Your students have questions about their bodies. LOTS of questions.

And if you're like most teachers, you have only one or two lessons to help them discover the Truth and the Goodness of God's design for their bodies, without compromising on getting them real scientific facts about how those bodies are designed to work. No pressure.

You've seen the curriculum options, you know: It's either full of incredible science with a heaping side of birth control and gender and sexual orientation confusion OR aligned with faith but look like they were last updated when your mom was in high school. The lack of options is frustrating.

I am a Theology teacher and was just asked to teach the new Human Sexuality class at school. Your program has been a gold-mine! Thank you for your ministry! God bless.

Scott S.

The "more than just sex ed" lesson plan Catholic school teachers actually want:

Teaches the actual biological facts of anatomy and sexual reproduction without being tainted by political or social agendas

Reinforces Catholic moral teaching - and actually explains those teachings in a way that makes sense

Encourages parental participation to promote further conversation on these topics

As a Catholic school parent myself, I created the Catholic "sex ed" program I'd want my own kids to receive.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT FOR OUR STUDENTS!
Features orange Pearl and Thistle icon and the words "Anatomy, Fertility, and Reproduction for groups"

A done-for-you lesson plan for Catholic school teachers

Pictures tablet with scene from Anatomy, Reproduction, & Fertility course; sample slide from course; three worksheets; and the words "6 videos in two parts, totaling 45 minutes of presentation time or a complete PDF slide deck for you to deliver the presentation yourself! Plus parent letters & flyers, 3 worksheets with answer key."
GET YOUR LIFETIME ACCESS - $47
Imagine your students:

Actually knowing the different parts of their anatomy and how they work together

Grounding their understanding of fertility in a place of positivity and respect for the unique purpose of each gender

Understanding what the Church actually teaches about sex and marriage and why

Having confidence in their body and God's purpose for it

I WANT THIS FOR MY TEENS!
Graphic reading "Click to take a peek at sample slides." with arrow pointing down
Plus, I'm really cognizant of the fact that there's so much depth to these conversations. Many of your students may be experiencing gender/sexual orientation confusion, eating disorders, hookup culture, self esteem issues, body dysmorphia, and shame from past mistakes. This presentation cannot tackle every single one of these issues head on. But it's meant to lay the groundwork to speak about sexuality, gender, marriage, and chastity from the positive framework of both solid biology and Church teaching.
 
Finding the fine line in "There are things the Church says you can't do with your body, not because it's bad, but because it's good" can be so incredibly difficult.
 
Anatomy, Reproduction, and Fertility for Catholics Teens fosters a healthy balance that promotes chastity without the shame of purity culture.

A "more than just sex ed" course that shares your school's values

that faith and science share one source of Truth and thus biology can and should be used as an aid in our faith life
that teens deserve to know the inner workings of their bodies and what it's telling them (known as body literacy)
that sex and fertility as lived out in Church teaching is a profound gift and that our bodies reveal our Creator
YEP, THAT'S US!

Here's the Lesson Plan

You get to pick: six short videos (6-10 minutes each) or pre-done slides for you to present, all oriented to get the conversation started on anatomy and Catholic moral teaching

Pale orange circle graphic with illustrated uterus in pink and green
Video 1

MALE & FEMALE ANATOMY

6 minutes
What's actually going on in there? I break down male and female anatomy and what each organ does (but don't worry - images give detail, but aren't explicit!).

Pale orange circle graphic with illustrated calendar featuring red rings, green day markers, and red blood drops on five days
Video 2

THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE

10 minutes
Did you know that the most important event of the menstrual cycle isn't a period? It's ovulation. I give an overview of the whole menstrual cycle to show how male and female anatomy work together for fertility.

Pale orange circle graphic with illustration of sperm meeting egg
Video 3

REPRODUCTION & FERTILITY

8 minutes
In this video, I straight-forwardly and scientifically explain the process of sexual reproduction in humans (no awkwardness!) and the natural times of fertility and infertility couples experience each cycle based on the woman's fertile window.

Pale orange circle graphic with illustrated pope wearing white robe and holding crucifix staff.
Video 4

THE LANGUAGE OF THE BODY

8 minutes
I throw it back to our beloved JPII here as we begin the connection to our faith: Our bodies, as created by God, are a way in which He communicates the truth about who we are. And this truth is further communicated within the marital act.

Pale orange circle graphic with illustrated man and woman. Man is wearing a green shirt and dark pants, woman is wearing a yellow shirt and green pants and pointing fingers in a peace sign.
Video 5

BODY LITERACY

8 minutes
Once we know that our bodies are speaking to us, we need to learn how to translate it. This video provides an overview of the daily changes men may observe because of testosterone and changes a woman might observe throughout a cycle (considered a vital sign of health for girls).

