Learning objective
Students use a scenario and emotion statues to explore consent for photos to be shared and actions they can take if someone has shared photos without consent.
Take home messages
Curriculum links
HPE: Staying safe
Strategies for seeking, giving and denying permission are rehearsed and refined and situations where permission is required is described. For example:
- exploring giving consent for their photo to be shared
- actions they can take if someone has done something hurtful or disrespectful to them
- actions they can take if someone has done something without their permissions or consent, including in online environments.
International technical guidance on sexuality education
Key concept 4.3 (5-8 year olds):
- The internet and social media are ways of finding out information and connecting with others, which can be done safely but can also put people including children, at risk of harm.
Key concept 5.3 (5-8 year olds):
- Communication is important in all relationships including between parents/guardians or trusted adults and children, and between friends and others.
Before you get started
- This activity is a revision of the concept of the CUPS framework covered in Year 2 lesson: Consent and communication. More time and detailed explanation may be required if this is a new consent to the class.
- Read Educator notes: Consent.
Learning activities
Group agreement
5 min
Teaching tip: A group agreement must be established before any RSE program beings to ensure a safe learning environment. Read RSE Essentials: Group agreement for tips on how to create one and what to include.
- Revise the class group agreement.
Revision: What is consent?
10 min
- Ask:
What do you think the word 'consent' means?
(Agreeing to do something, giving permission, letting someone do something, saying 'yes', when everybody involved agrees to what is happening)
- Explain:
There are some important rules about consent. The word 'CUPS' can help us remember these rules. Let's use hugging as an example to explain the rules about consent.
C - change mind - you are allowed to change your mind at any time. E.g. If you say, 'yes' to a hug and then you don't want to, that is OK. The person is no longer allowed to hug you. And if you have said, 'yes' to a hug before, it does not mean it is OK for the person to hug you every time they see you. They have to ask each time.
U - understand - you have to understand what you are agreeing to. E.g. If a person asks you for a hug and then they try to give you a kiss, this is not OK and is not consent.
P - pressure is not OK - if someone is pressuring you, this is not OK and not consent. E.g. If someone says something like, 'If you don't give me a hug, I won't be your friend anymore.'
S - sure - if you are not sure if you want to be touched, and the person is not sure if you have given consent, they are not allowed to touch you. E.g. If someone asks for a hug and you shrug your shoulders and say, 'maybe', this is to consent and the person is not allowed to give you a hug until they are sure you are OK with it.
- Ask:
What are some examples of when we need to ask for consent (or permission)?
(To touch another person - hugs, kisses, holding hands, tickling, playing; joining a team; joining a game - online or offline; sharing a photo online; sharing food; borrowing something; accepting a friend request online).
Sharing photos
5 min
- Explain:
"Asking for consent, and listening to the answer, is an important way for us to show respect to other people. One situation where we need to ask for consent is sharing photos."
- Ask:
How might someone share a photo?
(Show them on a phone/tablet, show them a printed photo, put it on a website, post on social media, send in a message, share in group chat, etc)
Scenarios and emotion statues
15 min
- Explain that you are going to read some scenarios and ask the students to make emotion statues to show how a character in the scenario might be feeling. Emotion statues don't use sounds or words, just body language and facial expressions.
- Scenario: Ali and Max are good friends. On the weekend Ali went over to Max's house for the afternoon. They were having fun playing lots of different games and taking silly photos. On Monday, Max posted the photos on social media. Ali doesn't want the photos posted online