Safe Programme
Growing and changing
Growing Means Changing
Growing and Changing
The Wonder of New Life
1st Class Manual Unit 3
Name That Feeling
Feelings Are Good
I Can Think Positively
I’m Learning to Say No
Myself and my family
I Belong in My Home
My Family
We All Belong: The We All Belong resource suggests the use picture books that include the wide variety and backgrounds of children and families in our school communities. Each suggested picture book includes activities and key questions for teaching.
Picture books and lesson ideas for all families
Picture books and lesson ideas for LGBT families
Myself and other people
Different Families Same Love: The Different Families Same Love resource supports teachers to effectively implement the Anti-Bullying Procedures, with strategies to address homophobic and transphobic bullying. The resource includes good practice guidelines for inclusive schools, advice on class-appropriate use of language, and lesson ideas for all classes in primary school.
Poster
Lesson ideas
Relating to others
The Right Start: The Right Start resource is skills based providing a menu of activities to develop and build children’s experience of the building blocks of human rights. Its content is mapped across the Primary Curriculum including SPHE.
Listening Friends
Communicating Feelings
Developing citizenship
1st Class Manual Unit 5
I Belong in My Community
Media education
2nd Class Manual Unit 6
Adverts are Influences
Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST)
Tips for parents on how to support teaching of RSE
Talking to your young child about relationships, sexuality and growing up: This resource kit aims to support parents to talk to their young children about relationships and sexuality in a gradual and age-appropriate way
Talking to your young child about relationships, sexuality and growing up
Tom's Flower Power Story
National Parents Council – Primary: NPCp exists to ensure that all parents are supported and empowered to become effective partners in their children’s education.
NPCp runs workshops for parents on talking to your child about relationships and sex. Call 01 8874475 or 01 8874481 for more information. They also have a helpline number: 01 887 4477. You can visit their website here
Gendered.ie: An information resource for families of gender variant children and transgender young people in the Republic of Ireland.
Website
Webwise: Provides a wide variety of up-to-date internet sfaety resources, supports and information for parents/guardians
The Stay Safe Programme: The Stay Safe Programme should be taught in its entirety over one school year with topics taught consecutively. The Stay Safe programme is a personal safety skills programme for primary schools. The aim of the programme is to reduce vulnerability to child abuse and bullying through the provision of personal safety education for children and training for teachers, school management boards and parents.
Parents Guide