We are proud to offer Our Whole Lives (OWL), Sexuality and Our Faith, the nationally renowned program on human sexuality developed in collaboration by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ.

Our Fellowship offers these OWL classes (click on tabs for info):

Grade K/1 - Kindergarten/First Grade Our Whole Lives
This component supports parents in educating their young children about birth, babies, bodies and families. It helps establish a life long family pattern of communication around sensitive topics. Following a Parent Meeting and Parent/Child Orientation, the eight class sessions engage children with stories, songs and activities and include a weekly “HomeLink” – a homework project for parents and children to do together. Families covenant to have their child attend all 8 sessions to promote trust and sharing. After the Orientation Session, the class is closed to drop-ins and new participants. Focusing on the “three R’s” of human sexuality—respect, relationship, and responsibility—it emphasizes that we believe every person should be treated fairly and kindly.

Recommended books:

  • It’s So Amazing by Robie Harris (highly recommended)
  • The Parent Guide to Our Whole Lives, Grades K-1

    • A session-by-session guide to what children will learn through the Our Whole Lives curricula for grades K-1 and 4-6. BVUUF has several copies for loan or a family may order their own copy from the UUA bookstore.
Grade 5/6 - Fifth/Sixth Grade Our Whole Lives

This component is a 10-session program for learning about and discussing the physical and emotional changes of puberty. Participants will read It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie H. Harris, and examine topics such as values and sexuality, communication and decision making. Each session includes a HomeLink – a homework activity for parents and children to complete together. Following a Mandatory Parent/Child Meeting, families covenant to have their child attend all 10 sessions to promote trust and sharing. After the Orientation Session, the class is closed to drop-ins and new participants. Focusing on the “three R’s” of human sexuality – respect, relationship, and responsibility – it emphasizes that we believe every person should be treated fairly and kindly.

Other Recommended books:

  • The Parent Guide to Our Whole Lives, Grades 4-6
    • A session-by-session guide to what children will learn through the Our Whole Lives curricula for grades K-1 and 4-6. BVUUF has several copies for loan or a family may order their own copy from the UUA bookstore.

Grade 7/8 - Seventh/Eighth Grade Our Whole Lives
This is the core offering of BVUUF’s OWL program. It presents a comprehensive approach to human sexuality in an age-appropriate manner and is based firmly on the values of respect, responsibility, justice and inclusivity. It helps young people apply these values to their behavior and provides them with information and skills they can use throughout life. It helps participants clarify their values and religious beliefs and emphasizes the worth and dignity of each participant.

Seventh/Eighth Grade OWL includes a comprehensive parent orientation. Participants covenant to attend all sessions. After the orientation session, the class is closed to drop-ins and new participants. The sessions are offered approximately two to three times per month, and include sessions that cover a single workshop and retreats where we will cover three workshops.

Grade 10/11 - Tenth/Eleventh Grade Our Whole Lives

This component is a 14-session program that empowers high school youth to make thoughtful decisions as they develop into young adulthood. It covers topics ranging from communication and consent to gender identity and sexual expression to intimacy and healthy relationships. The program presents a comprehensive approach to human sexuality in an age-appropriate manner and is based firmly on the values of respect, responsibility, justice and inclusivity. It helps young people apply these values to their behavior and provides them with information and skills they can use throughout life. It helps participants clarify their values and religious beliefs and emphasizes the worth and dignity of each participant.

Tenth/Eleventh Grade OWL includes a comprehensive parent orientation. Participants covenant to attend all sessions. After the orientation session, the class is closed to drop-ins and new participants. The sessions are offered once a month throughout the year.

View our anticipated Our Whole Lives course schedule through 2028.

Introduction to the O.W.L. Philosophy

Our Whole Lives (O.W.L.) helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. Accurate, age-appropriate information is provided in six subject areas: human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society and culture. Grounded in a holistic view of sexuality, O.W.L. provides not only facts about anatomy and human development, but helps participants to clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality.

Our Whole Lives Values:

  • Self Worth
  • Sexual Health
  • Responsibility
  • Justice
  • Inclusivity

Each level of Our Whole Lives offers:

  • Up-to-date information
  • Honest age-appropriate answers to all participants’ questions
  • Activities to help participants clarify values and improve decision-making skills
  • Effective group-building to create a safe and supportive peer group
  • Education about sexual abuse, exploitation, and harassment
  • Opportunities to critique media messages about gender and sexuality
  • Acceptance of diversity
  • Encouragement to act for justice
  • A well designed, teacher-friendly leaders’ guide
  • Parent orientation programs that affirm parents as the primary sexuality educators of their children
  • Sexuality and Our Faith, an optional religious component for Unitarian Universalist and United Church of Christ settings.

Praise for Our Whole Lives

“As a scholar and activist in the field of child welfare, and as a parent of a teenager who has participated in the program, I deeply appreciate the wisdom imparted by Our Whole Lives. Our Whole Lives transmits a great deal of valuable information, but more importantly, it promotes compassion and responsibility. As my 15-year-old told me, “Our Whole Lives does much more than teach us plumbing, Mom. It helps us to know what we should do in a difficult situation.” — Sylvia Ann Hewlett, Chair, National Parenting Association

“The Our Whole Lives curriculum guide is extremely well written and easy for professional educators to use. The program handles a variety of issues that are absent from many sexuality education programs sexual orientation, body image, sexuality throughout the life-cycle in creative and engaging ways. Most importantly, the program ensures that young people not only get the information they need but that they get the skills practice that evaluations show is critical to ensuring healthy choices and behaviors.” — Leslie M. Kantor, MPH, Vice President of Education, Planned Parenthood of New York City

For more information, visit the national OWL Web site.

For more information on the BVUUF OWL program, contact Kitty Kalebarn at spiritdirector@bvuuf.org.