Unit Two
Lesson Three
Benefits of Abstinence
Lesson Overview
Lesson Objectives
Students learn about the benefits of remaining abstinent
and examine their personal reasons to be abstinent at this
point in their life.
After completing this lesson, students should be able to:
• Explain the benefits of abstaining from sexual activity
Key Points
• Identify and explain personal reasons to remain abstinent
• Abstinence is the best option for a variety of reasons
• Identify the factors (people, situations, and environ ment) that will help them remain abstinent.
• It’s important to examine one’s personal reasons for being abstinent
• It’s helpful to identify the people who will and will not
help you stay abstinent
Lesson at a Glance
Activity
Materials
Preparation
Approximate
Class Time
FOCUS: Defining Abstinence
• Flipchart, marker
Class discussion
5 minutes
LEARN:
Sex or Abstinence
• Flipchart, marker
Class discussion
10 minutes
LEARN:
Choosing Abstinence
• Choosing Abstinence worksheet
• Print/photocopy the Choosing Abstinence worksheet
for each student.
25 minutes
SUMMARIZE:
Why Abstinence?
Class discussion
• Abstinence Family Activity worksheet
• Print/photocopy the Abstinence Family Activity
worksheet for each student.
Class discussion
5 minutes
Education Standards Supported
National Family and Consumer Science Standards: Reasoning for Action 1, 3, 4
National Health Standards: 2.12.1-2; 5.12.2-3, 5.12.5-7; 6.12.2, 6.12.4; 7.12.1-3
1022210-01A
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Unit Two—Lesson Three
Benefits of Abstinence
FOCUS: Defining Abstinence
5 minutes
From: ReCAPP: Resource Center for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention
http://www.etr.org/recapp/documents/freebies/W4SAbstinence200212.pdf
Materials:
• Flipchart
Purpose:
Students consider the definition of abstinence and
reasons for it.
Facilitation Steps:
1. Write the word “abstinence” on flipchart paper, and
then ask students to tell you what abstinence means to
them. Take a few responses.
2. Ask the class: What are reasons to consider abstinence? Possible answers: protection from STIs, pregnancy, emotional harm, spiritual harm, etc.
3. Ask students if people their age think about sex. Tell
them that thinking about sex, having curiosity about
sex, and learning about sex from their parents, school
and books is normal and healthy. Explain the difference between thinking about sex and actually having
sex. Tell the group that most young people their age
think about sex, yet most are not having sex.
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4. Write down a working definition for abstinence on
flipchart paper.
ABSTINENCE is avoiding sexual intercourse with
another person. Sexual intercourse can be vaginal,
oral, or anal. Tell students that we are not including
kissing or touching in this definition of abstinence.
3
Unit Two—Lesson Three
Benefits of Abstinence
LEARN: Sex or Abstinence
10 minutes
From: ReCAPP: Resource Center for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention
http://www.etr.org/recapp/documents/freebies/W4SAbstinence200212.pdf
Materials:
• Flipchart
Purpose:
Students participate in a discussion about why people
choose to be sexually active or abstinent.
Facilitation Steps:
• avoid pregnancy
• avoid STIs and HIV
1. Ask students to tell you some reasons why somebody
their age might have sex. Write their answers on
flipchart paper. Encourage students to explain their
answers. Some reasons might be:
• religious reasons
• not ready
• develop deeper
friendship
• not to upset parents
• feels good
• bored
• in love
• feel pressured
• curious
• not lose boyfriend/girlfriend
• prove manhood/
womanhood
• want to feel close
Separate their answers into two columns. If the group
does not come up with many reasons, you may want
to add some of the reasons listed above.
3. Tell students that we are now going to work on an activity that will show us the benefits of being abstinent
from sexual intercourse.
2. Ask students to tell you some reasons why somebody
their age would choose NOT to have sex. Write their
answers on flipchart paper. Encourage students to
explain their answers. Some reasons might be:
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Unit Two—Lesson Three
Benefits of Abstinence
LEARN: Choosing Abstinence
25 minutes
From: ReCAPP: Resource Center for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention
http://www.etr.org/recapp/documents/freebies/W4SAbstinence200212.pdf
Materials:
• Choosing Abstinence worksheet
• Abstinence Family Activity worksheet
Purpose:
Students complete a worksheet that helps them think
about personal reasons why and ways to help them be
abstinent.
Facilitation Steps:
1. Distribute the Choosing Abstinence worksheet. Use
the directions below to explain how to complete the
worksheet.
• Inside the circle, ask students to write a personal
goal. Remind them of the goals they set in a previous session.