 
 
Pale orange circle graphic with illustrated couple dancing. Man is wearing a green shirt and dark pants, woman is wearing a white dress.
Video 6

CHURCH TEACHING

8 minutes
Combining everything we've already covered, I conclude with Catholic moral teaching on family planning, with an emphasis on how Natural Family Planning allows us to speak the Truth with our bodies and respects the natural periods of fertility and infertility in a couples' cycle.

Plus, you get lifetime access, which means you can show this in all of your classrooms every year for years to come. It literally costs pennies per student!

Pictures tablet with scene from Anatomy, Reproduction, & Fertility course; sample slide from course; three worksheets; and the words "6 videos in two parts, totaling 45 minutes of presentation time or a complete PDF slide deck for you to deliver the presentation yourself! Plus parent letters & flyers, 3 worksheets with answer key."
GIVE ME ALL OF IT!
Woman smiling at camera with her hair in a bun, navy blue shirt, and crucifix with the words hello!

I'm Christina.

And of course you want to know who it is you're about to trust the souls of your students with.
 
First, I'm the owner of Pearl & Thistle, where I offer an innovative approach to lifelong body literacy for Catholics, including ongoing parish support programming.
 
I've also been a Natural Family Planning instructor for ten years, have both an undergraduate and master's degree in theology, and have spent almost two decades in parish and campus ministry settings.
 
I'm also the daughter of a Catholic biology teacher, which means I know what a challenge it can be to feel like the right resource just isn't out there...and so you just create it yourself.
 
So I created this course just as much for you as for your students: Because I want them to know the amazing gift of their bodies and fertility, and I want you to be able to be confident in having leading those conversations and get back to your own family.
I WANT THAT TOO!
Woman smiling at camera with her hair in a bun, navy blue shirt, and crucifix with the words hello!

I'm Christina.

And of course you want to know who it is you're about to trust the souls of your students with.
 
First, I'm the owner of Pearl & Thistle, where I offer an innovative approach to lifelong body literacy for Catholics, including ongoing parish support programming.
 
I've also been a Natural Family Planning instructor for ten years, have both an undergraduate and master's degree in theology, and have spent almost two decades in parish and campus ministry settings.
 
I'm also the daughter of a Catholic biology teacher, which means I know what a challenge it can be to feel like the right resource just isn't out there...and so you just create it yourself.
 
So I created this course just as much for you as for your students: Because I want them to know the amazing gift of their bodies and fertility, and I want you to be able to be confident in having leading those conversations and get back to your own family.
I WANT THAT TOO!
I WANT THAT TOO!

Oh, and don't forget the parents.

As a Catholic school parent myself, I know how much trust I place in my daughters' educators to assist me in passing on the faith to them.

That's why this bundle also includes parent resources to be sent home, not just so they are aware that these discussions will be taking place, but also so they can have an opportunity to be part of the conversation.

Because that's the ultimate goal with this talk: to simply be the starting point for future conversations.

Got Questions?

What age is this best for?
This video series is recommended for sophomore year or older, but freshmen who have already taken a foundational biology course would be able to follow the lessons well.
Is this only for girls?
I have many programs which are specifically for girls, but this is not one of them! Our teenage sons also need to learn about the workings of the female system, and to understand that both men and women can become body literate and can work together in the context of planning a family *naturally* within marriage. If you intend to use this in a classroom, though, it's highly recommended that you separate by gender in order to facilitate conversation!
How long do I have access to the materials?
Purchasing this lesson kit means that you have lifetime access (as long as Pearl & Thistle is around!) to provide the videos and have the PDF resources for your class.
Can I download these videos?
All videos hosted through this platform are not available for download. In order to play them, you will need access to the internet.
Can I show these videos in a group?
Yes! This is for classroom use, but that can include any other group format like a scouting troop, parish, or other shared education format.
Does this presentation talk about the different types of birth control?
This presentation mentions "contraceptive or barrier methods" as distinct from Natural Family Planning, but does not go into detail about any of the drugs, devices, or procedures.
Does this presentation explain how to use NFP?
This presentation explains the underlying concepts of NFP: namely, that there is an identifiable window in which a married couple can get pregnant, and that looking for biomarkers for ovulation can help that couple try to conceive or postpone pregnancy. The logistics of how to do this are not explained.

I'll take this prep for you.

From an introductory parent letter to the actual slide deck and videos right through to the handouts and homework - I've not only already done the work for you, I've made the Catholic sex ed program you'll wish you'd gotten.

Because your students will actually know

Why their bodies are incredible, designed by God for a purpose

The actual facts about how their bodies work, including what happens during a menstrual cycle

What the Church actually teaches about sex and marriage, and why it's got their best interest in mind

PLEASE HELP ME TEACH THEM!

Stop having to rewrite the health class curriculum to meet your school's values.

Give them a program that educates their minds and their souls, with this scientific and theological exploration of anatomy, fertility, & reproduction for Catholic teens.

Desktop computer featuring slide from Anatomy, Fertility, & Reproduction course about Oxytocin. The words "Anatomy, Fertility, and Reproduction for Catholic teens" appears with an arrow pointing down.

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