3. After five minutes, ask everyone to find a partner. Tell
pairs to only share answers that they feel comfortable
sharing. They will have three to five minutes to share
with their partners.
4. Reconvene the group and facilitate a discussion using
the following questions:
• In the space above the circle, ask them to write
reasons why they don’t want to have sex.
• Did you and your partner have similar answers?
Which ones were the same?
• In the space above and to the left of the circle, ask
them to write things that help them stay abstinent.
• Were there any items that you did not feel comfortable discussing with your partner? Which ones?
• In the space above and to the right of the circle, ask
them to write things that might make them want
to have sex now or in the next few years.
• How would having sex affect the accomplishment
of your goals?
• In the space below and to the left of the circle, ask
them to write the names of people who support
them in remaining abstinent.
• In the space below and to the right of the circle,
ask them to write the names of people who might
pressure them to have sex now or in the future.
2. Ask students to complete the worksheet individually.
Tell them that they will share only the things they feel
comfortable discussing later with a partner.
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• What are some ways to show affection to someone
you may have romantic feelings for?
• If somebody your age wanted to have sex, what
would you tell him or her?
• Do you think abstinence is a realistic option for
young people?
5. Pass out the Abstinence Family Activity worksheet and
ask students to complete it with their parents.
Choosing To Be Abstinent
Unit Two—Lesson Three
Benefits of Abstinence
Name _______________________________________ Class ____________________
I don’t want to have sex at this point in my life because:
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
Things that help me stay abstinent:
sex
Things that might make me want to have
now or in the next few years:
________________________________
_______________________________
________________________________
_______________________________
________________________________
_______________________________
Personal Goal:
People who help me stay abstinent:
sex
People who might pressure me to have
now or in the next few years:
________________________________
_______________________________
________________________________
_______________________________
________________________________
_______________________________
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Unit Two—Lesson Three
Benefits of Abstinence
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Abstinence Family Activity
Unit Two—Lesson Three
Benefits of Abstinence
Name ____________________
Class ____________________
1. Show your parent, guardian, faith leader or other trusted adult the Choosing to be Abstinent
worksheet you completed during the class session. Explain what you wrote and ask what he or
she thinks of the worksheet. Write their responses here:
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
2. Ask your parent/guardian to tell you three good things about waiting to have to sex. Write their
responses here:
• _________________________________________________________________
• _________________________________________________________________
• _________________________________________________________________
3. Ask your parent/guardian to give you three suggestions on how you can remain abstinent. Write
their responses here:
• _________________________________________________________________
• _________________________________________________________________
• _________________________________________________________________
Self-control is the ability to follow rules that you set for yourself in order to succeed in life. Self
control is a sign of maturity, responsibility, respect for yourself, and respect for others. Choosing
sexual abstinence is about making wise, responsible decisions and exercising self control. Do you
think teens who control themselves sexually are better able to control themselves and make good
decisions in other areas of their lives as well? Explain.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Do you think someone who is able to exercise self control is a strong person? Why?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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Unit Two—Lesson Three
Benefits of Abstinence
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Unit Two—Lesson Three
Benefits of Abstinence
SUMMARIZE: Why Abstinence?
5 minutes
Purpose:
Materials:
Students verbalize important reasons for being abstinent.
The teacher summarizes and reinforces the rationale for
being abstinent.
• Flipchart
Facilitation Steps:
1. Ask the group to tell you what they think are the most
important reasons for people their age to choose abstinence. Try to get most everyone to participate. Write
their responses on flipchart paper. Acknowledge the
importance of their reasons.
2. Explain that self-control is the ability to follow rules
that you set for yourself in order to succeed in life. Self
control is a sign of maturity, responsibility, respect
for yourself, and respect for others. Choosing sexual
abstinence is about making wise, responsible decision
and exercising self control.
3. Summarize by saying that there are good reasons for
young people to abstain from sex. Many young people
believe in and practice abstinence. Abstinence can be a
sign of real emotional maturity. Abstinence eliminates
the risk of unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted
infections, and HIV — the virus that causes AIDS. In
fact, abstinence from vaginal, anal and oral sex is the
only 100% effective means of preventing pregnancy
and STIs. Abstaining from sexual intercourse contributes in a positive way to a couple’s relationship because
it eliminates the pressure and issues that come with
sexual activity in a relationship, and frees the couple
to spend time pursuing important interests and goals
together or separately. It is important to remember
that there are people who can support your decision to
practice abstinence.
4. Remind students to complete the Abstinence Family
Activity worksheet for homework and to return it for
discussion during the next class.
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Unit Two—Lesson Three
Benefits of Abstinence
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